7 K-Drama Villains We Love To Hate And Hate To Love

Crafty and calculating with a rakish charm that hides their dangerous motives—who fits this description? None other than those dashingly debonair villains of K-drama who are menacing, unpredictable, and oh so ruthless that you would not want to run into them ever. But their treacherous ways and roguish flamboyance definitely make an impact. Here are K-drama’s seven bad boys whom you will love to hate and hate to love.

Taecyeon in “Vincenzo”

Taecyeon‘s Jun Woo with his child-like antics and wide-eyed innocent looks got away with murder. His devious and scheming ways were well disguised by his quirky naivety as a rookie lawyer. But when Jun Woo’s cover is blown by Vincenzo (Song Joong Ki) and it comes to light that he is none other than the chairman of Babel Pharmaceuticals, it leads to the start of a bloody war. A vicious, sociopathic villain, Jun Woo is brutal and unscrupulous and can go to any lengths to destroy whoever comes his way, even if it means killing his own family.

Taecyeon put the good into being bad by his unrestrained yet chilling performance. He is so convincing that he will send chills down your spine. He definitely immortalized himself as one of K-drama’s most sinister antagonists with this role.

Byun Woo Seok in “Strong Girl Namsoon”

On the surface, he is a man who has built his fortune by creating DOOGO, a sales and distribution company. But Ryu Shi Oh (Byun Woo Seok) is not only the super brain behind DOOGOCOIN, streamlining coin-based transactions, but he is also a devious drug lord who is the largest supplier of drugs—especially synthetic drugs—in the country. His scheming ways are well camouflaged by his schoolboy looks and fake earnestness. But the man is hungry for power, and there is no end to his greed.

Byun Wook Seok is sharp as Shi Oh, playing the deadly trafficker. And though the series is just getting started, he adds another feather to his growing filmography.

Kim Bum in “Tale of the Nine-Tailed”

The playfully mischievous Yi Rang (Kim Bum) is a half-human and half-gumiho. He has a volatile personality and is a bit of a meddlesome troublemaker. His nemesis is none other than his older brother Yi Yeon (Lee Dong Wook), who he feels has betrayed him for the love of a woman. Yi Rang wants to destroy him, which is further fueled by his annoyance toward humans. His infuriating antics are his way of seeking validation from a brother whose attention he craves. Yi Rang has several shades of grey to him, but he also has a moral compass.

Kim Bum aced his portrayal of Yi Rang. His facial expressions, the cocky smirk, and silent emoting brought out his character’s arc smoothly.

Kim Jae Wook in “Voice”

Intelligent and sly, Mo Tae Goo (Kim Jae Wook) is the stylish and likable president of Sungwoon Express. But this man shrouds a heinous secret. He is a psychopath who goes about murdering innocent people without the blink of an eye. He is a sadist and has no qualms about unleashing his cruelty on both animals and humans. Tae Goo hallucinates about events in his past, which makes him anxious. He finds release in his macabre hobby which is killing and murdering whoever he likes.

As the sinister misanthrope Tae Goo, Kim Jae Wook showcased his wide versatility, next transitioning to the charming Ryan Gold in “Her Private Life.” He was so terrifying in this role that he made it to K-drama’s dreaded villains of all time.

Ahn Bo Hyun in “Itaewon Class”

The rich, entitled bully Jang Geun Won (Ahn Bo Hyun) makes it seem like when you have money, you can get away with anything. In his case, he can since his father is the chairman of the Jangga Group, and he is the heir in waiting. Geun Won’s nemesis is Park Sae Roy (Park Seo Joon). He leaves no stone unturned in making his life hell in school, so much so that it makes him take the fall for his misdoings. As Geun Won’s despicable behavior continues to wreak havoc for everyone, he is just a lonely boy craving the attention of his emotionally unavailable father.

Ahn Bo Hyun was impressive as Jang Geun Won, showcasing a range of emotions. He brought forth his character’s complexities with an unrestrained performance, so much so that you end up feeling a tad bit bad for him by the end of the show.

Kim Ji Hoon in “Flower of Evil”

Will the real Baek Hee Sung please stand up? Do Hyun Soo (Lee Joon Gi) lives under the identity of Baek Hee Sung to hide his past. When his detective wife Cha Ji Won (Moon Chae Won) begins to suspect that he may be a serial killer, the couple is forced to face some bitter truths. However, the twist is that the real Baek Hee Sung (Kim Ji Hoon) has been in a coma for years. His deep sleep locks many secrets of his crooked and sinister mind as well as his gruesome past. Baek Hee Sung is a man who feels no emotions and plays the victim card to the hilt. Hee Sung kills people with no motive—he enjoys brutality and is a sadist to the core. But what happens when Hyun Soo and Hee Sung engage in a bloody duel?

Kim Ji Hoon’s name immediately makes one recall his role in the drama “Jang Bori Is Here.” However, it’s his turn as the psychopath Baek Hee Sung in the thriller “Flower of Evil” that had many fans do an about-turn with his transformation. Kim Ji Hoon, known for his roles in more romantic shows, was one of the most unexpected and best K-drama villains ever.

Shin Sung Rok in “My Love From the Star”

Lee Jae Kyung (Shin Sung Rok), one of three sons of the chairman of S&C Group, is a jealous and insecure young man. But no one has an inkling that his personality is so dangerous that he can kill his brother to become heir to the company. He stops at nothing. From trying to kill his pregnant girlfriend to putting his wife in an asylum, the man is a menace. Dressed in sharp suits, his disarming smile manages to swerve suspicion, being the smooth operator that he is. It’s when his brother Hee Kyung (Park Hae Jin) pieces the puzzle together and figures that Jae Kyung’s next victim is Chun Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun).

They say when you end up disliking a character for real, then the actor has done a remarkable job. Shin Sung Rok pulls off his character very well. His facial expressions are scary, and the ominous smile is chilling to say the least.

cr: Soompi