Top 10 Standout K-Drama Performances From The First Half Of 2024

Y Magazine / Elle / Singles Magazine

We have officially concluded the first half of 2024, and it is time to look back on the past half year. When it comes to K-Dramas, 2024 brought us some of the most groundbreaking productions that reached unprecedented heights of popularity. Rising stars emerged, veterans made their much-awaited comebacks, directors explored stylistic experimentation, writers received their flowers from fans all over the world, and records were broken. Many fans dubbed the first half of this year as a "golden" time for K-Dramas, mirroring the boom of 2016. With the second half of this golden period coming up, there's a lot more to look forward to.

So, what were the best acting performances in K-Dramas that stood out so far? Here's our ranking!

Note: This ranking does not include K-Dramas that are now airing.

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10. Jeon SoNee - "Parasyte: The Grey"

Jeon SoNee has long been lauded as a fantastic actress. However, "Parasyte: The Grey" was definitely her breakout performance that established her as a force to be reckoned with. This sci-fi horror K-Drama set in Hitoshi Iwaaki's "Parasyte" universe presents us with an MC who is painfully human, even with an alien being inside her. Jeon SoNee plays Jung SuIn and/or Heidi, and the true strength of her performance lies in the subtlety of it all. Needless to say, the sharpness with which she switched between SuIn and Heidi in the blink of an eye proved her mettle as a strong actress, but it was the way she blended the two characters seamlessly that elevated the drama to a higher level. Jeon SoNee acts with conviction and it shows.

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9. Ahn BoHyun -