From Moment at Eighteen to his first villain role, here are the Ong Seong-wu dramas fans should add to their watchlist
SEOUL, South Korea — From a K-pop idol to a leading man—and now a darker antagonist—Ong Seong-wu has steadily expanded his acting range since making his television debut in 2019.
The former Wanna One member has taken on a striking variety of characters, moving from a quiet high-school student to a photographer, rookie barista, police detective and, most recently, a calculating hotel executive.
From Wanna One to K-drama leading man
Born in Incheon in 1995, Ong first became widely known after competing on Mnet’s Produce 101 Season 2, where he finished fifth and earned a place in the project group Wanna One.
After the group’s activities ended, he began developing a career as both a solo artist and actor.
His acting breakthrough came with JTBC’s Moment at Eighteen in 2019, where he played Choi Joon-woo, a reserved transfer student trying to navigate school life, friendships and family pressures.
The role immediately put him on the radar as an actor, earning him Best New Actor and Hallyu Star at the Korea Drama Awards, as well as a Rookie Actor award at the Asia Artist Awards.
And that was only the beginning.
1. Moment at Eighteen — 2019
If you’re new to Ong Seong-wu, Moment at Eighteen is arguably the natural place to start.
He portrays Choi Joon-woo, a quiet teenager who transfers to a new school while dealing with false accusations from his previous school.
The coming-of-age drama explores friendship, first love, academic pressure and the complicated emotions of being a teenager.
Ong stars alongside Kim Hyang-gi and Shin Seung-ho, delivering a restrained performance that helped establish his credibility beyond his idol career. Tatler Asia lists the series as available on Netflix, Viki and Viu, although availability can vary by territory.
Why watch it: It offers the clearest look at Ong’s beginnings as a dramatic actor.
2. More Than Friends — 2020
Ong shifted into romance with JTBC’s More Than Friends, playing photographer Lee Soo.
The story follows two close friends whose feelings become complicated over roughly a decade, with repeated misunderstandings and terrible timing preventing their relationship from moving forward.
Ong’s character is caught in a relationship where friendship and romance continually collide.
The drama also stars Shin Ye-eun and Kim Dong-jun.
Why watch it: If you’re looking for Ong in a classic romantic-drama role, this is one of his most obvious choices.
3. Would You Like a Cup of Coffee? — 2021
Want something more relaxed?
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee? takes Ong into a completely different world.
He plays Kang Go-bi, an aspiring barista who begins working at a neighborhood coffee shop under the guidance of veteran coffee master Park Seok, played by Park Ho-san.
Rather than relying on big twists, the short-form slice-of-life drama focuses on coffee, everyday encounters and the lessons people learn through seemingly ordinary conversations.
Tatler Asia describes it as one of Ong’s warmer and more comforting performances.
Why watch it: It’s a slower, gentler option for viewers who prefer healing dramas over high-stakes romance or action.
4. Strong Girl Nam-soon — 2023
This is where Ong’s image starts changing significantly.
In JTBC’s Strong Girl Nam-soon, he plays Kang Hee-sik, an energetic police detective investigating a synthetic-drug syndicate.
The series stars Lee Yoo-mi as Kang Nam-soon, a woman born with extraordinary strength, alongside Kim Jung-eun, Kim Hae-sook and Byeon Woo-seok.
Ong’s character brings a mix of police investigation, action and romance to the supernatural comedy.
The series is also a particularly notable entry in his filmography because it moved him away from the quieter youth and romance roles of his earlier career.
Why watch it: Fans get to see Ong handle action, comedy and romance in the same series.
5. Spooky in Love — 2026
And then came the role that changed the conversation around Ong Seong-wu.
In Spooky in Love, Ong takes on his first villain role, playing Kang Min-hwan, an ambitious hotel executive whose polished appearance hides darker motivations.
The series is a supernatural romance remake of the 2011 film Spellbound and centers on hotel heiress Cheon Yeo-ri, played by Park Eun-bin, who can see ghosts, and prosecutor Ma Gang-wook, played by Yang Se-jong, who is terrified of them.
Ong’s Kang Min-hwan was created as an original character for the drama rather than a role from the original film.
The actor has said he wanted audiences to see a colder side of him, particularly because he is often associated with a clean-cut image.
That makes the role an important milestone in his acting career.
Why watch it: It’s Ong Seong-wu unlike you’ve seen him before.
Bonus: Ong Seong-wu in Boyfriend on Demand
Ong also made a special appearance in Netflix’s 2026 romantic comedy Boyfriend on Demand, starring BLACKPINK’s Jisoo and Seo In-guk.
The series revolves around a virtual dating service that allows its users to experience customized romantic scenarios.
Netflix confirmed that Ong is among the actors appearing as one of Mi-rae’s virtual boyfriends. His appearance comes alongside actors including Seo Kang-jun, Lee Soo-hyuk, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Hyun-wook and Kim Young-dae.
Ong’s appearance is particularly fun for longtime fans because it gives viewers another chance to see him in a dramatically different setting.
Ong Seong-wu’s K-drama evolution
Looking at his filmography chronologically, the progression is clear:
2019: Quiet teenager in Moment at Eighteen
2020: Romantic photographer in More Than Friends
2021: Aspiring barista in Would You Like a Cup of Coffee?
2023: Police detective in Strong Girl Nam-soon
2026: Dark hotel executive in Spooky in Love
That’s quite a transformation in just a few years.
His journey also mirrors that of several K-pop stars who have gradually moved beyond their idol identities by taking on increasingly demanding acting roles.
For Ong, the biggest test may now be whether audiences can separate the cheerful former Wanna One member from the calculating characters he’s beginning to portray.
And judging by his latest roles, he appears more than ready to make that leap.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
Leave a Reply