"Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" Cast: Where Are They Now?
“Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” maintains its status as an all-time favorite amongst many K-drama fans. Having premiered in 2016, it’s almost reaching its 9-year mark since the show first aired on SBS. It wasn’t just another period drama but a bittersweet saga of love, longing, betrayal, and heartbreak. The show continues to mesmerize fans, both old and new, and is high on its rewatch value.
The show drew viewers in with its fabulous ensemble cast, and many of the supporting characters were portrayed by actors who soon rose into prominence. So many great actors came out of that show, and as we revisit it once again, let’s see what this stellar cast has been up to in almost a decade since the show first premiered!
IU
IU starred as Go Ha Jin, who is from the 21st century but finds herself in the body of Hae Soo, a 10th century lady of nobility in the Goryeo dynasty. The show gave the actor a wide canvas to portray her emotional depth as well as comedic timing.
Moving forward, in 2018, she won accolades for her performance as Lee Ji An in “My Mister.” Playing a young woman bogged down with debt and several responsibilities, Ji An’s pain and pathos were beautifully rendered by IU. She also went on to star in the fantasy drama “Hotel Del Luna” as well as movies “Broker” and “Dream.”
Most recently, IU once again showcased her fortitude as a fine actress in the recent, soul-stirring period romance “When Life Gives You Tangerines.”
Watch IU in “Hotel Del Luna” below:
Lee Joon Gi
Lee Joon Gi played Wang So, the ruthless and complex fourth prince who pulled at viewers’ heartstrings as the ultimate tragic hero.
He also showcased his finesse when it came to articulating layered characters on screen. After “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,” he played a man wrongly accused of a murder he didn’t commit in “Criminal Minds.” And in “Lawless Lawyer,” he played a merciless lawyer who fights the system from within.
Action perhaps is a genre which comes easily to Lee Joon Gi. He put the good into playing bad in the crime thriller “Flower of Evil” in 2020 and followed it up with the fantasy action “Again My Life.” Last seen on screen in “Arthdal Chronicles 2,” one cannot wait to see what this talented actor does next—though wouldn’t it be great to see him be a part of an intense romance drama playing a brooding lover like Wang So again?
Watch Lee Joon Gi in “Again My Life” below:
Kang Ha Neul
Kang Ha Neul played the sensitive and kind-hearted eighth prince, Wang Wook. A dependable character, he often finds himself torn between feelings and duty.
Soon after “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,” he showcased his versatility in the action comedy “Midnight Runners,” playing a nerdy police student. The actor made his comeback post enlistment in 2019 with the drama “When the Camellia Blooms.” His portrayal of the devoted-in-love police officer, Yong Sik, won him many hearts.
From his appearances in films such as “The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure” to the drama “Curtain Call,” it was his turn as a former marine suffering from PTSD in Season 2 of “Squid Game” which won him accolades. The actor will also return in Season 3 of “Squid Game” and also star in the rom-com “Tastefully Yours” later this year.
Watch Kang Ha Neul in “Curtain Call” below:
Nam Joo Hyuk
Nam Joo Hyuk played the good-looking 13th prince, Wang Baek Ah. He stood out as the romantic prince who takes keen interest in art and culture rather than involving himself with the politics of the time.
Proving himself in the romantic space, Nam Joo Hyuk rose to stardom in many dramas following his princely role. He was perfectly cast as the university heartthrob and swimming prodigy in the sports drama “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo.” And given his lithe frame and good looks, he played water god Habaek in “Bride of the Water God.” And in “Start-Up,” he was the enterprising geeky tech wizard. He also showed his emotional depth as an actor in the slice-of-life drama “Twenty Five, Twenty One,” playing the endearing Baek Yi Jin, which further notched his popularity quotient. The actor was last seen in the action series “Vigilante” and will return to screens in the spooky historical fantasy drama “East Palace.” It will be fun to see him in a horror genre.
