Ahn Hyo-seop's Business Proposal CEO charm to Abyss quirks: 5 shows where he was absolute K-Drama gold

There was a theory just as Business Proposal aired: Ahn Hyo-seop’s Kang Tae-moo is the son of the lead couple from What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim---Park Seo-joon’s Young Joon and Park Min-young’s Kim Mi-so. Kang Tae-moo had the same nonchalant vibe asYoung-joon, and that curl in the middle of the forehead just seemed to further that theory.

Ahn Hyo-seop brought a refreshing twist to the classic CEO-falls-in-love formula. With razor-sharp wit, a flair for deadpan comedy, and just the right dose of swoony charm, he made sassy dialogues and slow-burn romance feel brand new. Equal parts snarky and smitten, he struck the perfect balance for die-hard romantics and K-drama skeptics alike.

That’s the irresistible charm of Hyo-seop—he doesn’t just play a role, he adds flavor to it. So, in celebration of his birthday, we’re revisiting some of his most memorable shows—from achy time-travel romances to chaotic fantasy detours and everything in between.

Business Proposal

Often termed as the last lovable office rom-com K-Drama before Love Scout showed up, Business Proposal  was just a lot of fun, and filled with fluffy romance. The story revolved around Hyo-seop’s Tae-moo being set up on a blind date by his grandfather. While he is waiting for Seol-in ah’s Jin young-seo to show, he is unaware that she has pleaded with her best friend, Kim Sejeong’s Shin Ha-ri to turn up. And so, begins a tale of lovably absurd romance, and opposites attract. Hyo Seop’s Tae-moo was a delight to watch, in all his quirks and manageable possessiveness, and Hyo-seop masterfully switched between different emotions, which gave the show such a rewatchable feel.

Abyss

Chaos reigns in this bizarre show, but we watch it for Hyo-seop and Park Bo-young. Abyss”is what you get when you blend murder mystery, body-swapping mayhem, and a dash of otherworldly magic. After dying in bizarre accidents, sharp-tongued prosecutor Go Se-yeon and sweet-but-insecure chaebol heir Cha Min (Hyo-seop) wake up in completely new bodies, thanks to a glowing orb from the afterlife (yes, really). What follows is a whirlwind of serial killers, tangled love lives, and existential questions—with plot twists coming at you faster than you can say ‘reincarnation.’ It’s messy, a little bonkers, but somehow endearing—especially if you’re in it for the slow-burn romance and not too bothered by the chaotic script. Ideal for fans of K-drama rollercoasters with a fantasy twist.

Dr Romantic

Ah, medical cuteness, if that’s a term. If there were a PhD in Swooning, Ahn Hyo-seop would’ve earned it stat—especially in Dr. Romantic. Stepping into the role of the brilliant yet brooding Dr. Seo Woo-jin, he earned a staggering fan following.

 Dr. Romantic itself is like Grey’s Anatomy with better lighting and way more kimchi. But it’s Hyo-seop’s steady transformation—from guarded underdog to full-fledged lifesaver—that keeps fans bingeing. He turns out to be quite the scene-stealer, too.

A Time Called You

On a scale of 1-10, how much do you want to cry? Well, that’s what Hyo-seop and Jeo Yeon-been do in this time-travelling romantic drama. The story revolves around a woman grieving her deceased lover. She is suddenly taken back in time, where she meets his doppleganger, spinning a story of different timelines, souls and bodies. It’s one of Hyo-seop’s more profound roles, proving that he isn’t just the rom-com cute. When it comes down to delivering hard emotional punches, he won’t hold back.

Lovers of the Red Sky

In Lovers of the Red Sky, Ahn Hyo-seop breaks hearts with just his glances. As the blind scholar and astrologer Ha Ram, he blends mystery, charm, and a touch of darkness into a character that’s as mesmerising as the celestial skies he reads. One moment, he's the quiet, graceful genius; the next, he's possessed by a vengeful spirit.  

Dressed in crimson hanbok and cloaked in sorrow, his performance is all about tension—between love and destiny, light and dark, vision and blindness. His chemistry with Kim Yoo-jung (who plays the female painter Hong Cheon-gi) is top-notch making their forbidden love story feel like a fated K-drama fever dream.

Basically, if you're in the mood for historical fantasy, soul-swapping spirits, and slow-burn romance with serious eye candy—Hyo-seop in Lovers of the Red Sky delivers on all fronts.