SM Entertainment Idols Who Also Have Serious Acting Chops

Sep 29, 2021

Meet SM Entertainment’s finest idol actors: not only they are known as established musicians, but they also lend their incredible talents to the small and big screens alike.

The list seems to be endless, but it won’t be fair to exclude anyone. So if you don’t spot your favorite idol actor, make sure to take a look at the honorable mentions section!

1. TVXQ’s Changmin

Changmin’s acting career launched in 2010 with a guest role in the action drama “Athena: Goddess of War.” He later landed his first lead role in “Paradise Ranch” and followed with other interesting roles in dramas such as the four-episode miniseries “Mimi” as a webtoon writer and “The Scholar Who Walks The Night” as Crown Prince Lee Yoon. Changmin’s acting style evolved throughout the various works he picked, especially given the versatility of the roles.

Watch the trailer for “The Scholar Who Walks The Night” and see if you can spot Changmin!

Catch “The Scholar Who Walks The Night” below:

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2. TVXQ’s Yunho

Yunho’s career blossomed around the same time as his groupmate. He took on various roles that shaped his acting as he further delved into drama productions. Some of his memorable leading roles are in “No Limit,” “Queen of Ambition,” “Diary of a Night Watchman,” and “Melo Holic.” Yunho has been praised for his acting skills, namely his physical endurance in action scenes and the sincere portrayal of his emotions. He earned a People’s Choice Award at the 2013 Seoul International Drama Awards for his role in “Queen of Ambition.”

Get a sneak peak at “Melo Holic” here:

Catch “Melo Holic” below:

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3. Super Junior’s Donghae

Donghae is another talented idol who decided to wear the actor hat. He played various roles in many television dramas such as “It’s Alright, Daddy’s Daughter,” “Skip Beat!” “Miss Panda and Mr. Hedgehog,” and “Quiz of God – Season 4.” Though he is an occasional actor, he proved that his skills can also provide entertainment on the small screen in any character he chooses to play.

Get a sneak peek at “Miss Panda and Mr. Hedgehog”:

Catch “Miss Panda and Mr. Hedgehog” below:

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4. Super Junior’s Choi Siwon

Another Super Junior member who is no stranger to the small screen is the one and only Siwon. His supporting role in “She Was Pretty” definitely put him in the spotlight, where his comical portrayal of the character made the audience fall for his charming self. He later joined “Revolutionary Love” and “My Fellow Citizens” to play the main character, where he got to further explore his acting skills, between drama, action, thriller, romance and the usual goofy comedy.

Catch “My Fellow Citizens” below:

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5. SHINee’s Minho

This fine rapper perfectly doubles as a charismatic actor who always delivers his roles with grace. What makes Minho’s acting stand out is his ability to embody his character and become one with his lines. On top of his flawless drama performances in “Hwarang,” “Medical Top Team,” and “To the Beautiful You,” he also starred in movies, including “Canola,” “Derailed,” and his most recent “The Battle of Jangsari.”

Watch the powerful trailer for “The Battle of Jangsari”:

Catch “The Battle of Jangsari” below:

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6. Girls’ Generation’s YoonA

YoonA has finessed her acting skills throughout the years. Her various works bear witness – from her film debut with “Confidential Assignment” followed by “Exit” and “Miracle: Letters to the President,” all the way to the dramas she starred in such as “Love Rain,” “The K2,” and “The King Loves.” YoonA used to seem a bit shy in her early roles, but she has confidently taken over her characters as her career advanced.

Catch “The King Loves” below:

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7. Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun

Seohyun is another Girls’ Generation member whose acting career catapulted as she took on various roles. No matter which character she takes on, she always portrays it in such a way that keeps the audience captivated. Her works include “My Brilliant Life,” “So I Married My Anti-Fan” (China), “The Good Thieves,” “Ruby Ruby Love,” and “Time.”

Get a glimpse of the first episode of “Time”:

Catch “Time” below:

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8. EXO’s D.O.

Away from the idol world, D.O. has a completely different aura as an actor. He has starred in many hit movies such as “My Annoying Brother” and “Along with the Gods.” Furthermore, his hit drama works include “It’s Okay, That’s Love,” “Hello Monster,” and “100 Days My Prince.” No matter which role he takes on, D.O. promises a top-tier performance that leaves the audience mesmerized.

Catch “100 Days My Prince” below:

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Honorable mentions

Super Junior’s Ryeowook (Musical theater: “High School Musical,” “Goddess is Watching,” ” Sonata of the Flame”)
Super Junior’s Sungmin (Musical theater: “Jack the Ripper,” “The Three Musketeers,” “Boys Over Flowers”)
Super Junior’s Yesung (“Awl,” “Voice”)
Super Junior’s Kyuhyun (Musical theater: “The Three Musketeers,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Moon Embracing The Sun,” “Frankenstein”)
Girls’ Generation’s Yuri (“Fashion King,” “Defendant,” “Jang Geum, Oh My Grandma,” “Bossam: Steal The Fate“)
Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung (“So I Married the Anti-Fan” (Korea), “Squad 38,” “Tell Me What You Saw,” “Run On”)
SHINee’s Onew (“Descendants of the Sun,” Musical theater: “Rock of Ages,” “Return: The Promise of the Day,” “Midnight Sun”)
SHINee’s Key (“Drinking Solo,” “The Guardian” for which he won the Best New Actor award at the “2017 Grimae Awards”)
f(x)’s Krystal (“Heirs,” “Prison Playbook,” “The Bride of The Water God,” “The Player,” “Search,” “Police University“)
f(x)’s Victoria Song (“Broker,” “Lover or Stranger,” “Love Under the Moon“)
The late Sulli (“Fashion King,” “To The Beautiful You“)
EXO’s Suho (“The Universe’s Star,” “Rich Man, Poor Woman,” “How Are U Bread“)
EXO’s Xiumin (“Falling for Challenge“)
EXO’s Chanyeol (“So I Married My Anti-Fan” (China), “Missing 9,” “Memories of the Alhambra,” “The Box“)
EXO’s Baekhyun (“Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,” “Singin’ in the Rain (theater)”)
EXO’s Kai (“Andante,” “Miracle We Met“)
EXO’s Sehun (“Secret Queen Makers,” “Dokgo Rewind“)
Red Velvet’s Joy (“The Liar and His Lover,” “Tempted,” “Only One Person”)
Red Velvet’s Irene (“Double Patty“)
Red Velvet’s Yeri (“Blue Birthday“)
NCT’s Doyoung (“Midnight Cafe – Season 3,” “Marie Antoinette (theater)”)
NCT’s Jaemin (“How to Hate You”)