Foreign actors in K-content: How far will their roles expand?

In an era where the word “global” no longer sounds foreign, Korean actors are increasingly venturing abroad, and foreign faces are becoming more common in K-dramas and films. As K-content continues to attract worldwide attention, how far can the diversity of its cast members expand?

Indian actor Anupam Tripathi, who rose to fame through his role as Ali in the global hit “Squid Game,” recently landed his first leading role in a Korean commercial film with “Rhapsody for the Dead,” which premiered last month. In the film, he plays Anuwat, a man harboring a secret, and stars alongside former AOA member Lim Do-hwa. Tripathi also portrayed Prince Samir in the drama “King the Land,” further cementing his growing presence in K-content.

Taiwanese actress Regina Lei has also drawn attention with her performance in “Twelve,” where she plays Bang-ul, an angel who helps heal others. Starring alongside Ma Dong-seok, Park Hyung-sik, Seo In-guk, Lee Joo-bin and Go Kyu-pil, Lei’s presence brings depth and diversity to the narrative.

Actor Greg Hsu (Hsu Kuang-han), widely known among Korean audiences for his role in “Someday or One Day,” showcased a new side in the drama “No Way Out: The Roulette,” released last year, where he played a cold-blooded killer. Reflecting on his Korean debut, Hsu said, “All the senior actors took care of me and I was grateful. I really enjoyed filming.” Co-star Yoo Jae-myung praised Hsu, saying, “He is incredibly dedicated and has a great attitude toward his work. I often felt proud seeing how much he appreciated debuting in Korea.”

Despite the rising number of foreign actors in K-content, the scope of their roles remains somewhat limited, primarily due to language barriers. Many characters are written to be silent or to deliver lines in a foreign language rather than Korean. In “Twelve,” Lei’s character Bang-ul does not speak, with fellow character Doni (played by Go Kyu-pil) expressing her thoughts instead. Cases like Anupam Tripathi’s, where a foreign actor speaks Korean on screen, are still relatively rare.

Still, industry experts believe the landscape is changing rapidly. Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik told the Hankook Ilbo, “In the past, foreign actors were often cast as extras, but now they are appearing in roles with significant importance. As K-content’s global stature has grown and more works are being released through OTT (streaming) platforms, international narratives have become increasingly necessary. It’s similar to how K-pop groups now often include foreign members. I expect to see more cases where foreign actors take on leading roles. This trend may also help soften Korea’s traditionally rigid views on multiculturalism.”

Tripathi also expressed optimism about the future during an interview with the Hankook Ilbo, saying, “We will see more foreign actors in Korea, and competition among them will become even more intense.”

With the rising global profile of K-dramas and films and the blurring of cultural and linguistic boundaries, the influx of foreign talent into Korean entertainment is expected to accelerate.

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.