Where Are They Now? Here’s What The Cast From “The Heirs” Is Up To A Decade Later
It has already been ten years since The Heirs (also known as The Inheritors) took over in 2013 as one of the most-watched K-Dramas of the year, and the cast members are still beloved today.
The romantic dramedy follows the lives of wealthy high schoolers at Jeguk High School, including Kim Tan (portrayed by Lee Min Ho) and Choi Yong Do (portrayed by Kim Woo Bin), who both fall for Cha Eun Sang (portrayed by Park Shin Hye), who joins the high school on scholarship.
The lead actors were supported by a star-studded cast of supporting actors, including f(x)‘s Krystal, Kim Ji Won, CNBLUE‘s Kang Minhyuk, Kang Ha Neul, Choi Jin Hyuk, and Park Hyung Sik.
Here’s what the cast has been up to recently!
1. Park Hyung Sik
Actor Park Hyung Sik began his career as a member of ZE:A, debuting with the group in 2010 before landing his first acting role in SBS‘s I Remember You in 2012.
He held a series of supporting roles, including in The Heirs, before earning his first lead role in the hit JTBC drama Strong Woman Do Bong Soon in 2017.
In 2019 he debuted in his first feature film, Juror 8, in which his acting earned him the “Best New Actor” award at the 39th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.
Park Hyung Sik enlisted in the military in 2019 and was officially discharged in 2021; he returned to acting the same year.
Most recently, he appeared alongside fellow Wooga squad members BTS‘s V, Choi Woo Shik, Peakboy, and Park Seo Joon in the Disney+ reality series In The Soop: Friendcation.
He’s currently starring in the historical tvN drama Our Blooming Youth.
2. Choi Jin Hyuk
Choi Jin Hyuk had a memorable role as Kim Tan’s (Lee Min Ho) older brother in The Heirs. The veteran actor’s career began in 2006 after he won the popular talent program Survival Star Audition.
Since the drama ended, he’s starred in numerous dramas and films, including the K-Dramas Pride And Prejudice, Tunnel, and Justice.
He will star in the upcoming MBC drama Numbers alongside INFINITE‘s L (also known as Park Myung Soo), which is expected to be released this year.
3. Kang Ha Neul
Kang Ha Neul played Lee Hyo Shin in The Heirs. He’s since appeared in many notable Korean dramas such as Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Midnight Runners, and his critically acclaimed role in When The Camellia Blooms in 2019.
When The Camellia Blooms marked Kang Ha Neul’s return to acting after his military enlistment, during which he was named an honorary ambassador of the Military Manpower Administration.
The talented actor is set to star in the upcoming romantic comedy 30 Days alongside co-star Jung So Min, who he also acted alongside in the 2015 film Twenty.
4. Kang Minhyuk
CNBLUE’s Kang Minhyuk charmed netizens with his appearance as the lovable Yoon Chan Young in The Heirs.
He made his acting debut in 2011 and continued promoting as CNBLUE’s drummer and vocalist while also pursuing roles in television and film.
After appearing in The Heirs, he had a three-year hiatus from acting and returned in 2016 with the K-Drama Entertainer.
In 2017, he landed his first lead role in a drama as Kwak Hyun in Hospital Ship, for which he was nominated for the “Excellence Award – Actor in a Miniseries” at the 36th MBC Drama Awards.
Since the end of his military service in 2020, he’s continued acting and recently appeared as a talent judge alongside his fellow CNBLUE members Yonghwa and Jungshin on The Idol Band: Boy’s Battle, a survival show created by FNC Entertainment.
CNBLUE recently celebrated their 13th anniversary.
5. Kim Ji Won
Kim Ji Won began her career as a backup singer and keyboardist for Younha and landed her first acting role in the 2011 film Romantic Heaven after appearing in various commercials beforehand.
Her role as Yoo Rachel in The Heirs earned the actress her first major drama award, the “New Star Award” at the SBS Drama Awards.
She continued her success with roles in Descendents of the Sun and Fight For My Way.
Most recently, Kim Ji Won starred in the highly-praised drama My Liberation Notes (also known as My Liberation Diary).
She is slated to appear as a chaebol heiress in a new drama in the second half of 2023.
6. Krystal
Krystal’s first television show appearance was in High Kick 3: Revenge of the Short Legged, in which her The Heirs co-star Kim Ji Won also appeared.
