table of content table of content
- 1. Business Proposal (2022) – Kang Tae-moo
- 2. Dr. Romantic, Seasons 2 and 3 – Seo Woo-jin
- 3. A Time Called You (2023) – Nam Si-heon / Koo Yeon-jun
- 4. Lovers of the Red Sky (2021) – Ha Ram
- 5. Still 17 (2018) – Yoo Chan
- 6. Abyss (2019) – Cha Min
- 7. Queen of the Ring (2017) – Park Se-gun
- And Coming Soon to "Final Table": Ahn Hyo-seop Takes on the Stove
A CEO as charming as he is unbearable, a talented surgeon, a young man in love across time, or an astrologer with a tragic fate: Ahn Hyo-seop has already explored many different worlds in K-dramas. And you have to admit that he has a certain knack for winning us over, whether his character is wearing a three-piece suit or a hospital gown.
He came to the attention of the international public thanks to the success of Business Proposal, ... yet the South Korean actor has many other roles to his credit. From romances to fantasy, medical dramas, and time travel, his filmography holds some wonderful surprises.
As he prepares to make his comeback Starting October 24 in Final Table, in which he will play a head chef this time around, is the perfect opportunity to look back at the characters who have shaped his career.
From Business Proposal à A Time Called You, here is The 7 Best Ahn Hyo-seop K-Dramas You Must Watch Before His Next Role.
1. Business Proposal (2022) – Kang Tae-moo
It's impossible to talk about Ahn Hyo-seop without starting with the drama that catapulted him to international fame.
In Business Proposal, he embodies Kang Tae-moo, a brilliant, extremely wealthy, and particularly demanding young CEO, whose grandfather desperately wants him to get married. To put an end to the arranged dates, Tae-moo decides to marry the next woman he meets.
Except that this woman is Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong), an employee at his company who went to the meeting in place of her best friend. And, of course, she hadn't expected to run into her own boss at all.
Between false identities, a love contract, and embarrassing situations, Business Proposal It features all the hallmarks of a Korean romantic comedy, but with an energy that makes the whole thing particularly addictive.
Ahn Hyo-seop is clearly having a blast playing this self-assured CEO who is sometimes completely overwhelmed by his feelings. His chemistry with Kim Se-jeong does the rest, and some scenes have become must-sees for rom-com fans.
If you're looking for a funny, romantic drama that's perfect for a laid-back evening, it doesn't get much better than this.
- Where to watch: on Netflix.
2. Dr. Romantic, Seasons 2 and 3 – Seo Woo-jin
A complete change of atmosphere with Dr. Romantic, in which Ahn Hyo-seop swaps his impeccable suits for a surgeon's scrubs.
He joined the series in its second season in the role of Seo Woo-jin, a young, exceptionally talented doctor who has been marked by a difficult past and severe financial hardships.
After being sidelined at his previous institution, Woo-jin arrives at Doldam Hospital, where he meets the renowned Professor Kim Sa-bu (Han Suk-kyu). Under the guidance of this mentor—who is as demanding as he is unconventional—he will gradually rediscover what it truly means to be a doctor.
But Dr. Romantic It doesn't just string together one spectacular operation after another. The series also explores the pressures faced by healthcare workers, ethical dilemmas, and the personal struggles each character carries with them.
The relationship between Woo-jin and Cha Eun-jae (Lee Sung-kyung), another young surgeon in Doldam, naturally adds a welcome romantic element.
Here, Ahn Hyo-seop delivers one of his most compelling performances, playing a character who is much more reserved and tormented than Kang Tae-moo. He will reprise this role in the third season, allowing viewers to follow his evolution over several years.
- Where to watch: Viki for Season 2, Disney+ for Season 3; check availability of previous seasons by region.
3. A Time Called You (2023) – Nam Si-heon / Koo Yeon-jun
Get your tissues ready. And probably a notebook to keep track of the different time periods. In A Time Called You, Ahn Hyo-seop stars alongside Jeon Yeo-been in a fantasy romance adapted from a Taiwanese drama Someday or One Day.
The story follows Han Jun-hee, a young woman who is unable to come to terms with the death of her partner, Koo Yeon-jun. One day, a mysterious event transports her back to 1998, into the body of a high school student named Kwon Min-ju.
There she meets Nam Si-heon, a boy who bears a striking resemblance to his lost love.
From there, emotions, identities, and eras intertwine in a plot where each new revelation shifts our understanding of the events.
Ahn Hyo-seop must navigate the many facets of his character, shifting from carefree adolescence to much more painful emotions. His performance brings out the full power of this love story, which refuses to be confined to a single era.
A Time Called You It requires a bit of attention, but viewers who enjoy melancholic romances and time-travel mysteries should find it to their liking.
- Where to watch: on Netflix.
4. Lovers of the Red Sky (2021) – Ha Ram
With Lovers of the Red Sky, also known as Red Sky, Ahn Hyo-seop is trying his hand at a fantasy sageuk.
In it, he plays the role of Ha Ram, an astrologer who lost his sight as a result of a supernatural event that occurred during his childhood. Behind his calm and mysterious exterior lies a man connected to forces far more dangerous than they appear. His fate intertwines with that of Hong Cheon-gi (Kim Yoo-jung), a particularly talented young painter who also has a connection to the events of the past.
