5 Jung Hae-in K-Dramas that reveal his most intense performances beyond romance: From D.P. to Connect

With his sweet and saccharine charm, Jung Hae-in is often linked to romantic K-dramas—no surprise, given his success in Something in the Rain alongside Son Ye-jin. He’s doesn't restrict himself to just one shade of a romantic lead; he tries a variety, as evident from the quiet intensity of One Spring Night to the brooding stubbornness of Love Next Door. Yet, there’s more to him than just romance. While he’s always captivating in love stories, it’s in action and thrillers where you’ll really want to watch him. The sweetness fades, replaced by a chilling intensity—a blank, hardened stare that says more than words ever could.

So, on his birthday, here are some other shows and films that you could watch:

DP

Raw, intense and excruciatingly painful at points, Jung Hae-in plays a young soldier, who joins a team that is responsible for tracking down military personnel that go missing during the mandatory military service. As he and his teammate look for these soldiers, they discover the stories around the deserters. It’s a heavy watch, uncompromising as it takes a deep, hard look at the bullying that takes place. It’s a brutal show, and the first introduction as your interest itself, where Hae-in embodies a real, stark numbness and detached calm.

Streaming on Netflix

Connect

Can you handle some intense horror? If so, brace yourself for this one. Jung Hae-in’s first dive into the genre is nothing short of brutal—expect relentless carnage, blood, and gore. He takes on the role of a seething loner, a humanoid abducted by a human trafficking ring. But the real nightmare? His single ‘eye’ has been transplanted into a deranged serial killer who transforms his victims into grotesque corpse art. Now, Hae-in must hunt him down and reclaim what’s his.

Good luck. You’ll need it.

Streaming on Disney Plus Hotstar.

Snowdrop

Well, this still has some of the vestiges of the romantic lead you know, but in a rather different light.  Jisoo plays Eun Yeong-ro, a cheerful college student in 1987 South Korea, who discovers an injured man, Im Su-ho (Jung Hae-in), in her dormitory. She secretly shelters him, only to later learn that he harbours a dangerous secret tied to political turmoil. He’s a spy, who takes her and the dormitory hostage, and so the drama unfolds into a tale of conflicted love, sacrifice, and tragic consequences. 

Streaming on Disney Hotstar.

Prison Playbook 

While he plays a supporting role, Jung Hae-in stands out as Captain Yoo, a seemingly disciplined soldier with a chilling backstory—he was an officer, who allegedly assaulted his teammate, leading to his death. The show explores prison life, morality, and survival in a corrupt system.

Streaming on Netflix

A Piece of Your Mind

While this show has elements of love, it leans more into melancholic and introspective storytelling. Jung Hae-in plays an AI programmer dealing with grief, loneliness, and the emotional complexities of human memory.