Park Seo-joon Movies and Dramas: Where to Start

Choose your first Park Seo-joon drama or movie: compare Itaewon Class, Secretary Kim, Gyeongseong Creature and Midnight Runners by character, pace and mood.

Park Seo-joon — photograph (2023-02-13). Photo: Marie Claire korea / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0. Original source. Scaled for display; no additional crop.

The suit.
The stubborn streak.
The sudden sprint.

Park Seo-joon can enter a story as the man who seems to own the room, the outsider determined to earn a place in it, or the student who has very little control over what happens next. That makes the question “Where should I start?” more interesting than a single ranked list.

These four picks offer a practical route through his dramas and films. Each introduces a different kind of pressure: romance, an uphill business fight, a dangerous mystery or a race to help someone. Start with the premise that catches you, without needing a complete filmography or advance knowledge of the ending.

Pick a Park Seo-joon starting point

Title	Role	Your starting mood
Itaewon Class · drama	Park Sae-ro-yi	An underdog with a long-term goal
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim · drama	Lee Young-joon	Office romance and an oversized ego
Gyeongseong Creature · Season 1	Jang Tae-sang	Period mystery and creature suspense
Midnight Runners · film	Ki-joon	Buddy action in one movie

Itaewon Class: for resolve that has somewhere to go

As Park Sae-ro-yi, Park plays a young man who holds tightly to his principles and eventually starts the DanBam bar in Itaewon. JTBC’s official character profile identifies the actor and character and describes the years of work behind that opening. Netflix’s title synopsis frames the larger story as an ex-con and his friends taking on a powerful opponent.

This is the first pick if you enjoy watching an intention become a project. Sae-ro-yi’s appeal comes with friction: conviction can give a person direction while making compromise difficult. The business goal provides a spine for the ensemble, so it suits viewers who want relationships connected to a shared undertaking. Expect an emotionally charged underdog drama with setbacks, rather than an easy success montage.

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim: for confidence losing its balance

Lee Young-joon is a company vice-chairman whose capable secretary, Kim Mi-so, announces that she wants to quit. CJ ENM’s official overview lays out the disruption, and the licensed Apple TV listing explicitly pairs Park with Young-joon.

Choose it for a romance built around a familiar arrangement suddenly becoming unstable. A man accustomed to being indispensable has to confront how much he depends on someone else. That is a different use of determination from Itaewon Class: the immediate challenge involves attention, feelings and another person’s wishes. It is the most direct option here when you want the central romantic pairing to organise your watch.

Gyeongseong Creature: for a polished exterior under threat

For Season 1, Park is Jang Tae-sang, a wealthy pawnshop owner in Gyeongseong in 1945. A missing-person search brings him into contact with tracker Yoon Chae-ok and a much darker mystery. Netflix Tudum’s cast guide confirms his identity and the historical setting.

This is the strongest change of scenery after an office romance. Money and connections give Tae-sang advantages, but the survival premise tests what those advantages can actually protect. Choose it when you want atmosphere, danger and a speculative threat alongside character relationships. Start at Season 1; the guide’s role label refers specifically to that season, leaving later developments for the series to reveal. Creature horror and violence are part of the experience.

Midnight Runners: for friendship in motion

If you want a film-sized introduction, try Ki-joon in Midnight Runners. He and fellow police-university student Hee-yeol witness a kidnapping and attempt to act on what they have learned. The official licensed movie listing identifies Park’s role and classifies the film as action and comedy.

The attraction is the gap between training and real urgency. A pair of students makes a different team from a seasoned investigator or an established executive. Pick this when you want friendship and physical momentum without starting a series. The comic pairing sits inside a crime story, so the kidnapping premise still brings danger; the film’s lighter elements do not turn the situation into a consequence-free adventure.

Build a route with contrast

For romance first, choose Secretary Kim, then change gears with Midnight Runners. For stubborn purpose first, choose Itaewon Class, then try the precarious confidence of Gyeongseong Creature. You can also begin with the film if one evening is the only commitment you want to make.

Keep exploring with our Lee Byung-hun movies and TV guide for another route across formats, or the Park Bo-gum watchlist for more character-led drama choices. Check your local service catalogue for current access.

Official role and premise sources checked on 27 October 2026. Viewing routes are Celebpedia editorial suggestions.