Her role in The Heirs earned her and CNBLUE’s Minhyuk the “Best Onscreen Couple” award at the 2013 DramaFever Awards.
Since The Heirs, Krystal continued promotions with f(x) until their last performance at SM TOWN Live 2019 In Tokyo.
She also appeared in a reality show with her sister Jessica, Jessica & Krystal, and has appeared in numerous dramas, working her way to leading roles, including in the drama The Player in 2018.
In Krystal’s latest role, she starred alongside actor Kim Jae Wook in Crazy Love.
Krystal has remained a sought-after celebrity for brand endorsements and was most recently named the global ambassador for Italian fine jeweler Pomellato in January of this year.
7. Kim Woo Bin
Kim Woo Bin was Choi Young Do in The Heirs and expertly portrayed his misunderstood tough guy character.
The model and actor began his modeling career in 2009 and quickly fell in love with acting as well. Kim Woo Bin’s popularity sky-rocketed in 2013 after he acted in The Heirs and School 2013.
In the same year, he landed his first film role and became the host of M Countdown.
He continued to land roles in films and dramas alongside fellow top-name actors, including the film Master in 2016 alongside Lee Byung Hun.
In 2017, Kim Woo Bin went on hiatus following a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer. He has since successfully completed treatment and resumed activities in 2020 with the sci-fi movie Alienoid.
Kim Woo Bin made his return to television last year in the highly acclaimed K-Drama, Our Blues, which featured a star-studded cast that included Lee Byung Hun, Cha Seung Won, Uhm Jung Hwa, Han Ji Min, Lee Jung Eun, and Kim Woo Bin’s longtime girlfriend, famous actress Shin Min Ah.
Late last year, Kim Woo Bin and f(x)’s Krystal gave fans a mini The Heirs reunion at a Ralph Lauren event in California when they were seated together as the brand’s ambassadors and eagerly posed for photos.
Most recently, it was announced that Kim Woo Bin would star in the upcoming Netflix original Black Knight, which is expected to be released later this year.
8. Park Shin Hye
Before The Heirs, Park Shin Hye had already starred in fan-favorite K-Dramas such as You’re Beautiful and Heartstrings.
Following The Heirs, she appeared in several memorable dramas and films, including Pinnochio, The Doctors, Memories of Alhambra, The Call, #Alive, and more.
In 2022, she married fellow actor Choi Tae Joon and gave birth to their first child in May 2022.
The happy couple was recently spotted on a public date in Hawaii to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. The netizen who spotted them couldn’t help gushing about how down-to-earth the two actors were.
I almost cried after seeing them. Park Shin Hye was a humble and down-to-earth actress who first shook my hands to tell me goodbye. Park Shin Hye is so humble, and Choi Tae Joon is so handsome.
— Netizen
Park Shin Hye will appear alongside former The Heirs cast member Park Hyung Sik in the new K-Drama Doctor Slump later this year.
9. Lee Min Ho
Lee Min Ho had an established career before joining the cast of The Heirs, having risen in fame after appearing as Gu Jun Pyo in the famous 2009 K-Drama Boys Over Flowers, which was an adaption from the popular Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango.
His early career also included starring roles in Personal Taste and City Hunter, which helped further cement Lee Min Ho’s status as a Hallyu star.
After starring in The Heirs, Lee Min Ho continued to score leading roles in film and television, including Gangnam Blues, Bounty Hunters, The Legend of the Blue Sea, and The King: Eternal Monarch.
In 2022, Lee Min Ho attended the wedding of his fellow The Heirs co-star Park Shin Hye and hilariously “bid farewell” to his on-screen love in the most Kim Tan way possible. He posted a photo from the wedding with the joking caption, “Do I congratulate you?“
Lee Min Ho’s talent, fame, model-like proportions, and handsome visuals have also made him a top pick for endorsements and brand deals, including his ambassadorship with Louis Vuitton, which began in 2021.
The talented actor currently portrays Koh Hansu in the drama Pachinko and will star in the upcoming series Ask The Stars (also known as When The Stars Gossip).
Recently, a veteran actress from The Heirs went viral for his visual transformation. Check out more on that in the article below!
The Legendary “The Heirs” Actress Is Unrecognizable In Her Latest Instagram Update
