New K-dramas have been popping up here and there, and with them come new oppas to crush on! However, it's also important to ~pay tribute~ to the leading K-drama actors of the early 2000s—these oppas paved the way for the many K-dramas we watch today!Â
Below, take a look back at these actors who starred in your favorite old school Koreanovelas:
1. Lee Dong WookÂ
Where you've seen him:Â My Girl (2005)Â
Lee Dong Wook has won the hearts of many Pinays way before he played the Grim Reaper in Goblin. Who could forget his lead role in charming rom-com hit My Girl?
Showcasing his versatility, the Korean actor is currently starring in horror-thriller Strangers From Hell, where he plays a mysterious dentist. You can binge-watch the show on Netflix!Â
2. RainÂ
Where you've seen him:Â Full House (2004)Â
Rain quickly rose to fame as a K-Pop idol, but his career further skyrocketed when he starred in 2004 drama Full House, alongside Hallyu star Song Hye Kyo. He has been happily married to actress Kim Tae Hee since 2017!
3. Ju Ji Hoon
Where you've seen him:Â Princess Hours (2006)
Remember Lee Shin from Princess Hours? The now-37-year-old actor who played Lee Shin is currently making waves with his latest K-drama, Kingdom. You can stream the zombie masterpiece on Netflix!Â
4. Gong YooÂ
Where you've seen him:Â Coffee Prince (2007)Â
Before you fell for Gong Yoo as Kim Shin in Goblin, you've probably first swooned over him as Choi Han Kyul on Coffee Prince. P.S. This oppa is reportedly set to make a small-screen comeback!Â
5. Kwon Sang WooÂ
Where you've seen him:Â Stairway to Heaven (2003)
Who could forget the tear-jerking drama Stairway to Heaven? The lead character named Cha Song-ju was beautifully played by Kwon Sang Woo! His last starring role for a Korean drama was in 2016 for Queen of Mystery 2. In the two-part series, he plays a detective who teams up with a former housewife and a mystery-novel fan to solve mystery cases together.Â
6. Bae Yong-Jun
Where you've seen him:Â Winter Sonata (2002)Â
Bae Yong-Jun is most notably known for Winter Sonata, which is considered as one of the most successful K-dramas! In 2007, the Korean actor retired from acting, but he has been making guest appearances in K-dramas. The now-47-year-old is happily married to actress Park Soo-jin!Â
This story originally appeared on Femalenetwork.com.
* Minor edits have been made by the Candymag.com editors.