Supporting actors leave lasting impact in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ and ‘Buried Hearts’
Actors Choi Dae-hoon, top, Cha Mi-kyung, second from left at bottom, and others add depth to the Netflix drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines.” Courtesy of Netflix
From Choi Dae-hoon to Lee Hae-young, supporting actors make their mark with lead-level performances
A well-crafted drama doesn’t rely on lead actors alone, as great supporting characters are often what bring the story to life. Recently, several well-made Korean dramas have featured memorable supporting casts who delivered as much emotional weight and narrative impact as the headliners.
Whether it’s Choi Dae-hoon in “When Life Gives You Tangerines” or veteran actors like Woo Hyun and Lee Hae-young in “Buried Hearts,” these standout performances have helped shape some of the year’s most compelling series.
The success of a drama doesn’t rest solely on strong direction and lead actors. The supporting cast, who fill out the story’s emotional and thematic layers, are essential to creating unforgettable moments.
In recent hit dramas, actors like Cha Mi-kyung and Lee Hae-young have drawn widespread acclaim and quickly lined up new roles, signaling a new peak in their careers.
In Netflix’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” a show with few clear villains, Choi Dae-hoon’s portrayal of Bu Sang-gil — a petty rival known for ending his sentences with the exclamation “Hak-ssi” — stood out from the very beginning.
Despite his occasional aggression and jealousy toward Park Hae-joon’s character Gwan-sik, Sang-gil remains strangely endearing. His character arc, complete with a hint of pathos, owes much to Choi’s nuanced performance.
Already a reliable scene-stealer in dramas like “Trigger,” “The Good Detective 2” and “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” Choi now enters a new chapter in his career. He has already signed on for Netflix’s “The Wonder Fools” as his next project.
The drama also showcased the warmth of a group of haenyeo (female divers), especially through the character Chungsu, played by Cha Mi-kyung. As the eldest of the divers, she offers emotional comfort not just to Ae-sun (IU) but to viewers as well. Her quiet strength and nurturing presence create a sense of community and resilience.
Cha, who previously appeared in “Chief Detective 1958,” “Good Partner” and films like “House of the Seasons,” said in a recent interview, “I don’t mind playing grandmother roles — actually, actors envy the range it offers. I’ve played everything from women in their 50s to 80s.” She credits good scripts for allowing her to fully embody such diverse roles.
Lee Hae-young as Heo Il-do in "Buried Hearts" / Courtesy of SBS
Rich cast of supporting characters
Meanwhile, “Buried Hearts,” which recently ended its run, was filled with an unusually rich supporting cast — from young actors like Hong Hwa-yeon and Cha Woo-min to veterans like Huh Joon-ho and Kim Jung-nan. But one name that stood out was Lee Hae-young.
Known for a prolific filmography including “Stranger,” “The Glory,” “Bloodhounds” and “Moving,” Lee delivered a chilling turn as villainous Heo Il-do.
In a late-series twist, Lee's character discovers that Seo Dong-joo (Park Hyung-sik) — whom he had tried to kill multiple times — is actually his biological son. While the secret child trope may be familiar, Lee's restrained, emotionally layered performance elevated the reveal. With minimal movement and subtle facial expressions in a dimly lit scene, he conveyed heartbreak and regret, heightening the show’s emotional depth.
Following the finale, Lee shared through his agency, “‘Buried Hearts’ was a challenge in my acting career. Playing Heo Il-do, whose emotions constantly shifted, was not easy. I sincerely thank all the viewers who supported the show until the end. I look forward to meeting you again with another great project.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.