While newcomers to the genre know him as the straitlaced Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok of Crash Landing On You (2020), dedicated fans can recite a laundry list of Hyun Bin dramas and movies at a moment’s notice. From his first breakthrough in the early aughts with romcoms and dramas to his turn in recent years towards noir roles, there’s so much to choose from for your next weekend binge. So gather your girls, add an extra dollop of butter to the popcorn and settle in for some prime Hyun Bin lovin’:
My Name is Kim SamSoon (2005)
Your induction into the world of Hyun Bin is incomplete without this blockbuster K-drama from the mid-aughts. Loosely based on Bridget Jones’ Diary, it can today be credited with proving Hyun’s mettle as a romcom actor to swoon over.
Friend, Our Legend (2009)
Based on the 2001 film of the same name, this autobiographical tale follows the lives of four childhood friends as they come of age in the hardened streets of Busan, inadvertently finding themselves as bitter rivals in the underworld.
Secret Garden (2010)
A decade later, this drama is best remembered for birthing the ‘Hyun Bin syndrome’ that saw his face plastered across magazines, televisions and the internet in this classic CEO-meets-tough-as-nails-stuntwoman tale, underscored by some body switcheroo magic.
Hyde, Jekyll, Me (2015)
Strap in for a romcom spin with this literary legend as Hyun juggles between a quintessential chaebol heir hiding a dissociative personality disorder that brings forth a kinder, more humane version of him with a saviour complex.
The Swindlers (2017)
Cementing his role in the action genre is this 2017 crime thriller that offers up the usual mélange of high-adrenalin fight sequences and car chases as unlikely allies from opposite sides of the law band together to take down a common enemy.
Confidential Assignment (2017)
Law enforcement clearly plays a starring role in Hyun’s filmography, as witnessed in this 2017 action comedy that sees him take on the role of a North Korean officer teaming up with a Seoul detective to crack down on a counterfeiting racket.
Memories of the Alhambra (2018)
If sci-fi isn’t a word you usually associate with K-dramas, allow Hyun to remedy that for you as you follow him across postcard-perfect Spain in search of the cryptic creator of an augmented reality game.
The Negotiation (2018)
You might go around every day pretending that everything is alright, but you aren’t truly over the most revered of Hyun Bin dramas, Crash Landing On You, and Hyun and Son YeJin’s sparkling chemistry in it, are you? Settle in for an interesting reversal of roles as the goody-two-shoes captain morphs into a devious kidnapper matching wits with Son as the crisis negotiator.
Rampant (2018)
While this period action movie may not have set the box office aflame, it merits a watch if you have never heard the words ‘Joseon dynasty’ and ‘zombie plague’ uttered in the same sentence, as Hyun takes on the role of a young prince battling the demons plaguing ancient Korea.
Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022)
If you liked what you saw of Im Cheol Ryung, feast your eyes on his second outing as the hunky detective in this buddy-cop flick. Matters have, however, now moved on to international waters with the FBI coming in for a joint Korean-American operation to take down the feared leader of a criminal organisation.
Also read:
What Hyun Bin and Son YeJin’s wedding says about the evolution of Korean celebrity culture
From Lee MinHo to Hyun Bin—5 K-drama actors who haven’t aged a day
7 fantasy Korean dramas that will whisk you off to alternate realms
