Ajushee – a middle aged man who is too old to be an oppa.

When you’re over the age of 35 those George Clooney looking men start looking real fine. The Kdrama ones are even better. The criteria I randomly decided on are 1. 45 years old or older (because this is older than me). 2. Hot, 3. Active in the last 3 years. That’s all.

This is by no means a complete list. There are many talented and hot ajushees out there in the Kdrama world.

Here are my five favourites…..

5. Jang Dong Geun

You might know his as Tagon from Arthdal Chronicles. I know him as Dong Su from Chingoo (Friend). He was a hottie in the 90s and he’s still got it! He seems to stick to more of the angry tough guy roles but it suits him. He kind of has that Western look with the big eyes and double eyelids. Gen X was a tough crowd. People got into physical fights, regularly. He brings a sense of nostalgia for me because the man has not aged since he played Lee Jung in Model.

4. Yoo Ji Tae

I only learned about Yoo Ji Tae recently in Healer. He has this soft gentle look like the type guy your parents will approve of. Looks like the nice guy. He brings a weird calmness to chaotic plots like in Mad Dog or Money Heist. He doesn’t always play the good guy but I would always trust him.

Have you seen him in Vigilante? Is this a Heo Sung Tae in Squid Game situation or a Namgoong Min in the Veil transformation? He transformed his body for the role. I love watching this man because he can play both a villian and a hero. Casting him in Vigilante was perfect. He was a good cop that toed the line.

Fun fact: he is married to the gorgeous and talented Kim Hyo Jin who played Yoon Ran Joo in Castaway Diva.

3. Namgoong Min

He is forever entertaining and brings an air of sexiness to his roles even when he’s being goofy. I’ve seen this man transform into so many different roles. He even changed his body in the Veil to the point he was accused of using steroids. He can make me laugh and cry at the same time. All of the accolades that he’s getting for My Dearest are well deserved.

I don’t know if it’s true but I overheard a bunch of church ajumahs say his sister lives in Canada and attends their church. My mom swears it’s true but I don’t believe her.

2. Joo Jin Mo

I miss this man so much. He needs to come back. He allegedly took heat for some text messaging scandal and hasn’t been casted since. His most impressionable performace was definitely as Wang Yoo in Empress Ki. The last emperor of Goryeo. He has a gentleness in his eyes but also has a lot of edge in his characters.

He is just gorgeous and an amazing actor. He gives 100% in all of his shows and movies, even his steamy sex scene with Jo In Sung in Frozen Flower. I check online regularly for any updates on him. I would love to see him back on the small or big screen soon.

1. Jung Woo Sung

Jung Soo Sung will always be number one in my heart. He brings the intensity to all of his scenes. I first fell in love with him and I was 14 years old in Asphalt Man with Lee Byung Hun. After that I made my mom rent the rest of his shows at the Korean grocery store. His reign in the Kdrama and KMovie world spans across 4 decades.

Not only is he amazingly handsome and an accomplished actor, he is kind to everyone. I met him at TIFF 2022 and I ran up to the stage after his talk grabbed his hand and asked him to take a selfie with me and he didn’t hesitate. He also made sure he signed and took photos with everyone in the crowd that asked. If you tag him in a post on Instagram, he will most likely give you a like.

Based on what I’ve heard from my mom and read online, he came from very humble beginnings. He had to quit school to help support his family. When he became successful some of his family members scammed him out of a large amount of money.

He can go from being a tortured angry soul in 1.5 to a gentle kind husband who’s caring for his sick wife in Moment to Remember. He also made me crack up in Beast Clawing at Straws.

Now he faces a new challenge of playing a deaf painter in Tell Me that You Love Me. This is first romance in a minute. This man is the master of conveying emotions and I can see why he was picked to play someone who can not hear or speak to convey his emotions. He will always be my first Kdrama oppa!