K-rush of the Week: Rowoon

Rowoon (born Kim Seok-woo) was once compared to the statue of David and, based on how the reveal of his face was built up in Extraordinary You (where it took them two whole episodes and a slow-mo to reveal his chiseled facial structure), the comparison truly has merit. With an intimidating build at 6’3” (190.5 cm) and a deep voice, he is able to exude a mature masculinity that few men his age can muster.

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House on Wheels Season 4 (2022)

After having big names such as Sung Dong-il and Im Si-wan, the variety show House on Wheels featured Rowoon in its fourth season. Together with the cast, Rowoon travels around South Korea in a portable house, meets locals, and experiences the beauty and the culture of the Korean countryside. Joining Rowoon are his former co-stars from the drama Extraordinary You, Kim Hye-yoon and Lee Jae-wook. They reunite on the show and share their experiences and memories from working together.

The King’s Affection (2021)

Set during the Joseon Dynasty, The King’s Affection revolves around a royal daughter (Park Eun-bin) who has been raised as a boy. In order to rule, she must pretend to live her twin brother's life and navigate court life as a man. But she won’t be alone in this ordeal for long. Jung Ji-woon (Rowoon) enters palace life as a royal tutor assigned to teach the princess. But as it turns out, Ji-woon has secrets of his own as well.

She Would Never Know (2021)

Rowoon, in a bid to become a “noona killer,” plays Chae Hyun-seung, a well-off boy who finds himself working as a marketing rookie at a large cosmetics company. He’s hardworking, attractive, and incredibly nice, but he has a problem: He’s in love with his boss, the equally hardworking Yoon Song-ah (Won Jin-ah). But with her heart still reeling from a breakup, too much office intrigue, the requisite family drama, and their age gap, can the young rookie prove that he’s the man for her?

Extraordinary You (2020)

Extraordinary You revolves around the concept of an alternate reality where characters in a comic book are unaware of their scripted lives and the "stage" they are trapped in.

Rowoon plays Ha-ru, a high school student who realizes that he is actually a fictional character in a comic book. He starts to question his identity and the predetermined role assigned to him. He also becomes the catalyst for the awakening of the main character (Kim Hye-yoon) to the truth of their world. Their relationship evolves as they join forces to challenge their scripted destinies. But can they ever find a way to break free from the comic book's narrative?

Tomorrow (2022)

Adapted from a webtoon of the same name, the fantasy k-drama Tomorrow follows Choi Joon-woong (Rowoon), a mortal who finds himself getting involved in a world of reapers. He is forced to join the crisis management team led by grim reaper Koo Ryeon (Kim Hee-sun) and together, they do whatever it takes to prevent suicide. Each episode features a potential suicide victim and the circumstances that force the victim to the edge. And for a country ranked 4th highest in suicide rates in the world, those circumstances are not only emotionally charged and personally relatable, but also socially relevant.

Destined with You (2023)

Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah’s characters in the newly-aired Destined with You have a mysterious connection that goes way, way back. The fantasy-folklorish romance between them begins when she obtains a forbidden book sealed 300 years ago. The exact nature of their relationship is yet to unfold, but their romance is said to be the main cusp of the drama’s storyline. Let's find out how destiny unfolds for these two!

Which of Rowoon's k-dramas and TV shows is your favorite?