Park Bo-gum has been in many greatK-dramas, but some of them do a better job of highlighting his acting prowess than others. Park Bo-gum is one ofSouth Korea’s best actors, and the success of his K-dramas proves that he has earned his title of “Nation’s Crown Prince.” Although the popular actor is famous for being a romantic lead, he’s dabbled in a variety of genres, ranging from actionto historical K-dramas.
Beginning his career in 2011, the musician and actor took on supporting roles in the South Korean thriller,Blind, and an action-comedy,Runaway Cop, where he managed to steal the show. In 2013, Park Bo-gum finally landed his first major role in the hilarious K-drama,Wonderful Mama. However, it’s his role inReply 1988that really put him on the map. Since then,the actor has gone on to showcase his talent in some of the best Korean TV shows, includingWhen Life Gives You Tangerines,Record of Youth, andGood Boy.
8Hello Monster (2015)
Character: Jung Sun-ho/Lee Min
Helmed by Noh Sang-hoon and Kim Jin-won,Hello Monsteris undoubtedly one of Park Bo-gum’s best TV shows. The mystery series focuses on Lee Hyun, a criminal profiler haunted by his past. Lee Hyun’s father was murdered, but his killer was never caught.
So, when he returns to Korea, he begins investigating a criminal called Lee Jun-young, whom he suspects might hold the answers to his questions. What makesHello Monster stand out in Park Bo-gum’s career is that he plays a very complex character. Lee Min deals with feelings of abandonment, yet he fails to express to his brother the struggles he went through after their father was murdered.
Hello Monster
Cast
Hello Monster: This romantic thriller follows criminal profiler Lee Hyun as he returns to South Korea to lead a special investigation team. With keen analytical skills, he partners with elite detective Cha Ji An to solve complex crimes, uncovering dangerous secrets while developing a deeper connection.
Hello Monsteris an enormously enjoyable K-drama as it finds the perfect balancebetween presenting a riveting mystery and adding emotional depth to its characters. The plot twists in the TV show are also difficult to predict, which raises the stakes of the K-drama.
7Wonderful Days (2014)
Character: Young Kang Dong-seok
Wonderful Daysis a heartwarming storyabout family, love, and friendship. In the 2014 K-drama, Kang Dong-seok, a successful prosecutor, returns to his hometown after he is transferred there. As he tries to acclimate to the life he left behind, he meets his first love, Hae Won, and the two embark on a swoon-worthy romantic adventure.
Wonderful Days
Wonderful Days follows Dong-Suk, a successful prosecutor who returns to his hometown after 14 years and rekindles his relationship with his first love, Hae-Won. Set against a backdrop of social and familial dynamics, the narrative explores themes of love, success, and the passage of time.
Park Bo-gum doesn’t have a huge role inWonderful Days,as he plays the younger version of Dong-seok. However, he does a great job of capturing the lead actor’s eccentricities and highlights why he became such a cold and distant adult.Wonderful Daysis a fun yetemotional K-dramathat proves that dreams do come true, and that it’s never too late to find love or reconnect with family.
6Record Of Youth (2020)
Character: Sa Hye-jun
One of Park Bo-gum’s highest-rated K-dramas,Record of Youth, remains a relatable and relevant series nearly five years after it debuted. The show centers around three friends who are in different stages of their lives.Park Bo-gum’s character, Sa Hye-jun, is an aspiring actor with dreams of becoming famous, but it takes a while before he reaches his goal.
Record Of Youth
Record Of Youth is a South Korean television series that follows the lives of three young individuals, Sa Hye-joon, Won Hae-hyo, and Park Do-ha, as they navigate their careers and relationships in the competitive Modeling industry in Seoul.
There are several things to love aboutRecord of Youth. The K-drama portrays millennials and Gen Z in a way that feels relatable and realistic. While all these things makeRecord of Youtha great K-drama, it’sPark Bo-gum’s portrayal of Sa Hye-jun that takes it to the next level. The actor captures all of his character’s emotions masterfully. From Hye-jun’s desperation to make his dreams a reality to his happiness when he finally did, Park Bo-gum nails every scene.
5Encounter (2018)
Character: Kim Jin-hyuk
One of the best romantic K-dramas,Encounterfeatures one of the sweetest love stories in Park Bo-gum’s career. InEncounter, everything in Cha Soo-hyun’s life is dictated by other people, including the man she marries.
There is a Filipino version ofEncounter,which debuted in 2021.
When she finally divorces him and goes on a trip to Cuba, she meets a drifter called Kim Jin-hyuk, but their love story is cut short as they have to separate. But fate has different plans for them when they meet again after returning home.Encounteris a story about two people from different walks of life who fall in lovedespite the odds being against them.
