LIST: K-drama dads who encapsulate all sides of fatherhood
Fathers come in different shapes and sizes.
K-dramas aren’t bereft of dads or appas who have left lasting impressions, made us laugh, and often moved us to tears.
Here are some K-drama dads who have shown us what fatherhood is all about.
Jang Ju-won, Kim Doo-sik, and Lee Jae-man (Moving)
Some look up to their fathers as their superheroes. These dads in Moving are literally heroes with superhuman abilities. Ryu Seung-ryong, Jo In-sung, and Kim Sung-kyun play the roles of fathers who have passed on their special abilities to their children.
Jang Ju-won, played by veteran actor Ryu Seung-ryong, is a former gangster turned government agent who has a special healing ability and superhuman strength. He lives with his daughter Jang Hui-soo (Go Yoon Jung), who has inherited his superpower. He’s the typical dad who acts tough and nonchalant but is in fact sweet and has a loving relationship with his daughter.
Meanwhile, Kim Doo-sik, portrayed by Jo In-sung, may be an absentee father but not by choice. He has passed on his flying abilities to his son Kim Bong-seok (Lee Jung Ha). But in order to protect his family from being taken advantage of, he risks everything to hide them. Their reunion in the end makes us want to see more of this father-son duo. Imagine them flying together—that would make for an awesome Season 2!
Another superhero dad is Lee Jae-man, played by Kim Sung-kyun. The mentally challenged Jae-man has moved us to bits with his pure love for his son Lee Gang-hoon (Kim Do Hoon). Every day, he waits for his son to come home from school. Despite his gentle nature, he becomes a “monster” with his super speed and strength when it’s time to protect his son.
The Moving appas may not be your typical dads, but just like any father, they will do anything, even risk their lives, to safeguard their families.
Sung Dong-il (Reply 1988, Reply 1994, Reply 1997)
When you think of K-drama dads, there’s no one more iconic than Sung Dong-il from the Reply series, played by the actor of the same name. He’s the kind of father we grew up with, one who often nags, teases, and annoys us sometimes but is actually loving and sweet.
Reply 1988 had a lot of touching moments but one particular scene that made us love him even more was when he was consoling his middle child Sung Deok-sun, who was upset about not getting attention as her other siblings.
“Dads don’t automatically become dads the moment they’re born,” Sung Dong-il said as he acknowledged his shortcomings as a father. His cheerful character and selfless love for his family makes him one of our all-time favorite K-drama dads.
Lee Ik-jun (Hospital Playlist)
Imagine being best friends with your dad. Single father Lee Ik-jun, played by the talented Jo Jung-suk in Hospital Playlist, may just be the coolest K-drama dad ever. He’s a top-notch surgeon, a good vocalist, a loyal friend, and the best dad to his son Lee Woo-joo.
Despite being busy with work and the band, Ik-jun tries hard to always be present in his son’s life. He even tries to cook healthy food (but fails) for him. Woo-joo is smart beyond his years and Ik-jun acknowledges him as his intellectual equal. Their father-son dates and conversations just radiate best friend energy.
Bok Gwi-ju (The Atypical Family)
There’s nothing typical about Bok Gwi-ju, portrayed by Jang Ki-yong in The Atypical Family—he has the ability to go back in time to revisit happy memories. Gwi-ju’s happiest memory speaks of his love for his daughter. “When I held you for the first time, it was the best moment of my life.”
Despite the cracks in his relationship with his daughter Bok I-na, Bok Gwi-ju’s fatherly instincts become active when his daughter needs him. He represents dads who are sometimes clueless about what’s going on in their children’s heads but try hard to be there for them nonetheless.
Woo Gwang-ho (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
Another single father who deserves the best K-drama dad title is Woo Gwang-ho from Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Being a single parent is tough, and even more so for someone with a child who has special needs. We watched how Woo Young-woo’s father Gwang-ho, played by Jeon Bae-soo, became her biggest fan and supporter, even giving up his career to raise his daughter.
In the end, his daughter has learned to stand on her own as an adult—an achievement any father would be proud of.