The Ahjussi Renaissance: How Veteran Actors Became K-Drama's Leading Men In 2024

Netflix / Disney+ / MBC / Designed by Kpopmap

2024 marked another successful year for Korean dramas with the renewal of well-known tropes and the beginning of some new K-Drama trends. Among them, the return of veteran actors remained a key highlight. These established artists, including Shin HaKyung, Han SukKyu, Kim YeonSeok, and more, have long graced the screens as dashing leads. Slowly taking the supporting roles or becoming a familiar face among multi-starrer projects.

However, 2024 returned them to the spotlight as the leading men challenging and altering the image tagged with the term ‘Ahjussi.’ Each of the actors took up challenging roles in diverse genres, making this year a true renaissance of veteran actors. Thus, before we bid farewell to another year of cinematic brilliance, let's revisit the masterful performances of all the beloved Korean Ahjussi.

 

Breaking the Age Barrier: A Panorama of Powerful Performances

The Ahjussi Renaissance: How Veteran Actors Became K-Drama's Leading Men In 2024

Kpopmap

Among the nearly hundreds of K-Dramas released this year, eleven stood out for their interesting casting, including "Family By Choice," "Doubt," "The Frog," "Romance In The House," "Your Honor," and more.

All these K-Dramas featured veteran stars in their late 40s to late 50s as the leading men. They drove the narratives of the series, carrying the weight of its success, and gave compelling performances. From action to romance, these artists excelled in pulling off all genres, proving that age is nothing but a number. Let's take a closer look at their diverse performances.

 

The Investigative Maestros