8 Most Iconic Grandmother Characters in Korean Dramas: All Are Veteran Actresses - Some Have Won Oscars

Kapanlagi.com - It's not easy to survive in the entertainment industry for a long time. Especially if you have to portray the same character, like the grandmother figure in Korean dramas. Moreover, these grandmother characters are often supporting roles, so they receive less attention compared to the main cast.

However, this is where the greatness of veteran actresses who play iconic grandmother characters in every Korean drama lies. Spending decades playing the same character has made them labeled as iconic figures by Korean drama fans.

Wherever there is a grandmother character in a Korean drama, one of these eight veteran actresses showcases their acting skills. They are so amazing that some have even won an Oscar. Who are they? 

1. Kim Mi Kyung

credit via It's Okay to Not Be Okay/tvN

First there is Kim Mi Kyung, who besides playing the role of a grandmother to her grandchildren, also often gets roles as a mother. She has starred in various hit Korean dramas.

This veteran actress, who has been dubbed the 'Motherly Queen', has captured public attention with her acting in Korean dramas since the 80s. Her acting almost always brings tears. Kim Mi Kyung proves that the role of a mother cannot be ignored.

She has starred in several hit Korean dramas, such as It's Okay to Not Be Okay, Hi Bye, Mama, Her Private Life, Go Back Couple, 20th Century Boy and Girl, Another Miss Oh, and The Heirs.

2. Kim Young Ok

credit via Mouse/tvN

There is a reason why Kim Young Ok is called the 'Nation's Grandma', as she has been involved in the acting industry since 1957. She is extremely skilled at portraying iconic characters.

It can be said that most Korean drama lovers are familiar with her roles. Some popular dramas that Kim Young Ok has starred in include Coffee Prince, Birth of a Beauty, Shopaholic Louis, Welcome to Waikiki, Her Private Life, Love Alarm, and Mouse.

3. Kim Hae Sook

credit via Pinocchio/SBS

Kim Hae Sook has long been admired for her roles as a mother and grandmother in every Korean drama. She often portrays the mother of the main character. With her touching performances, Kim Hae Sook often brings tears to the eyes of Korean drama fans.

In Korea, Kim Hae Sook is also known as the 'National Mother' thanks to the roles she frequently takes on in Korean dramas. Some of the popular Korean dramas she has starred in include Winter Sonata, Pinocchio, I Can Hear Your Voice, Autumn in My Heart, and Mother.

4. Lee Hyo Choon

credit via Everybody, Kimchi!/MBC

Although her roles as a mother or grandmother are not as many as others on this list in Korean dramas, Lee Hyo Choon is also known for her iconic performances.

She is famous for her role of throwing kimchi in the drama Everybody, Kimchi! Lee Hyo Choon's roles as a mother or grandmother are countless.

Some famous Korean dramas she has successfully starred in include Everybody, Kimchi!, Three Brothers, You Are The Only One, My Lovely Family, and Winter Sonata.

5. Kim Sun Young

credit via Crash Landing On You/Netflix

Kim Sun Young is actually famous for various roles, but her most famous acting is being a mother figure in the drama Crash Landing On You and Reply 1998.

In addition, Kim Sun Young is also known to have a natural sense of humor, while also always appearing sincere in her affection. It is understandable that her acting always stirs the emotions of Korean drama lovers.

Some hit Korean dramas that have been starred by Kim Sun Young, among others, are Crash Landing On You, Reply 1988, Because This Is My First Life, Backstreet Rookie, Moment at Eighteen, and Her Private Life.

6. Lee Il Hwa

credit via You Who Came From The Stars/SBS

Lee Il Hwa is often referred to as an example of how a mother figure should be portrayed by an actress. From ambitious mothers, long-lost birth mothers, to mothers living in rural areas, all of these characters can be successfully portrayed by Lee Il Hwa in Korean dramas.

Some famous Korean dramas that have been starred by Lee Il Hwa are Reply 1988, You Who Came From The Stars, Doctor Stranger, Her Private Life, A Man in A Veil, Choco Bank, and She Was Pretty.

7. Lee Jung Eun

credit via Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo/MBC

Her name soared thanks to her role as a housemaid in the Oscar-winning film, Parasite, but Lee Jung Eun is not a new actress in the Korean film and drama industry.

Her acting is not only limited to being a terrifying mother, but she is also really good at portraying a gentle, caring, and attentive mother figure, captivating Korean drama viewers with her acting.

Some Korean dramas that Lee Jung Eun has starred in include Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Fight For My Way, My Holo Love, While You Were Sleeping, The Light In Your Eyes, and Hi Bye, Mama!

8. Youn Yuh Jung

credit via Minari/A24

Last but not least, there is Youn Yuh Jung who recently gained global popularity for her role as a grandmother in the American film titled Minari. Youn Yuh Jung even successfully won an Oscar.

Youn Yuh Jung is not only known as a veteran in Korean dramas and films. She is also known for always successfully portraying emotionally full maternal characters with her uniqueness.

In addition to Minari, Youn Yuh Jung has starred in several Korean dramas such as A Good Lawyer's Wife, Be Strong, Geum Soon!, The King 2 Hearts, Canola, Boomerang Family, and The Old Garden.

Those are some veteran actresses who successfully portray the most iconic grandmother characters in Korean dramas. Without their roles, perhaps our favorite Korean dramas would be less touching and less emotionally stirring when enjoyed.

(kly/tmi)