Among all of Kim Seon Ho’s TV shows and films, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is the freshest one in our minds right now as it continues to top ratings with each episode. The slice-of-life story of a city girl dentist setting up shop in a small town to start anew has charmed countless viewers. But it’s not just leading lady Shin Min Ah’s character who captured hearts.
Kim Seon Ho’s “Chief” Hong, the town’s enigmatic handyman who takes on multiple odd jobs, has also won the affection of fans. It’s also no secret that thanks to Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, the 35-year-old actor is now a household name. But did you know that he’s been in show business for more than a decade now? He got his start in theatre where he took part in several productions at Daehakro, Korea’s artsy entertainment district. In 2017, he exited the stage and entered the small screen. Kim Seon Ho played parts in many TV shows and films before hitting it big.
Ahead, we take a look back at some of the most interesting roles Kim Seon Ho played before Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
Kim Seon Ho’s interview about being part of the show as a rookie actor.
Kim Seon Ho made his debut on the small screen with the K-Drama Good Manager. It’s about a cunning middle management accountant who once worked for a mob. At first, he had nefarious intentions of embezzling company money but inadvertently became an advocate for the rights of the employees he manages. One of those employees is played by Kim Seon Ho. His role as the newbie Sun Sang Tae who is very green at his job and inexperienced in relationships was one of the firsts of many “good boy” roles he would play.
At the time, Kim Seon Ho was still very much a fresh face and he even shared in an interview that people would not recognise him when he took off the eyeglasses prop that’s part of his Sun Sang Tae costume.
Should you watch this? If you like office dramas with a hint of thriller elements, then you’ll love this one. Good Manager is available for streaming on Netflix.
In the same year Kim Seon Ho made his first appearance on television, he also managed to land the second lead role in the limited series Strongest Deliveryman. He plays Oh Jin Kyu, the rich, spoiled heir of a family business. Kim Seon Ho’s character’s storyline may not be the main one but it’s just as entertaining. It revolves around his whirlwind romance with fellow rich kid and heiress Lee Ji Yoon (Ko Won Hee) who has plans of leaving her cushy life behind to live an independent life. Together, they get into the funny messy hijinks that will surely make you laugh.
Should you watch this? Looking for a lighthearted show to watch after something intense? This is an inspiring and thoroughly entertaining show that fits the bill. Strongest Deliveryman is available to stream on Netflix.
You could say that 2017 was a busy year for the then-newbie actor who was not in one, not two but three shows that year. In Two Cops, his comedic chops were put to the test for his role as Gong Su Chang, a ghost who possesses the body of a homicide detective. It may sound a little too fantastical and gory, but Kim Seon Ho was able to deliver his lines in such a funny way. For this performance, he received his first awards — Best New Actor Award and Male Excellence Award for Monday-Tuesday Drama — at the 2017 MBC Drama Awards.
Should you watch this? Anyone looking for some thrills and a good laugh will enjoy this show. It also puts a fresh spin on the two-souls-in-one-body trope. Two Cops is available for streaming on Viu Malaysia and Singapore. Unfortunately, it has been pulled from Netflix and Viu Philippines.
Two years into his career as a drama actor, Kim Seon Ho landed his first leading role in a full-length series. The crime drama Catch The Ghost centres on Yoo Ryeong (Moon Geun Young), a member of the police force who is searching for her long-lost sister that he believed was a victim of a criminal lurking in the subway called the “Subway Ghost”. The straight-laced Go Ji Seok, played by none other than Kim Seon Ho, was initially hesitant to assist Yoo Ryeong in her rogue investigation of her sister’s disappearance but was swayed by his partner’s perseverance. Tensions arise as they come closer and closer to finding out more about the “Subway Ghost”.
Should you watch this? Catch The Ghost can be considered a guilty pleasure for those who love crime dramas. Nevertheless, it still has a compelling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s available for streaming on Viu.
Of all the pre-Hometown Cha Cha Cha Kim Seon Ho TV shows on this list, it was Start Up that gave the actor his biggest breakthrough and solidified his reputation as an actor who plays “good boy” roles. The character Han Ji Pyeong appears to be a smug venture capitalist at first because of his sharp tongue but we eventually learn that he has a loveable soft side. Soon this corn dog-loving fictional oppa stole the hearts of many, largely in part because of Kim Seon Ho’s charming acting skills.
Should you watch this? This drama has everything: romance, comedy and a dose of inspirational scenes. It was the perfect quarantine binge in 2020 and still is to this day. Start Up is available for streaming on Netflix.
Want more Kim Seon Ho TV shows and films? Good news: It was announced last month that Kim Seon Ho and actress YoonA will star in an upcoming film together called 2 O’Clock Date. It’s a story about neighbours in an apartment building. Not much is known about the movie but it’s reported to start filming in early 2022, according to Soompi. You bet we’re already excited.
(Cover photo from: @seonho_kim)
Next, check out fun facts about the cast of Hometown Cha Cha Cha here.
