Park Seo-joon, often dubbed the king of rom-com K-dramas, is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the South Korean entertainment industry. Owing to his talent and personal charm, the actor has also roped in a role in the upcoming MCU film The Marvels. Though details are scant, Screen Rant theorizes Park could be playing either Amadeus Cho or Noh-Varr. Regardless, it’ll be a movie that catapults the actor’s career to new heights. Of course, millions of fans have already enjoyed his alluring characters on-screen. On top of it, his pleasant chemistry with the co-actors and passion for the roles he plays has rewarded him with a series of hits.

As one of the most promising stars to contribute to the Hallyu (Korean) wave, Park made his acting debut with a supporting role in the 2011 movie Perfect Game. He later went on to star in multiple TV drama series, variety shows, and films. Moreover, he also made a guest appearance in the Oscar-winning South Korean feature film Parasite. Although picking his best on-screen performances is a difficult task, we have shortlisted Park Seo-joon’s best below.

6 She Was Pretty

     MBC

She Was Pretty, which premiered in 2015, is one of the best South Korean comedy dramas to be released in that year, and holds its popularity through its hilarious scenes, fluttering storyline, and brilliant cast. The drama follows Hye-jin (Hwang Jung-eum), who was incredibly pretty during her childhood and enjoyed a comfortable life growing up. Unfortunately, as an adult, she is neither pretty like before nor is financially stable. Her life takes a wild turn after she finds out that her former best friend, Ji Sung-jun (Park), has now become a handsome man, and is also her boss.

Sung-jun has been through many hardships, which is one of the main reasons behind his workaholic and tsundere attitude. However, after Hye-jin enters his life, a series of hysterical events eventually turn him into an adorable and charming lover boy. Sung-jun’s character development through Park’s incredible performance in She Was Pretty was loved by audiences, which also helped the actor to shape his career in the following years.

5 Midnight Runners

     Lotte Entertainment

Midnight Runners, starring Park and Kang Ha-neul, is an action comedy film released in 2017. The power-packed entertaining movie is filled with hilarious sequences that will keep you engaged until the end. Keeping the plot simple, Park and Kang carried the entire film with their comic timing and bromance. Park plays Ki-joon, while Kang plays Hee-yeol, two friends and students of the Korean National Police University who decide to join hands and save a young girl, who has been kidnapped. The two actors balance seriousness and comedy to deliver wonderful performances while showcasing the ethical moral values of people working in the law department.

Midnight Runners was highly celebrated in South Korea, becoming the seventh highest-grossing film in the nation in 2017. Moreover, Park Seo-joon was awarded with the Best New Actor Award at the 54th Grand Bell Awards for his performance in the film.

4 Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth

     KBS

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth debuted in 2016, with a stellar cast including popular names such as Park, BTS’ V aka Kim Tae-hyung, SHINee’s Choi Minho, Park Hyung-sik, and many more. The historical K-drama revolves around the lives of elite group of men and warriors called Hwarang. Together, through happiness and pain, these Hwarangs discover love, friendships, and uncertainty during the Silla Kingdom (57 BC - AD 935).

Park plays the lead role of Moo-myung, a young man born to a low-class and less-privileged family, who through his abilities rises in life and rank to become a great Hwarang warrior. As a lead, Park played his part brilliantly, giving a bold structure to his character who likes to take charge. Besides his impressive chemistry with the female lead, Park also maintained a charming dynamic with his co-stars. Thanks to his performance, the actor received a nomination for the “Top Excellence Award” at the 31st KBS Drama Awards.

3 What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim

     tvN

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, which was released in 2018, features one of the best performances ever delivered by Park. The rom-com K-drama is a perfect binge-watch series for anyone who wants to enjoy a chaotic and self-centered boss falling in love with his secretary while experiencing hilarious moments in his life. The tvN drama follows Park as Lee Young-joon, a narcissistic vice president of a major corporation. His life becomes upside down when Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young), his secretary of nine years decides to resign. To keep the patient and perfect secretary by his side, Lee tries things he hasn’t ever done before, eventually surrendering his heart. Park’s chemistry with Park Min-young is one of the highlights of the drama, and couldn’t be miss.

2 Itaewon Class

     Netflix

Included in Forbes’ list of “The 13 best Korean series of 2020,” Itaewon Class is a K-drama that cannot be missed. Apart from its banging storyline, uplifting and high-spirited characters, and moving soundtrack, Park’s character serves as the backbone, keeping everything intact. Park plays Park Sae-roi, who, after his father’s murder, attempts to kill the son of the culprit, a food business giant, and gets jailed for seven years. After he is released from prison, Sae-roi decides to follow in his father’s footstep and open a pub called ‘DanBam’ in the Itaewon area of Seoul. With his determination, consistency, and support from the staff, Sae-roi wishes to achieve greater heights and become a food giant himself in the nation.

Itaewon Class offers an emotional and promising ride to its viewers, who immediately feel connected with the main character. It is one of the reasons behind Time Magazine calling the series one of the best to watch on Netflix.

1 Fight For My Way

     KBS2

Fight For My Way is a must-watch drama for multiple reasons. It has the most realistic plot and Park takes on the most pragmatic character he has ever played in his filmography. Park plays Ko Dong-man, an underdog who wants to be a famous Taekwondo artist, but is stuck with his mundane job in oder to pay the bills. He used to be a Taekwondo player, however, he had to stop because of his painful past. In the series, Kong Do-Man constantly struggles for success and faces multiple challenges on his way. Hence, the character growth is the crux of Park’s entire existence in the show.

He is also seen as a supportive friend and partner who always stays by their side as they explore their lives and dreams together. The unique and edifying plot with Park in the prominent role makes it one of a kind, and precisely why it is considered Park’s best performance on-screen. The success of the drama led him to win multiple ‘Best Couple’ awards alongside Kim Ji-won, who plays Choi Aera. Moreover, Park also garnered the ‘Outstanding Actor Award’ at the 13th Seoul International Awards due to his top-tier acting.