This was the year when quite a few stars known for their gentle onscreen personalities tried playing tough guy roles.

Perhaps the most macho transformation of all was Kim Hyun Joong's. K-drama viewers first met him on the small screen as the sensitive, violin playing Yun Ji Hu in "Boys Over Flowers."

While Ji Hu hung out with a mean crowd, he was the sensitive one. His character in "Playful Kiss" was not as nice but still had that same "pretty" look. Then came his role "Inspiring Generation."

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