Scent of a Woman (2011)

What is happening: Meek and timid Lee Yeon Jae (Kim Sun A) discovers she will soon die. So she resolves to quit her horrible job and live her life to the fullest.

Who is he: Lee Dong Wook plays chaebol’s son Kang Ji Wook, who helps the protagonist check off all the items in her bucket list.

Why we love it: This is melo to the fullest, what with the terminal illness plotline, but Lee Dong Wook’s chemistry with Kim Sun Ah is through the roof! (Or more like, through the screen?)

Life (2018)

What is happening: Hospital management threatens the status quo of doctors, nurses, and patients when a new president joins the hospital. The president (Cho Seung Woo) runs the hospital like he runs a business, uncaring of the consequences to the patients and hospital staff, so long as the hospital’s numbers leave the red. A power struggle ensues.

Who is he: He plays ER doctor Ye Jin Woo, who cares too much and sometimes acts too impulsively. 

Why we love it: Lee Dong Wook departs from his usual charming and witty leading man roles. He takes up the mantle of a charismatic and warm doctor who desperately fights for what he believes in. And we. Love. Him. 

Hell Is Other People (2019)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ePtRsaOJLo

What is happening: A young man (Im Si Wan) moves to Seoul for work. He needs to save money, so he ends up renting a room in the ominous-looking Eden Dormitory. But more than just the place, its creepy residents are the true source of goosebumps.

Who is he: He’s a dentist living in Eden Dormitory. That’s all we know so far; we don’t want to spoil ourselves by reading the webtoon.

Why we love it: The show’s still ongoing, and I’m not sure if we can even get through the whole show, especially with how creepy it is, so there’s no final verdict yet. But we’re absolutely hooked by Lee Dong Wook’s amazing acting skills! The way he makes that charming and gentle smile seem so creepy at the same time just gives us goosebumps.

The Beauty Inside (2015)

What is happening: Woo Jin doesn’t stay in one body for too long. From a man to a woman to an old lady to a child, Woo Jin changes into a different person everyday. But Woo Jin falls in love with Yi Soo (Han Hyo Joo). How will she react? Spoiler: not well, to be honest. I mean, we don’t even know what pronoun to use for Woo Jin. Can you even imagine how she feels?

Who is he: Lee Dong Wook is one of the many faces Woo Jin becomes.

Why we love it: This isn’t really a drama, but let me say that this is probably one of the best Korean movies out there. Honestly. And while it’s a small role in terms of screen time, we still swooned over Lee Dong Wook. He’s the one who proposed, so of course, we’ll swoon.

My Girl (2005–2006)

What is happening: In order to fulfill his grandfather’s dying wish, chaebol heir Seol Gong Chan hires poor and desperate Joo Yoo Rin (Lee Da Hae) to act as his cousin and the family’s long-lost granddaughter. Things take quite the turn when his grandfather recovers completely and they end up having to continue the act. But not-so-plot-twist, they’re falling in love! This is so cliché, but we’re suckers for romcoms. 

Who is he: Lee Dong Wook fulfills the ultimate chaebol heir role. He’s cold. He’s so focused on business. But he ends up falling in love with the poor girl. It’s all cliché, but we love it anyway.

Why we love it: The chemistry between the two main leads is unbelievable. And we even got second-lead syndrome because of Lee Joon Gi. But still—Lee Dong Wook as the ultimate chaebol. Cue swooning.

Hotel King (2014)

What is happening: A man from miserable beginnings rises up the ranks of a hotel to become the polished, cool-headed, and youngest ever general manager of top-class Hotel Ciel. He discovers he is the son of the hotel’s deceased chairman, putting him against the chairman’s sole heir Ah Mo Ne (Lee Da Hae) as the hotel’s successor. The only problem is they fall in love. Messy af.

Who is he: He’s the general manager of Hotel Ciel. Ambitious, cool-headed, and absolutely competent, he’s nicknamed the “hotel monster.”

Why we love it: The two leads of the smash hit My Girl reunites here, but it’s not as lighthearted as the romcom. While it’s not as good as their first work together, it’s fun to see a reversal of roles here, with Lee Dong Wook playing the poor man and Lee Da Hae portraying the wealthy chaebol heir.

Touch Your Heart (2019)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1_ye1UJ8Eo

What is happening: A top actress (Yoo In Na) becomes the victim of a scandal, and in order to make her comeback, she ends up posing as a lawyer’s secretary to get real-life experience in a law firm.

Who is he: Lee Dong Wook is the elite lawyer who ends up with an actress as a secretary. He’s a workaholic so he doesn’t care about the showbiz industry (unless it involves his work).

Why we love it: It’s another reunion between stars we already loved onscreen. King and Queen of our hearts. At least they got a happy ending this time!

Goblin (2016–2017)

What is happening: How do we even begin this? A goblin (Gong Yoo) is looking for his human bride (Kim Go Eun), so he can finally die. A grim reaper (Lee Dong Wook) lives with the goblin, and he falls in love with a human with undeniable beauty (Yoo In Na). The lives of these four become intertwined. (…yeah, that was hard, so just watch it.)

Who is he: Grim reaper. He’s the grim reaper. Watch the show because we can’t tell you anything beyond that. You have to see him in action yourself, if you haven’t yet.

Why we love it: OH MY GOD. Lee Dong Wook isn’t the primary male lead, but! His story line with Yoo In Na is just as captivating, if not more, than the main leads’ plotline. And their chemistry? Just wow. We love this show so much.

Which Lee Dong Wook shows do you want to binge? Tell us below!