Acting and Idol-ing, which better boosts which?

Many idols have gone from idol-ing careers to acting and some have achieved good success too.

S.Korea had some prejudice against idols getting acting roles, but the producers/PDs do like them cast them, for the ready made fandom idols will bring to the project.

So it is largely the case of leveraging idol fame to boost the acting careers.

But does it work the other way too? Can acting roles boost the recognition of the idol/singer?

The only case I can think of is "IU", who had a good boost to her international popularity, when "Hotel Del Luna" became a hit on Netflix. Even with "When Life Gives You Tangerines", there are posts of people finding out she is famous singer.

And Sejeong, who could do a strong Asian concert tour for her album "Door", even though it did not do well on Korean charts, because of her acting fame.

Of course, most idols drastically reduce their idol-ing once they have success in acting. IU, Sejeong, D.O are the rarer cases.

But are there others? Where their acting roles has caused a noticeable impact on their idol/music careers?

Quote from sonemariam

2pm Lee Jun Ho now tours and sings for his fans.

Lee Hong Ki a known vocalist with some good Osts

Lee Seung Gi sings a bit too.

And the CNBlue idols who do their band and acting.

I think these have tried to balance acting and idol-ing.

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Yes. but the question was whether their singing/idoling career 'tangibly' benefited from their acting?

Quote from konikbo2

It's worldwide phenomenon that anything associated with tweens, teenagers, and young adults are heavily and widely undervalued, diminished, and criticized. This is especially true when it has to do with females. People have become socialized to know that any type of negative opinion is accepted and it's normalized. Businesses make a lot of money from this wide age group. But adults are also there to downplay it as something silly. This is because many adults think lowly of young people and diminish their worth as a whole in society. Idols are mostly marketed towards this age group. Actors are geared towards the general public of all age groups. Once you involve the adults, it become "okay" and it validates their profession. But since idols are not mainly for adults, adults can't accept it and try to invalidate it. It's from personal experience and witnessing how people treat the younger generation now. If you don't notice it now, try to and try to break the cycle.

Not really looking for sociological analysis, but simply cases of idols whose music career has benefitted from their acting careers - like the cases mentioned IU, Sejeong & Junho

Quote from Kim-Tan

Acting by a mile tbh. Much more longer lasting career compared to idol. Very few idols really successfully transfer into "real" singers who get respect rather than a young fangirl/fanboy thing. Also difficult to manage and standout by yourself in a solo career once you are out of that group setting.

Not to mention endorsements which is easier to comeby as an actor/actress and there are actors who really only take on projects once in a while and live off endorsements and other public appearances once in a while.

Not asking which is better for the person.

But which boosts the other better

Most cases use idol career to boost their acting.

Few cases have used acting career to boost the singing.

Why is the later "few" ?

Quote from monalisalove

Idol boost actor career way more and the examples are extreme.

The biggest examples are Cha Eunwoo and Rowon, both are/were from active groups and their acting career did almost 0 boost to their group career.

Why? Tbh acting and singing are 2 completely different areas and kdramas fans are 90% movie/series fans, not kpop fans, they are there to watch a fantasy, they like couples, comedy, etc.

The thing is kdrama fans and kpop stans are different demographic. While kpop stans are more open to watch kdramas bc of their faves being on it, kdrama fans have no need to keep up with the idol life of an actor when the actor already does the fan service and fan meetings.

Bingo.

Perhaps it works better for soloists.

HDL definitely reached IU the singer to more audience. Sejeong could not have done a solo tour without the "Business proposal" hit.

The problem is that most idols drastically reduce 'idoling' once they are successful in acting. So don't leverage.

Very few have managed to leverage the synergy both ways, IU is probably the exception even in that.

Quote from monalisalove

Also if companies see the idol is getting more recognition through acting they won't make it a necessity to make the idol idoling. They'll rather focus on making him a popular actor.

Yes. but 'idols' themselves are also responsible for that. It proves that they were not that much into the art, as they were into the 'celebrity' status of it.

Hence the exceptions stand out,

STAYC's Sieun is the most exceptional, she easily could have built an acting career, but chose idoling.

Eunji, DO, Sejeong, Seohyun - all even with acting success, keep up on music - releases, concert tours, even if it is only making covers.

But the person who has cracked the code on using acting & singing as perfectly synched double engines for her career is IU.

IU could actually do a "Tangerines" tour and leverage the drama being a hit. That would be directly leveraging acting for singing.

Guess she won't, 2023-2024 she has stretched hard, so probably will take it easier this year - only shoot for the 21CGPC

But the impact of the drama will last sometime, she can still do in within this year or next.

if PBG guests, then she can definitely expand her singing market.

Quote from patrik-k

I doubt her latest drama did any huge change for her, she was an established and popular singer/artist already for many years in SK.

In SK, sure not by much, though this still helps to reach the older demographic.

However outside SK/E. Asia, Hotel Del Luna, increased her exposure massively and this drama is doing the same now

Quote from Styxx

This is an understatement considering just how good of a vocalist he actually is, the fact he likes acting is a crime to music

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Indeed an understatement sonemariam

He was the "Triple treat" in acting, singing & hosting, winning awards in all.

Just that he isn't Kpop, so isn't mentioned much in these forums

Quote from patrik-k

Well, maybe, but I think she was a well-known actress even before this drama with dramas like Hote De Luna, My Mister and movies like Broker, so I don't see any huge difference in this case. But it does not hurt of cource.

Again, unless you differentiate by geography.

Netflix and HDL, gave her a huge reach in markets like the West

SK, Japan, China, parts of SEA - she was already popular.