08-07-2025
From ‘My Dearest' to ‘Our Movie': the definitive list of must-watch K-dramas starring Namkoong Min
'My Dearest' (2023)
My Dearest is a sweeping epic that follows the romance between Lee Jang-hyun (Namkoong Min) and Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin). Set during the Qing invasion, their love story spans decades and survives almost insurmountable obstacles. Time and time again, they are torn apart only to be brought back together by fate—or by Jang-hyun's unwavering devotion.
Beyond their palpable chemistry, both leads deliver powerful performances that earned rave reviews and numerous accolades, including the Baeksang for Best Actor in a Drama for Namkoong Min, who was also crowned the 'viewership king'. By its final episode, My Dearest had become one of the defining K-drama events of 2023, thanks to its critical acclaim, enthusiastic audience response and soaring viewership ratings.
See also: 4 recent period K-dramas to add to your watchlist 'One Dollar Lawyer' (2022)
In One Dollar Lawyer , Namkoong Min was able to stretch his comedic muscles as the quirky attorney Cheon Ji-hun. Brilliant but a touch eccentric, he only charges his clients—to the dismay of his longtime office manager—KRW1,000. It's a bargain considering he's a skilled and passionate lawyer who defends the rights of ordinary citizens against corrupt corporations and big law firms.
When Baek Ma-ri (Kim Ji-eun) is forced to work with him, she initially views his unorthodox investigation style and courtroom antics with disdain. But the results speak for themselves, and over time, she grows to admire and trust him. Soon, what was once an antagonistic relationship turns into a genuine partnership and friendship. Together, they continue to take on systemic corruption and fight for justice. 'The Veil' (2021)
If Namkoong Min flexed his comedic muscles in One Dollar Lawyer , he flexed his actual muscles, bulking up to an impressive 78kg from his usual 64kg to play elite National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent Han Ji-hyuk in the spy-action thriller The Veil .
In the K-drama, Ji-hyuk returns under mysterious conditions after having been missing for an entire year, sans memory and with a serious case of PTSD. He is determined to uncover the mole within the NIS who compromised his last mission—an act that led to the death of his teammates. Along the way, he teams up with rookie agent Yoo Je-yi (played by Kim Ji-eun, who would later star alongside Namkoong in One Dollar Lawyer ), who is secretly investigating the decade-old disappearance of her father, a former NIS agent. 'Hot Stove League' (2019-2020)
Namkoong Min's portrayal of Baek Sung-soo in Hot Stove League is another standout role that solidified his status as one of South Korea's top actors. As the newly hired general manager of the Dreams, a flailing baseball team on the brink of being disbanded, stoic and level-headed Sung-soo must find a way to turn them into winners. The series delves into the behind-the-scenes drama of the off-season: salary negotiations, inter-team politics, drafts and player trades.
To the members of the Dreams—especially its dedicated operations manager Lee Se-young (Park Eun-bin)—Sung-soo's methods seem ruthless and unpopular. But he ultimately wins them over when his exceptional and uncompromising leadership turns the team's luck around. And while they may not have ended up as champions, they emerge stronger and more united—winners in every sense that matters.
Don't miss: 10 unforgettable K-drama athletes you can't help but root for 'Doctor Prisoner' (2019)
Namkoong Min stars as Na Yi-je, a brilliant and compassionate doctor whose career is destroyed when a chaebol heir accuses him of malpractice. Sent to prison to cover up a hit-and-run accident, Yi-je learns about the rampant corruption in the penal system—the many ways the wealthy and influential receive special treatment and are given early paroles and releases. He then meticulously plots his revenge by returning to the prison as its medical director, leveraging this position, using cunning tactics and forming unlikely alliances with inmates to expose the various criminal activities and corruption of the family responsible for his downfall. 'Good Manager' (2017)
In Good Manager , Namkoong Min establishes his leading-man status and showcases his comedic timing. Here, he plays Kim Sung-ryong, an accountant who embezzles money from corrupt organisations to fund his early retirement, preferably somewhere in Denmark. Planning his next big score, he applies for a mid-manager position in TQ Group, hoping to siphon off enough funds to finally live out his dream.
But the company is even more corrupt than he initially thought, and in his selfish attempts to protect the money he has managed to steal, he inadvertently exposes embezzlement schemes far grander than his own, becoming an unlikely—and reluctant—hero. 'Beautiful Gong Shim' (2016)
In this 2016 romcom K-drama, Namkoong Min stars opposite Minah of the K-pop idol group Girl's Day. More known for playing villains at the time, Namkoong Min's turn as the goofy and lovable Ahn Dan-tae helped him step into more traditional leading man roles, broadening his appeal and proving his versatility.
At the heart of the story is Gong Shim, a quirky heroine whose need for a steady job is eclipsed only by her need for self-confidence. The one thing she doesn't need? The antagonistic relationship she develops with her rooftop apartment tenant Ahn Dan-tae. But his friendship and unconditional support turn out to be the very things that help her grow.
In Beautiful Gong Shim , Namkoong Min deft handling of both the enemies-to-lovers romance and the lost-heir subplot showcased his growing range as an actor.
