Song Kang, Ong Seong-woo, Nam Joo-hyuk: The More Mature 'Demons of the Military Discharge' [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

They were already "ultra-handsome." However, in the past three years, male actors who have returned from military service with a more mature aura and refined visuals have drawn attention.

First is Song Kang (32), who was discharged in October 2025 as a representative example. On the 19th, photos of Song Kang titled "Song Kang's appearance after avoiding even the 'army back prayer'" were posted on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' (hereinafter 'You Quiz') official SNS, sparking widespread discussion.

In the photos, Song Kang appeared on 'You Quiz,' his first variety show after discharge, meeting MC Yoo Jae-suk. He displayed a tall and handsome appearance unchanged from before enlistment, earning admiration. Netizens expressed explosive anticipation with comments such as "He's too handsome," "He's become even more handsome... legendary...", and "Song Kang returned looking better after the army~."

Song Kang will make his post-discharge debut in tvN's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Four Hands,' written by Shin Yi-won and directed by Park Hyun-seok, which premieres on the 29th. 'Four Hands' is a drama depicting the friendship, love, competition, and growth of young people at an arts high school where only music geniuses gather. In the series, Song Kang will portray Kang Bio, a perfectionist who consistently ranks at the top in both academics and piano, showcasing a tormented gaze.

Ong Seong-woo (30), discharged in October 2024, transformed into a cold and sharp character. On the 23rd, he perfectly portrayed his first villain role as Kang Min-hwan in tvN's Saturday-Sunday drama 'Creepy Romance,' which concluded its run. Kang Min-hwan is a dual-natured character who conceals his true intentions while acting. Ong Seong-woo delivered an outstanding performance by meticulously layering Kang Min-hwan's diverse emotional shifts.

In April, Ong Seong-woo reunited with former Wanna One members for the first time in seven years during a project group activity, displaying charisma worthy of an idol's visual. While making his signature playful expressions among the members, he also showcased the warm and handsome aura of an "ultra-handsome man" in front of fans and cameras.

Nam Joo-hyuk (32), discharged in September 2024, announced his successful return with the Netflix series 'Tonggung,' released in July. In this original work that uniquely combines Korean-style occult, historical drama, mystery, dark fantasy, and action, Nam Joo-hyuk played Gu Cheon, a character who confronts ghosts (⻤).

Nam Joo-hyuk demonstrated high-level acting by portraying reactions as if facing intangible entities before his eyes. He displayed a more profound and mature presence through restrained gazes, controlled breathing, and subtle facial expressions.

As a result, 'Tonggung' recorded 4.9 million viewers (calculated by dividing total viewing time by the series' runtime) within three days of release, ranking second among global top 10 non-English shows. It also consistently held the number one spot on Netflix's "Top 10 Series in South Korea Today" list since its launch and achieved a remarkable feat by appearing in the top 10 lists of 27 countries, including Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, and India.

During the week 'Tonggung' was released, both the drama and its lead actor topped the charts. According to Good Data Corporation's official platform FUNdex, 'Tonggung' claimed the top spot in the TV/OTT drama buzz index for the third week of July, while Nam Joo-hyuk secured first place in actor-related buzz.

This popularity continued for a month, and Nam Joo-hyuk also took the number one position in the "August 1st Drama Actor Brand Reputation" report released by the Korea Corporate Reputation Institute on the 18th.

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*This content was translated by AI.