Oppas on local TV? You bet.
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It’s no secret that quite a few Filipinos have appeared in Korean productions. From bit roles to supporting characters, Filipinos have continuously found their way into our fave K-dramas and movies. But that trend also works both ways. Inside the intersection of the Venn Diagram of the Philippine and Korean entertainment industry is a small section of Korean actors who’ve top-billed Filipino movies and shows. While many dream to one day work with their idols, some Pinoy actors already have, and in local productions no less. It makes for an interesting sight to see and a small boon for Philippine-South Korean relations. Check out the following oppas who’ve appeared and starred in Pinoy movies and teleseryes.
KIM GUN WOO AND JASPER CHO IN ULTIMATE OPPA
The stars of The Glory and The Descendants Of The Sun co-starring with Bela Padilla? You read that right. In Ultimate Oppa, Bela plays Yana, a fangirl with the hopes of meeting her ultimate idol, actor Moon Sin-woo (Jasper Cho). But while attending his fan meet, she ends up falling in love with her manager, Jay (Kim Gun Woo), instead. Before his intense turn as Son Myeong-oh in The Glory, Kim Gun Woo was speaking Tagalog in this 2022 production on Prime Video.
ALEXANDER LEE IN MY KOREAN JAGIYA
This cross-border teleserye from 2017 stars Heart Evangelista as Gia, a hopeless romantic who has eyes for her longtime Korean crush, superstar Kim Jun-ho (Alexander Lee). But it seems as if life doesn’t have plans for Gia to meet her idol. That is, until, she helps a drunk Korean guy on the streets of Manila that so happens to be Jun-ho. Soon, sparks fly between the two that may lead to something more.
KIM WON-SHIK AND YOON JAYDEN IN PAG-IBIG NA KAYA
This YouTube series from Universal Records Philippines stars Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose as two employees of a music company who are in charge of taking care of their latest Korean idol, Jayden (Yoon Jayden). Oh, and the two also develop feelings for one another. Having a front-row seat to it all is their Korean co-worker, played by Kim Won-Shik, who you may have seen in Alchemy of Souls and True Beauty.
HYUN WOO AND JIN JU HYEONG IN YOU WITH ME
Kim (Devon Seron) lives in an overprotective family. Feeling restrained, she decides to leave her family with her adventures eventually leading her to Seoul. There, she meets a man named Jayson, and the two develop something special. But when she learns that Jayson has a connection to her family, things get complicated.
YOO MIN GON IN YUNG LIBRO SA NAPANOOD KO
Bela Padilla strikes once more as she gives us a new oppa for a Filipino film. In this Summer MMFF entry, Bela plays a young woman who has a chance encounter with a man (Yoo Min Gon) at a bookstore. Their crossing would soon lead them down a special, intertwining path. Fun fact, Yoo Min Gon, who was mostly known for acting in indie Korean movies at that time, was cast only three weeks before production began after a former co-actress of Bela in Ultimate Oppa recommended him for the role.
JAEWON KIM IN LOVE FROM HOME
It’s no secret that Kristel Fulgar loves K-dramas. But more so than that, she also has aspirations to direct one. And in 2021, she did just that when she directed the digital series, Love From Home. This international love story centers on Jana, an online English tutor with hopes of traveling to Korea someday. One day, she meets her new Korean student named Jay (Jaewon Kim), and their online tutoring sessions soon lead the two to develop feelings for each other.
BONUS: SANDARA PARK IN MY EX AND WHYS
Technically, Sandara got her start as an actress in the Philippines. But we’ll include this fun cameo considering how this was her first appearance in a Filipino movie since leaving for Korea to become a K-pop idol. When Cali, Gio, and Lee land in Korea, they walk across the street and so happen to pass by Sandara Park, who plays herself in the movie, and fangirl by asking her for a selfie.
Continue Reading: 6 Filipino Stars Who’ve Appeared On Korean Variety Shows