Watch Nam Joo Hyuk in “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” below:
Byeon Woo Seok
Byeon Woo Seok had a “blink and you miss it” appearance in “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.” His character didn’t even have a name, and he was shown as the guy who cheats on IU’s Go Ha Jin. But this talented actor has come a long way from his cameos in dramas such as “Welcome to Waikki 2” and “Search: WWW.” He went on to play supporting leads in shows such as “Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency” and “Record of Youth.” He tugged at viewers’ hearts in the film “20th Century Girl,” and he also gave viewers chills as the cold-blooded antagonist in “Strong Girl Namsoon.”
But there is no denying that he stole the most hearts as the endearing top idol Ryu Sun Jae in “Lovely Runner.” A breakout show for the talented actor, the show scorched popularity charts, immortalizing Sun Jae as an all-time favorite screen character. Now fans are patiently awaiting his upcoming drama “Wife of a 21st Century Prince,” which will reunite him with IU once more—though he would be pretty awesome in a medical and legal drama as well—what do you think?
Watch Byeon Woo Seok in “Lovely Runner”:
Baekhyun
“Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” was EXO’s Baekhyun’s drama debut. He played the jovial, childlike 10th prince, Wang Eun. But the prince’s playfulness is just a facade to mask his socially awkward nature. Baekhyun also lent his vocals to the drama’s title song along with EXO’s Chen and Xiumin. Though he did popular television shows such as “Master Key” and “Five Cranky Brothers,” one cannot wait for another drama outing by this talented singer/actor. He would be the perfect candidate for a musical comedy!
Jin Ki Joo
From the arrogant princesses to the sprightly court ladies, this drama gave us some strongly-etched female characters. Jin Ki Joo starred as Chae Ryung, a plucky lady in waiting. She is gutsy, funny, but is also mysterious. A natural performer, Jin Ki Joo stood her own amongst the ensemble cast. Following the drama, after playing a supporting character thriller drama in “Misty,” Jin Ki Joo landed her first lead role in the romance drama “Come and Hug Me.” Playing an actress burdened by her past, she brilliantly portrayed the pain of her character. Soon after, she showcased her comedic skills in the rom-com “The Secret Life of My Secretary,” followed by appearances in “From Now On, Showtime!” and the time travel drama, “My Perfect Stranger.”
The actor recently starred as the vivacious teacher Soo Ah in “Undercover High School,” showcasing her range as an actor, this time with a dash of action, giving viewers plenty of laughs along the way.
Watch Jin Ki Joo in “Undercover High School” below:
Kang Han Na
Princess Yeon Hwa knows what she wants and can go to any lengths to own it. Kang Han Na’s Yeon Hwa may not have been one of the most likable characters in the show, but the actor played her with conviction. From playing a team leader in “Just Between Lovers” to an influential cello player in “Familiar Wife,” the actor has a knack for exploring complex characters. In “Start-Up” she took on the role of the ambitious sibling who has no qualms in competing with her own sister.
She also transitioned from supporting characters to lead roles. In the period drama “Bloody Heart,” she was a woman caught in a duel for power, while in “Frankly Speaking,” she was an avid entertainment writer with a vivid imagination.
Watch Kang Han Na in “My Roommate Is a Gumiho” below:
Seohyun
Seohyun’s Woo Hee notched the glamor quotient in “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.” A court lady who is also the love interest of the 13th prince Wang Baek Ah, Woo Hee is a woman torn between family and duty as well as vengeance.
The show was Seohyun’s first period drama and won her appreciative nods. Soon after, the actor switched gears and played an investigator in “The Good Thieves,” a swindler in “Private Lives,” and a woman who can see into the future in “Jinxed at First.” Last seen in “Song of the Bandits,” Seohyun will be back on screen with “The First Night With the Duke” (working title) this year. She’s also gearing up for her new film “Holy Night: Demon Hunters”!
Start watching “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”:
Hey Soompiers, which one of these actors played your favorite character on the show? And what did you like about them? Let us know in the comments!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
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