Film stars return to TV as drama market expands

Mar 06, 2026, 09:31 am

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Ha Ji-won (left) and Ju Ji-hoon play a married couple in the ENA drama Climax. / KT Studio Genie

Major Korean film stars including Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won and Lim Soo-jung are returning to television dramas as changes in the content market reshape the entertainment industry.

Ha Jung-woo and Lim Soo-jung will star as a married couple in the upcoming tvN drama How to Become a Landlord in Korea, set to premiere on March 14. The suspense drama follows a struggling landlord who becomes involved in a staged kidnapping to protect his heavily indebted property and his family.

The role marks Ha Jung-woo’s first television drama appearance in 19 years since the 2007 MBC series Hit. Lim Soo-jung is also returning to television for the first time in five years since starring in the 2021 tvN drama Melancholia.

Ju Ji-hoon will also return to the small screen in the ENA drama Climax, scheduled to air on March 16. It will be his first drama in about a year and three months since tvN’s Love Is Like a Bridge in 2024.

In Climax, Ju plays prosecutor Bang Tae-seop, who enters a powerful political cartel in pursuit of influence. Ha Ji-won stars as his wife, Chu Sang-ah, a once-famous actress whose career has collapsed. For Ha Ji-won, the role marks her first drama appearance in four years since the 2022 KBS series Curtain Call.

Industry observers say the trend reflects a slowdown in the film market.

With box office performance becoming increasingly unpredictable, investment in film production has declined, leading to fewer projects being made. At the same time, the drama industry has expanded rapidly.

In addition to traditional broadcasters, multiple streaming platforms are now producing original series, increasing both the number of projects and the diversity of genres. Larger production budgets have also encouraged projects centered around star-driven casting.

The growing dominance of serialized content has further drawn film actors toward television.

Series allow actors to portray characters over longer story arcs and explore a wider range of emotions and development than most films can offer. Fierce competition among platforms has also strengthened the strategy of casting well-known stars to boost visibility and public interest.

Cultural critic Park Song-ah said the boundaries between film and television are increasingly fading.

“As content consumption shifts toward serialized storytelling, actors are rearranging their career paths,” Park said. “Television is no longer just a stage for stars to rely on their fame — it has become a space where both their acting and their project choices are tested.”

#Ha Jung-woo #Ha Ji-won #Ju Ji-hoon #Lim Soo-jung #Korean drama industry