The stars of ‘Dream High’ after 13 years
Musical drama “Dream High” aired in January 2011 has become a launching pad for young stars including Kim Soo Hyun, Suzy, IU, Eun Jung, Taec Yeon, Woo Young…
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Dream High is a drama depicting the life and learning environment of young people who dream of becoming K-pop idols. The work is produced by JYP Entertainment in conjunction with the KBS crew. When aired in January 2011, the film quickly created a screen fever throughout Korea and gradually spread to many Asian countries.
Due to JYP’s participation in the production process, there are 3 idols from this company assigned to the main cast, namely Suzy (Miss A), Taec Yeon and Woo Young (2PM). In addition, the film also features Eun Jung (T-Ara), IU and young actor Kim Soo Hyun. The success of Dream High is considered a launch pad for many A-list stars of Korean showbiz later.
1. Suzy – as Go Hye Mi:
The character Go Hye Mi comes from a rich family, stubborn and somewhat arrogant nature. She dreams of becoming an opera singer and is highly regarded in the world. However, after a family incident, Go Hye Mi decided to switch to being a K-pop idol in the hope of raising her sister and helping her father pay off his debt. At Kirin Arts High School, Hye Mi faced many difficulties but overcame them with the help of her friends Song Sam Dong, Jin Guk, and Pil Sook. She also gradually changed her personality, becoming a likable and kind person.
When taking on the role of the central female character in Dream High, Suzy was less than 17 years old. At that time, she had just debuted as a member of the group Miss A and was considered one of the most prominent new idols. After the success of the film, the 9X beauty participated in many other TV series and movies, favored by the nickname “the nation’s first love”. At the age of 29, Suzy has become an A-list star of the Korean entertainment industry, owning a huge fortune and being successful in all 3 fields: singing, acting and modeling.
2. IU – as Kim Pil Sook
The character Kim Pil Sook played by IU is a girl with a clear, high-pitched voice but a chubby and unattractive appearance. When taking the exam to enter Kirin Art High School, Pil Sook was criticized and scorned because of his appearance. She is determined to lose 30 kg in 200 days because of her promise to hot boy Jason. Later, Pil Sook and Go Hye Mi formed a group, conquering the dream of becoming an idol singer.
When she acted in Dream High, IU was already one of the most popular teen singers in Korea. With the hit “Good Day”, she became the new “national sister” of kimchi. 9 years have passed, IU has become one of the most admired singers in showbiz. She not only possesses a clear, emotional voice but also has good composing ability. For the past 10 years, the 27-year-old singer has always been called by the nickname “digital music queen”, always topping all music charts every time an album is released.
Not only succeeding in the music field, IU also made a mark in the drama field. Initially, 9X was criticized for being frozen, with less flexible expressions and small appearance, not suitable for many types of roles. Thanks to working with Lee Jun Ki in Moon Lover, IU’s acting ability has improved significantly. Then, she impressed with the series of female leads in My Ahjussi, Hotel Del Luna. Currently, she is having a beautiful love story with actor Lee Jong Suk.
3. Eun Jung (T-Ara) – as Yoon Baek Hee
Yoon Baek Hee is Go Hye Mi’s best friend. However, when she discovered that Hye Mi did not value her, Yoon Baek Hee cut her long hair, changed her image and won a debut in the idol group. After 200 days of touring the world, she returned to school and realized that Go Hye Mi has changed both in personality and career direction. The two experienced many conflicts and arguments before making peace and overcoming a difficult period in their careers together.
At the time of filming Dream High, Eun Jung was the leader of T-Ara. The group has achieved many achievements in music, owning the national hits Bo Peep Bo Peep, Roly Poly… In 2012, T-ara’s internal conflict broke out, member Hwa Young accused the girls in the group. pressurize, bully yourself. T-Ara’s reputation “disappeared” after the above scandal, Eun Jung and Ji Yeon were even asked to leave showbiz and commit suicide. 5 years after the incident, the group was vindicated but could not revive their career, the scandal still persisted with Eun Jung over the years. Currently, the group has disbanded, she pursues the acting path.
4. Kim Soo Hyun – as Song Sam Dong
Song Sam Dong is a boy born in a remote rural area, possessing a beautiful voice and natural talent. Go Hye Mi (Suzy) personally brought him from the countryside to Seoul, joining Kirin Arts High School. However, not long after that, Song Sam Dong discovered that he had a hearing problem, unable to hear the notes. Go Hye Mi has found a way to overcome the disease, helping Sam Dong win a talent selection contest of a foreign record label and become a global star.
Dream High’s Song Sam Dong is Kim Soo Hyun’s first male lead role. At that time, the 32-year-old star was still an unknown young actor. The film became a solid stepping stone, helping actor 8X be assigned the male lead role in the TV hit The Moon Embracing the Sun and The Star Brings Him In. From these two films, Kim Soo Hyun rose to the ranks of A-list stars, regularly topping the list of highest paid actors. Recently, the Korean actor returned to the screen with the role in the movie Queen Of Tears.
5.TaecyYeon (2PM) – as Jin Guk
Taec Yeon’s character Jin Gook possesses a liberal personality, somewhat rebellious because he has not been cared for by his biological father since childhood. In the movie, Jin Guk loves Hye Mi but does not reciprocate. In the end, he chose to become a companion, standing side by side on her path to conquering the music stage.
Like IU, when she played Dream High, Taec Yeon was already the top famous Kpop idol. Debuting with the group 2PM, he impressed with his handsome appearance, muscular body, and masculinity. In addition to music activities, Taec Yeon also acted in movies and impressed with Cinderella’s Sister, Who Are You?, Wonderful Days, Save Me… In 2018, the 34-year-old singer expired her contract with JYP and decided to switch to 51K. Entertainment – So Ji Sub’s company – to focus on acting. On June 23, 2020, the male singer admitted that he was dating his girlfriend who works outside the entertainment industry.
6. Woo Young (2PM) – as Jason
The hot boy at Kirin Jason Arts High School – who made Pil Sook (IU) lose 30 kg in 200 days – is played by Jang Woo Young. Also a member of 2PM, the male singer received a lot of attention right before the show aired. After 13 years, he focused on pursuing a music career, not acting.
