Sometimes it's the job that makes the character unforgettable. While many K-dramas are filled with swoon-worthy CEOs, brilliant doctors, or stoic detectives, it's refreshing when a drama introduces characters with truly unusual and unique careers. These unexpected professions stand out and add an extra layer of intrigue.
From Foley artists to food researchers, these characters gave us a glimpse into worlds we rarely see onscreen, and we loved every minute of it. Here are 8 K-drama characters with careers that broke the mold and gave us a refreshing break from the usual job tropes.
INJI - 'THE TRUNK' (2024)
Career: Professional Contract Wife
Inji works for a matchmaking company that pairs clients with short-term spouses. Her job? Be someone’s wife, for one year only. It’s an unconventional and eerie setup, made more intriguing by secrets that unfold as the story progresses. The job is fictional, but the emotional complexity it brings is very real.
SHIN HARI - 'BUSINESS PROPOSAL' (2022)
Career: Food Researcher
By day, Hari creates new instant meals and tests food textures. By night, she’s pretending to be someone else on a blind date. While the romance takes center stage, the drama gives us plenty of fun peeks into the food development process, from tasting trials to noodle testing. Bonus: it’ll make you hungry.
SEO YI KANG - 'JIRISAN' (2021)
Career: Forest Ranger
As a top ranger in Korea’s Jirisan National Park, Seo Yi-kang rescues lost hikers, tracks signs in the wild, and solves mountain mysteries. Her role is rooted in nature, and the series presents her profession with seriousness and depth. It’s a physically and emotionally intense job, and a rare one to see in K-dramas.
KYUNG WOO YEON - 'MORE THAN FRIENDS' (2020)
Career: Type Designer
Woo Yeon doesn’t just love calligraphy; she’s a professional type designer. The series sheds light on this underrated career, where even the tiniest stroke can change the feel of an entire message. Through her work, we get a sense of how much design influences the written word.
SUNG DEOK-MI - 'HER PRIVATE LIFE' (2019)
Career: Museum Curator
Sung Deokmi is a passionate curator who lives a double life. By day, she organizes and manages exhibitions; by night, she’s an obsessed fangirl of an idol singer. Her job requires a deep knowledge of art and curation, offering viewers a fresh perspective on how museums operate. It’s an elegant yet demanding profession rarely portrayed in dramas.
KIM RAE WAN - 'YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY' (2018)
Career: Simultaneous Interpreter
Kim Rae-wan isn’t your typical K-drama lead. As a professional interpreter, her job requires lightning-fast thinking and emotional control. The drama gives viewers a peek into the stressful and highly skilled world of real-time translation, something rarely seen on screen. It’s a short, quiet show, but the career angle adds a unique layer.
PARK DO KYUNG – 'ANOTHER MISS OH' (2016)
Career: Foley Artist (Sound Designer)
Sound designers rarely get the spotlight, but Do Kyung’s work takes center stage here. The show beautifully showcases the behind-the-scenes magic of audio storytelling, from using odd props for footsteps to capturing the sound of sunlight. His job becomes a metaphor for how he processes the world and his own emotional trauma.
Which of these unusual jobs fascinated you the most? Please feel free to also share something not mentioned in the list!
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