9 Han Hyo Joo K-Dramas And Movies To Watch *Right Now*

You might know Korean actress Han Hyo Joo best for her recent turn as quirky special operation unit police squad member Sae Bom in the zombie-themed K-drama Happiness, but she's actually been in the industry since the early 2000s. One of her first notable roles was as protagonist Eun Young in the K-drama Spring Waltz in 2006, the last installment of the popular Endless Love series. Since then, she has bloomed into an award-winning actress with a variety of drama and movie roles under her belt.

Whether the genre's romance, action, historical, or fantasy, Hyo Joo gives it her all. Read on for a list of some of her best works:

Han Hyo Joo Dramas you need to watch:

1. Brilliant Legacy (2006)

   Who else is in it: Lee Seung Gi, Moon Chae Won, Bae Soo Bin, Ban Hyo Jung

   This drama was one of the highest-rated series in 2009, recording a peak of 47.1% for its finale. In it, Hyo Joo plays Go Eun Sung, a hardworking dumpling stall owner with a troubled past. Enter her unexpected savior, granny Jang Sook Ja (Hyo Jung), who owns a food company. When Eun Sung saves her, Sook Ja decides to make Eun Sung her successor, surprising her arrogant grandson, Seon Woo Hwan (Seung Gi). As Eun Sung starts living with the family, granny Sook Ja hopes she influences Hwan into changing for the better.
   

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2. Dong Yi (2010)
   

   Who else is in it: Ji Jin Hee, Lee So Yeon, Bae Soo Bin

   Here’s another ratings winner among Hyo Joo's many series! A period drama set in the Joseon dynasty, it's based on the life of a famous woman from history, Choi Suk Bin, who used to be known as Dong Yi before becoming one of King Suk Jong's consorts. Hyo Joo plays the titular character, a former servant who rises up the ranks and becomes a court lady inspector. She later becomes King Suk Jong's (Jin Hee) concubine and uses her smarts to uncover a political plot at the palace. Hyo Joo won several awards for her acting in this drama, including the much-respected daesang (Grand Prize) at the MBC Drama Awards.
   

3. W: Two Worlds (2016)
   

   Who else is in it: Lee Jong Suk, Jung Yoo Jin, Lee Tae Hwan, Kim Eui Sung

   This thrilling romance combines fantasy and reality. Yeon Joo (Hyo Joo) is a surgeon and the daughter of popular webtoon author Oh Seong Moo (Eui Sung). When her father suddenly disappears, she visits his studio and finds herself getting pulled into the universe of his webtoon, W, where she meets Kang Chul (Jong Suk), W’s protagonist, and saves his life. She helps him hunt down the murderer who killed his family while trying to figure out how to save her own father. Spoiler: This series also has some of the *hottest* kissing scenes we've ever seen in a K-drama, so if you're looking for something to get ~kilig~ about, you might want to bump this up to your to-watch list.
   

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4. Happiness (2021)
   

   Who else is in it: Park Hyung Sik, Jo Woo Jin, Lee Jun Hyeok
   
   Who knew a drama about zombies could be so moving? Happiness is not your typical zombie thriller as it focuses more on questioning humanity's motives and figuring out who the real "monsters" are. The premise revolves around a new pandemic that hits when a failed COVID-19 cure starts putting people into a zombie-like state instead. Those infected with the Rita virus aren't in zombie mode all the time. They can control their thirst at first and even act normally when not triggered, which makes them patients, not mindless monsters. Special operations squad member Sae Bom (Hyo Joo) and detective Yi Hyun (Hyung Sik) are newlyweds who just moved in to a new apartment. When the apartment becomes Rita virus central, they must figure out how to survive and retain their humanity.  
   

5. Moving (2023)
   

   Who else is in it: Jo In Sung, Ryu Seung Ryong
   
   Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, Moving is a Disney+ drama that focuses on the lives of three high school students who possess supernatural abilities inherited from their equally skilled parents. When a deadly assassin is deployed to take them out, their parents will stop at nothing to keep them from harm’s way. 
   

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Han Hyo Joo Movies you need to watch:

1. Masquerade (2012)
   

   Who else is in it: Lee Byung Hun, Ryu Seung Ryong, Shim Eun Kyung

   Masquerade is one of the highest-grossing Korean movies of all time. It's a historical film about King Gwang Hae (Byung Hun) of the Joseon dynasty, who lives in fear of getting assassinated. His solution: Get a body double. Enter poor acrobat Ha Sun (also Byung Hun). He looks just like the king, so he becomes Gwang Hae's sporadic replacement. When the king gets poisoned for real, Ha Sun must rule in his place until he recovers. But what happens when his queen (Hyo Joo) starts questioning what's going on?
   

2. Cold Eyes (2013)
   

   Who else is in it: Sol Kyung Gu, Jung Woo Sung, Jin Kyung, Lee Jun Ho

   This award-winning thriller was part of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2013 Busan International Film Festival. It features a chase between a police surveillance team and an expert thief. Newbie Yoon Joo (Hyo Joo) joins Detective Hwang (Kyung Gu) and his team as they work to capture robber James (Woo Sung) and his gang. As James completes heists with Detective Hwang on the trail, he realizes someone else could be after him.
   

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3. The Beauty Inside (2015)
   

   Who else is in it: Yoo Yeon Seok, Kim Dae Myung, Park Shin Hye, Park Seo Joon

   In this touching film, ordinary Woo Jin wakes up on his eighteenth birthday only to realize that his physical appearance is now someone else’s. Ever since that day, he wakes up with a different face and body. He grows up and becomes a furniture designer living on his own while hiding his condition from others. His life changes when he meets Yi Soo (Hyo Joo), a furniture shop worker, and falls for her. But now Yi Soo must deal with his constantly changing appearance. Will love prevail? This film is star-studded, having cameos from many popular actors and actresses, thanks to Woo Jin's affliction. Some of our fave appearances: Park Seo Joon's and Japanese actress Ueno Juri's.
   

4. The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure (2022)
   

   Who else is in it: Kang Ha Neul, Lee Kwang Soo, Kwon Sang Woo, Chae Soo Bin, EXO's Sehun

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   If you enjoyed Son Ye Jin and Kim Nam Gil in the blockbuster hit The Pirates back in 2014, you'll enjoy this swashbuckling new adventure out on Netflix. Considered a spiritual sequel to The Pirates, the film revolves around Wu Mu Chi (Ha Neul), a former bandit leader, now traveling with a group of pirates led by their captain, Hae Rang (Hyo Joo). They search the vast ocean for a treasure the Goryeo royal family lost. They have to make haste because they're not the only ones on the trail. The rebel Bu Heung Su (Sang Woo) is also on the hunt for the treasure. As of this writing, the film is currently Korea’s highest-grossing film for 2022.
   

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