They want to be evaluated purely for their acting. A meaningful challenge begins—one aimed at shedding the heavy label of being “an idol-turned-actor.”
ITZY’s Ryujin has announced her first official steps as an actress through the independent film 'Night on Earth'. The film depicts a society thrown into chaos by the appearance of mutated jellyfish, and follows Soo, a young man who hides away in a bathtub to avoid life. When he encounters the people at the illegal clinic “Manbok Pension,” he begins to confront life once again. Based on author Lim Sun Woo’s short story of the same name, the movie adds elements of fantastical imagination.
Ryujin plays Kang, an employee at Manbok Pension. Though outwardly boyish, the character holds a warm inner world, and Ryujin is expected to show a fresh charm through the role. Before debuting as an idol, Ryujin made a minor cameo in director Han Jae Rim’s film 'The King', but 'Night on Earth' marks her first formal attempt at acting. Filming has been completed and the project is now in post-production.
WEi member Kim Donghan recently made his big-screen debut with the film 'Replay'. The movie tells the story of an idol star entangled in a scandal, a promising taekwondo athlete recovering from injury, and a group of clumsy hobby-class students who take on a life-changing challenge together. Kim Donghan plays Heechan, a former national-team-level taekwondo prospect who now works as an instructor. Since beginning his acting career in 2020 with the web drama 'TRAP', he has been steadily building his growth narrative as an actor.
The landscape of idols pursuing acting is shifting. Instead of relying on name recognition, the focus now is on strengthening the fundamentals. Acting is no longer treated as a mere side experience, but as a career path taken as seriously as group activities. Dedicated acting lessons are considered standard, and idols are increasingly starting with smaller roles to find their own tone and develop their craft.
It’s a meaningful change. For years, idol acting attempts were met with both anticipation and skepticism. Many idols were cast in leading roles based on popularity, only to face backlash and repeated controversies—thus creating the persistent label of “idol actor.” Even when they approached acting with sincerity, they still had to battle the perception that agency support and fandom advantages were the real reason behind their opportunities.
But some have overcome that stigma and solidified themselves as respected actors—Im Siwan and Doh Kyung Soo are prime examples. Im Siwan debuted in 2010 with ZE:A and began his acting journey as a supporting actor in 'Moon Embracing the Sun' while still promoting as an idol. He later delivered a powerful performance in the film 'The Attorney' and shed the “idol actor” label entirely with his portrayal of Jang Geurae in 'Misaeng'. His steady progression—from supporting roles to major supporting roles and eventually lead roles—built his credibility.
Doh Kyung Soo, who debuted in 2012 as EXO-K’s main vocalist, also expanded his acting spectrum and established himself firmly as an actor. Despite having a massive global fandom, he left a strong impression even in a small role in 'It’s Okay, That’s Love'. He then went on to showcase a wide range of characters in 'Cart', 'My Annoying Brother', 'Along With the Gods', 'Swing Kids', and more—earning industry acclaim.
In the end, the results speak for themselves. Deliver performances worthy of the title “actor,” and preconceived labels fall away. The industry is increasingly prioritizing fundamentals over background, raising expectations for the next generation of actors who may follow in the footsteps of Im Siwan and Doh Kyung Soo.
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