This South Korean actor has been on everybody’s radar after playing the role of Jang Geun-soo, a sweet boy in love turned ruthless businessman, on the hit show “Itaewon Class.” Kim Dong-hee’s performance gave us a whiplash and broke our hearts—that ending had me crying for justice even though I was far from rooting for his character at that point. It was also pretty fun to watch him face off with Park Seo-joon.
It seems that he has a thing for roles that have a bit of a dark streak. Dong-hee will be starring in the upcoming Netflix original series “Extracurricular” as a goody-two-shoes high school student leading a double life of crime in hopes of a better future for himself. If the trailer is anything to go by, “Extracurricular” is going to be in the same vein as some of the grittier offerings in South Korean contemporary cinema. He also has a film in the works this year. He also bagged a starring role in the upcoming movie “Mathematician in Wonderland,” centered around the bond between a North Korean defector mathematician and a high school student.
As a rising star, his filmography is still expanding. We’re sure this JYP Entertainment actor will have more projects no time though. Watch his hit shows to find out why he’s grabbed our attention or if you’re already a fan, to get your fill of Kim Dong-hee.
“A-Teen”
Premiering on Naver TV back in 2018, “A-Teen” is a web series about high school romances which was such a hit that it was able to feature cameos from NCT Dream’s Jae-min and Je-no, Stray Kids’s Hyunjin and I.N as well as Seventeen’s Joshua. The show won the “Best V Original” award on the 2019 Global V Live Awards.
The story follows six high school friends as they deal with friendship woes, academic stress, first love and the daunting task of making decisions for your future. Kim Dong-hee plays Ha Min, a sweet and friendly guy crushing on two girls at the same time (jerk alert!), forcing “He is Psychometric” star Shin Ye Eun as Do Ha-na and K-pop girl group April’s Lee Na Eun as Kim Ha-na to be pitted against each other. Will Ha Min get it together? Are the two Ha-na’s going to let this dude play them? The show is available on YouTube if you want to find out.
“A-Teen 2”
On the second season of “A-Teen,” we’re still getting a serving of entangled love lives. However, the focus is on the challenges eighteen-year-olds (get it?) face as their College Scholastic Ability Test looms before them. Ha Min’s parents are particularly strict so watch the series to find out if Dong-hee’s character chooses to pave his own path in the field of veterinary medicine. As for the rest of his pals, will they reach their collegiate dreams? Well, if they’ve already figured it out in the first place.
“Sky Castle”
Critically acclaimed drama series “Sky Castle” stirred conversations about the South Korean educational system and familial pressures when it came out in 2018. We watch as four women living in the exclusive Sky Castle neighborhood meet the devastating consequences of having your children’s success mean everything (yes, Everything) to you.
Veteran actresses Yum Jung-Ah, Lee Tae-Ran, Yoon Se-Ah and Oh Na-Ra are the moms trying to one-up each other, spending billions to ensure their kids get into the best schools. Kim Dong-hee’s Cha Seo-joon is the son of a law school lecturer and former prosecutor. Yoon Se Ah’s No Seung-hye starts protecting him from her husband’s harsh teaching methods after an incident (no spoilers!) has her realigning her priorities. The series is available on Netflix.
Kim Dong-hee seems to be collecting interesting roles and chooses the shows he’ll take part in with great care. Catch up on your Dong-hee viewing and we bet you’ll be cheering him on, too.
Art by Tricia Guevara
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