Encounter
Encounter, released in 2018, follows a woman navigating personal and professional challenges after a chance encounter overseas leads to a reunion with a man who becomes her employee. This series explores themes of connection and disparity in circumstances amidst the backdrop of their evolving relationship.
The K-drama packs an emotional punch, and yet manages to be sweet and thrilling at the same time. Park Bo-gum and Song Hye-kyo are enthralling together and have great chemistry. Their distinct personalities make them a great K-drama couple, and they bring out the best in each other.
4Reply 1988 (2015)
Character: Choi Taek
Set in the late 1980s,Reply 1988is the third installment in theReplyanthology series. The K-drama focuses on five teenagers and friends, each facing different issues in their lives. As they navigate the challenges that come with growing up, they learn to lean on each other and lift each other up whenever the moment calls for it.
Reply 1988
In 1988 Seoul, five childhood friends navigate adolescence in their tight-knit neighborhood. Deok Sun struggles as the middle child, Jung Hwan fixates on soccer despite newfound wealth, Sun Woo excels academically, Dong Ryong, a lovable geek, faces academic challenges, and Taek, a baduk prodigy, leaves school to go professional.
The award-winning K-drama evokes a sense of nostalgia because of how it perfectly captures life in South Korea in 1988. The series has a great cast that helps tell a cohesive story, despite the many subplots in the TV show. Withthe K-drama’s slice-of-life premiseand realistic portrayal of teenage years,it’s not difficult to see whyReply 1988is one of Park Bo-gum’s best projects.
3Love In The Moonlight (2016)
Character: Lee Yeong
Love in the Moonlight takes its audience through a heartwarming story about how love can overcome challenges. Set in the Joseon era,the romantic K-drama chronicles Lee Yeong and Hong Ra-on’s complicated relationship. Lee Yeong, a young prince who initially has no intention of ascending to the throne, falls for one of the palace’s eunuchs, Ra-on, a woman pretending to be a man.
Love in the Moonlight
Love in the Moonlight is a South Korean television series set during the Joseon era, centered on a young woman who disguises herself as a man and becomes a eunuch in the royal palace. The narrative unfolds as she forms a connection with the crown prince, leading to unexpected complications.
Love in the Moonlightdoesn’t necessarily tell a unique story, as K-dramas about forbidden love have been done countless times before. However,the show sets itself apart because of Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung’s chemistry. Lee Yeong is funny and mischievous, while Ra-on is shy and afraid to break rules. The combination of their different personalities leads to a remarkable and memorable romance, while the political drama makes it an entertaining K-drama.
2Good Boy (2025)
Character: Yoon Dong-ju
One of 2025’s best K-dramas,Good Boyis an action-packed series filled with intense scenes.The show chronicles the lives of ex-athletes who were at the height of their careersbut had to choose a different path in life. They become members of a special police force that is tasked with hunting down dangerous criminals who have eluded law enforcement for years.
Good Boy
Good Boy, released in 2025, follows former national athletes who join a revived police special recruitment team. Confronting financial challenges and discrimination, these world-class medalists reunite to form a special task force, leveraging their athletic skills to tackle major crimes.
Park Bo-gum takes on the role of Yoon Dong-ju, an ex-boxer with childlike wonder who is always in good spirits. Together with his team,they prove that they are capable of being the best police officers in their department, despite having a different start in their law enforcement careers.Good Boyis an entertaining action K-drama that is made even better by the chemistry between its cast. It’s hilarious, yet it also delves into the struggles that come with having such a high-stakes job.
1When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025)
Character: Yang Gwan-sik
Park Bo-gum’s best K-drama is the 2025 seriesWhen Life Gives You Tangerines. Beginning on Jeju Island in the 1950s, the historical K-drama chronicles Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s lives from the time they were young to when they became adults. Ae-sun is a poor girl who dreams of becoming a poet but faces multiple setbacks on her journey.
When Life Gives You Tangerineswon the Best Drama award at the 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards.
The series not only delves into her growth from a young girl to a woman, but also her relationship with Gwan-sik.When Life Gives You Tangerineshas not only been a commercial success but has also resonated with audiences and critics.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
When Life Gives You Tangerines is a romantic drama series released in 2025 that follows the intertwined lives of a bold girl and a devoted boy in Jeju. Their journey spans generations, filled with challenges and victories, exploring the enduring nature of love and resilience.
The K-drama is highly emotional, but balances out its sad scenes with messages of hope. With its non-linear form of storytelling,When Life Gives You Tangerinespulls audiences in by highlighting the evolution of Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s relationship.It’s a beautifully writtenK-dramawith an astounding attention to detail and a captivating cast.
