When it comes to acting, there are as many styles as there are actors. One such style is subtle acting - the ability to portray the grandest, most complicated sentiments with delicate nuance. There are no exaggerated gestures or animated expressions - just quiet, heartfelt channeling of emotions. Subtle acting is subdued, restrained, and muted but powerful, intense, and dynamic.
Subtlety is unassuming and hidden - never overt and loud. It lies in the curl of one's lips, the flitting of their eyes, the tremble of their fingers - the little things, and K-Drama actors are masters of this art. So, let's discuss some of the most iconic examples of subtle acting we've seen in the K-Drama industry in recent times, shall we?
Before we get into it, it is important to note that no actor is defined by a single acting style. The very mark of a great actor is in the way they can switch from one to another effortlessly. The same goes for the actors on this list. Subtle acting may be their signature style (or not) but it is certainly not the only one they have mastered. Similarly, there are also other actors who have shown immaculate subtle acting in their filmography. However, this list is not exhaustive and is not in any order of ranking.
Yoo AhIn - Jeong JinSoo in "Hellbound"
The best place to start a discourse about subtle acting would be the actor who does it best - Yoo AhIn. Without a shadow of a doubt, Yoo AhIn is the epitome of perfection when it comes to coloring his characters with the most impactful shades of subtlety. While we could write an entire appreciation post about Yoo AhIn's acting range, for the sake of this article, we're looking at Jeong JinSoo from "Hellbound".
Jeong JinSoo is the leader and chairman of a cult named "New Truth Society". He is cold-blooded, indifferent, and absurdly eerie but charismatic, convincing, and influential. He is the mastermind of an apocalypse with an air of godly superiority, creating an illusion of power over a world that has largely plunged into chaos. His manipulation spreads like a disease, consuming humanity as he takes divine judgment into his own hands. JinSoo has a strange way of oration - calm, composed, unmoved, which inadvertently draws his believers in like a hypnotist's pendulum.
However, like all classic villains, Jeong JinSoo has quite the back story. Having received a death decree himself at a very young age, JinSoo spirals down the existentialist hole of meaninglessness and decides to impose his twisted philosophy on the world because why not? It's the only way he can exercise any control in the face of a terrifying truth. JinSoo's own condemnation was unfair and untimely so it only makes sense that it turns him psychotic, and boy, does Yoo AhIn portray this breed of evil with panache.
Lee MinHo - Koh HanSu in "Pachinko"
Speaking of Korean actors who can switch styles like they switch outfits, Lee MinHo is unbeatable. Now, Hallyu's top star Lee MinHo has a knack for playing larger-than-life characters whose very presence commands attention. Subtle acting didn't really befit these roles. However, when the actor met the magnanimous character of Koh HanSu, he knew that subtlety was the way to go.
Throughout the series, Lee MinHo maintains a distance - both from his real self and his past. So, naturally, he comes across as someone from another world to SunJa (Kim MinHa). He cannot afford to be true to his own heart so he ends up hurting those he holds dear, lest they suffer from the same pains that he did. However, his eyes, his bitter words, and the way he tries to hold on, betray his real emotions. His inner world is constantly in conflict and this shows all too well, especially because of how much he tries to hide it. This is where Lee MinHo's subtle acting truly shines.
There's no doubt that HanSu is a manipulative, cruel, and heartless man, and there's no excuse for it really but history shaped him with an instinct for survival - one that he can never abandon. In addition, this "subtle acting" is only in play when we see Koh HanSu in the present. HanSu of the past, the little boy with dreams in his eyes, was bright and zestful, full of life. Lee MinHo portrays this transformation from the spirited HanSu to the soulless Koh HanSu with utter excellence and his performance is truly unparalleled.
You can read out analysis of Koh HanSu's character below!
ASTRO's Cha EunWoo - Johan in "Island"
ASTRO's Cha EunWoo is one of those actors who keep getting better and better with each role. The range of characters he has played is diverse, indeed, but the genres he is taking on now are even more impressive, unlocking sharper skills that cement his position as one of the finest actors of the new generation. JoHan from "Island" is definitely one such character that has brought out a new side to Cha EunWoo, one that we cannot wait to see more of.
