Park So-yi, Yuna, and Moon Woo-jin are making a significant impact as teen actors, moving beyond their childhood roles. Despite their young ages, they are earning acclaim for their impressive acting skills and unique charms, positioning themselves as the next-generation stars of K-content.
Park So-yi, born in 2012 and now 12 years old, has been acting for seven years. Since her debut in the 2018 drama Mistress, she has appeared in various notable projects including Her Private Life, Mouse, See You in My 19th Life, Revenant, and films like Pawn, Deliver Us from Evil, and Jung-E. At just nine years old, she landed the role of Seung-i in Pawn amid stiff competition and received praise for her portrayal, which showcased her charm and emotional depth. In See You in My 19th Life, she convincingly played Ji-eum, an adult character, demonstrating her versatility.
Park So-yi further solidified her reputation as an ‘acting genius’ in the recently concluded The Atypical Family, where she portrayed Bok-ina, the youngest member of a family with supernatural abilities. Her nuanced performance, capturing the pain of hiding her true self to avoid hurt, highlighted her impressive range and emotional depth.
Yuna, born in 2011, is receiving widespread attention for her role in the SBS drama Good Partner. Her sensitive portrayal of Jae-hee, the child of divorced parents, has significantly contributed to the show’s success, which recently hit a viewership rating of 17.7% (Nielsen Korea nationwide). Her compelling performance, particularly in scenes where she expresses conflicted feelings about her father, has sparked discussion on YouTube and online communities.
Since her debut in the 2019 film Juror 8, Yuna has built a solid filmography across various genres, including Hellbound, Pachinko, and The Kidnapping Day. Her role as Ro-hee in The Kidnapping Day, where she portrayed a genius girl, earned her acclaim for delivering a performance on par with adult actors, effectively capturing complex emotions with her distinctive demeanor.
Among male child actors, Moon Woo-jin, born in 2009, stands out. After debuting in a CF in 2016, he has appeared in over 30 productions, often playing younger versions of prominent actors such as Park Seo-joon, Cha Eun-woo, and Kim Soo-hyun. In last year’s Diva of the Uninhabited Island, he played Jung Ki-ho, the child version of Chae Jong-hyeop, contributing to the drama’s success. His recent role opposite Park So-yi in The Atypical Family showcased his evolving talent. Fellow child actor Park Eun-bin, who watched Moon Woo-jin in Diva of the Uninhabited Island, expressed excitement about his future growth.
Cultural critic Kim Sung-soo commented, “Park So-yi, Yuna, and Moon Woo-jin excel in emotional acting, influencing even the adult actors they work with and creating strong synergy.” He added, “With the broadcasting industry exploring diverse genres and themes, their opportunities are expanding, and we anticipate even greater achievements as they transition into adult roles.”
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