With curses, royal secrets, demons, and romantic feelings, the drama blends historical romance with supernatural elements. Ha Ram is a fascinating character because he constantly oscillates between gentleness and darkness. Ahn Hyo-seop must convey a great deal without being able to rely on his character’s gaze, all while portraying a man torn between his love for Cheon-gi and the forces that threaten to destroy him.
The chemistry between Kim Yoo-jung and the drama's visual style are also among its main strengths. An excellent choice for discovering Ahn Hyo-seop in a more mysterious and tragic role.
- Where to watch: Rakuten Viki, depending on your country.
5. Still 17 (2018) – Yoo Chan
Before becoming the most sought-after CEO in K-dramas, Ahn Hyo-seop had already played a particularly endearing young man in Still 17 (Thirty but seventeen).
The drama tells the story of Woo Seo-ri (Shin Hye-sun), a promising violinist who fell into a coma at age 17. When she wakes up thirteen years later, she discovers that she is now 30, even though she still feels like a teenager.
As she tries to rebuild her life, she meets Gong Woo-jin (Yang Se-jong), a reserved man, along with his nephew Yoo Chan, played by Ahn Hyo-seop. As captain of his high school rowing team, Chan is enthusiastic, athletic, generous, and always ready to help others. He quickly develops feelings for Seo-ri, without really understanding just how complicated her situation is.
This role gives us a chance to see a much younger Ahn Hyo-seop, brimming with energy and particularly endearing.
Even though he isn't part of the main couple, Yoo Chan remains one of those supporting characters you can’t help but grow attached to. And for fans of the actor, Still 17 marks an important milestone in his career.
- Where to watch: availability on Rakuten Viki, depending on the country.
6. Abyss (2019) – Cha Min
What if a mysterious marble had the power to bring the dead back to life, giving them an appearance that matched their souls? That’s the starting point for’Abyss, a fantasy drama in which Ahn Hyo-seop stars opposite Park Bo-young.
He embodies Cha Min, the heir to a wealthy family that runs a cosmetics company. After an accident, he is brought back to life by a supernatural object called the Abyss, but discovers that he now has a completely different face. His longtime friend, District Attorney Go Se-yeon, also meets a tragic death before being resurrected with a different appearance.
Together, they will try to understand what happened to them and identify those responsible for the events that turned their lives upside down. Part crime investigation, part romance, and part fantasy, Abyss It has a plot that's sometimes outlandish, but its lead duo remains particularly likable.
In the series, Ahn Hyo-seop plays a sincere character who is clumsy in love—a far cry from the self-assured men he would go on to portray. His chemistry with Park Bo-young adds a lot of charm to this story full of twists and turns.
- Where to watch: Netflix.
7. Queen of the Ring (2017) – Park Se-gun
To wrap up this Top 7 list, let's go back a little further in Ahn Hyo-seop's career with Queen of the Ring, a short fantasy romance from 2017 that’s worth rediscovering.
The story follows Mo Nan-hee (Kim Seul-gi), a college student who is self-conscious about her appearance and comes into possession of a magic ring. The ring has a very special power: when a man sees her wearing it, he perceives her as the woman he considers his ideal.
That is how she catches the attention of Park Se-gun, a popular and handsome student played by Ahn Hyo-seop. But of course, a love story based on an illusion can't stay simple for very long. Behind its lighthearted premise, Queen of the Ring explores physical insecurities, how others see us, and that question many of us have asked ourselves: Can we be loved for who we truly are?
In it, Ahn Hyo-seop plays a character who is quite different from his best-known roles, in a short, easy-to-watch romance.
A little treat that's perfect for fans who've already devoured all of his greatest hits.
- Where to watch: Check availability in France.
And Coming Soon to "Final Table": Ahn Hyo-seop Takes on the Stove
After playing a CEO, a surgeon, an astrologer, and even a lover caught up in the twists and turns of time, Ahn Hyo-seop is set to add a new profession to his filmography: head chef.
In Final Table, he will perform Kang Han, a Korean chef living abroad, who decides to enter a prestigious competition bringing together culinary talents from around the world. Named The Table: K-Chef 2026, the competition is intended to determine the best Korean chef.
Kang Han will represent the Familia restaurant, an establishment whose future is in jeopardy. In particular, he will cross paths with Choi Song-yi (Hong Hwa-yeon), a theater manager who is trying to preserve his father's legacy, and Cha Woo-jin (Chang Ryul), a perfectionist chef determined to win.
One of the drama's announced unique features is its hybrid format: the cooking competition will be presented as a real TV show, while still featuring the storylines and personal relationships typical of K-dramas.
The distribution of Final Table is set to premiere on October 24, 2026, on JTBC and Prime Video, with two episodes per week.
In the meantime, his filmography offers plenty to keep us entertained. Bursts of laughter from Business Proposal the emotions of’A Time Called You, not to mention the high-voltage operations at Dr. Romantic, Ahn Hyo-seop has already proven that he can win us over in a wide variety of roles. Oh, and let's not forget I'm done with you, also released in 2026.
What about you? What's your favorite K-drama starring Ahn Hyo-seop? And are you looking forward to seeing him in Final Table ?