JoHan or Kang ChanHyuk is the boy who got his smile stolen away. On the surface, JoHan is an upbeat, witty, and playful character who likes K-Dramas and is a devout Christian. However, he is more than just a priest. He is an exorcist who believes that it is his mission to vanquish all the evil in the world and protect his loved ones. Having spent half his life casting away spirits, there's not much that fazes him even though he appears bright-eyed. Little did he know that the biggest challenge he would ever face would be to exorcise his own estranged brother. Once again, the subtlety in this character comes from what we see, which is in stark contrast with what lies underneath.
As Johan struggles to turn his brother back to normal, he is simultaneously fighting with his own self. Ultimately, his protectiveness towards his found family takes precedence over his real one, and Johan must be the one to "liberate" his dear brother. As he writhes in pain, Johan chants a prayer for his soul, with shaky hands and tearful eyes, bidding goodbye. Even in such a heartening situation, Johan holds himself back from giving in to his pain until he's all alone. The way Cha EunWoo brings this scene to life, adorning it with the most poignant sense of tragedy as a single tear rolls down his cheek, is what the whole series has led up to. Defeated and lost, Cha EunWoo's expressions are top-tier, evoking agony in his audience like no other.
Jang SeungJo - Goo EunBeom in "Strangers Again"
Heartthrob alert! The internet has a brand new crush and it is none other than Jang SeungJo. The actor has a penchant for choosing the most unique and intriguing roles and he has done it once more with "Strangers Again". After delivering the blockbuster success that was "The Good Detective 2", this time, he is taking on a role that is diametrically opposed. Such is the versatility of Jang SeungJo.
Goo EunBeom is a lawyer, a divorced lawyer, a divorced lawyer who works at the same firm as his ex-wife, the ex-wife that he allegedly cheated on but actually did not and probably still loves but tries to set her up with his friend. Yes, the list goes on. Goo EunBeom is terribly down on his luck and must live with the title of an adulterer. He is penniless, clumsy, and clueless but he is also highly intelligent, extremely good at what he does, and devilishly charming. Jang SeungJo plays this part with amplified hilarity, making us pity him, fall in love with him, and detest him all at once. However, when faced with his broken marriage with Oh HaRa (Kang SoRa), Jang SeungJo turns his subtlety on.
From the way he regrets having to set HaRa up with his friend and then hides it, the pain in his eyes when she talks about his "affair" with the other woman, and especially when he hears about how hard it has been for HaRa, Goo EunBeom cannot help but fall quiet, unable to look her in the eye. However, his face says it all. HaRa might not be able to tell but as viewers, as we witness the tinge of shame and guilt on his face, we can clearly tell that he is hurting.
At the same time, when Goo EunBeom makes it evident that he wants HaRa back, that he still has feelings for her that can never go away, he does it through the most subtle gestures that perhaps no one but the parties concerned can pick up on. So, essentially, it is in moments of sheer sincerity and vulnerability that Jang SeungJo employs his subtle acting. It will be interesting to see where this show goes next.
ZE:A's Yim SiWan - Ahn DaeBeom in "Summer Strike"
Finally, we could not possibly conclude without the actor whose name is synonymous with brilliance, Yim SiWan. Subtle acting is most definitely one of his most representative styles, especially in the way he is able to project it with moving passion. Whether it be a villain he is playing or a sweetheart, Yim SiWan's subtle acting hits just as hard, which is precisely why it is worth high praise. There's a still elegance in Yim SiWan's acting, regardless of the role that he is playing, and that is one of the many reasons why his characters are unforgettable.
While there are many characters that we could have picked for this list, his most recent work "Summer Strike" seemed to be the most relevant right now. Ahn DaeBeom is the very definition of slow, patient love. His presence is like the wide, expansive sea that swallows the harshness of the world and still shines magnificently. Ahn DaeBeom's life is touched by darkness but he still looks to the light - the light that Lee YeoReum (AOA's SeolHyun) brings to his life. Every time DaeBeom looks at YeoReum, it seems as though he is seeing her for the first and the last time and that he must memorize every little feature on her face. He is in awe of her, and it shows in the way SiWan slowly opens up to her, letting his guard down and allowing love to seep in.
Ahn DaeBeom is so pure that his soul reflects in his face and so the subtlety of his acting becomes that much more prominent. Even the slightest movement of his eyes as he basks in her glow and is not afraid to show it, the way he thinks he appears composed but looks absolutely flustered, and the way he runs to her breathlessly yet says nothing - these dualities are portrayed wonderfully by SiWan and no one but him could have essayed this role to such an unmatched degree of perfection.
Which other K-Drama performance would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments section down below!