why it is easier for female idol to get big roles on drama compared to actress?

if they've built a solid fanbase from an idol career, they will have better time selling a drama. thats how it usually goes.

what do you mean real actresses?

those people you mentioned are real actresses? no? just because they are also idols doesn't diminish the fact that they auditioned/cast and got the role...

I lot of them might have trained as long or longer to be actresses and if their acting sucked you bet your bottom won that the knetz will have something to say about it

Thought this was old news. Idols are cheaper/paid less and come with pre existing popularity. So it’s win win for the studio.

The labels likely have big sway in the industry so they can inject their idols into projects easer especially if it’s even a semi popular group. Of course it then becomes a case of whether the idol herself is talented and popular enough to continue having a career or crash and burn.

Kpop idols already have exposure and fans from the acting industry so that can transfer to the drama scene. Also, the idol's company might have an influence on the production company/director. All these will make it easier for idols to get roles compared to rookie actresses. i doubt people like Park Min-young, Seo yea ji and other known actresses are struggling for roles in a drama.

I don’t think all of them book big role dramas all the time...

It is not easier for them to get big roles. Both Joy and Irene from Red Velvet still are struggling in acting industry even with S.M on their backs. Yoona debuted in daily drama where the competition was lower.

And, since idol-actor has to be idol on top of acting, how is this easier to them?

Not all idols. It depends on the level of fame.

Kpop is famous/notorious for its fandoms. Producers know that fandoms will be more forgiving of the 'quality of the product' or rather praise anything skyhigh, just because it is from their favs.

So having any idol with a degree of fame, ensures a good percentage of views TRPs.

Aspiring actresses don't come with that advantage.

So it is a trade-off.

But it is not a repeatable thing, if the idol turns out to be horrible in acting. If they are reasonable good and learn, that can work. It is not only in acting. "fame" is an useful currency that can be used across different fields, even politics. Many countries have elected famous actors into politics.

If an idol is in a drama then maybe more people would watch it?

eh, from the current active female idols, who besides Suzy, Yoona and IU are consistent in getting big leading roles in dramas that are somewhat successful? And even then theres still a level above of actors that are usually considered to be at the top, like Bae Dona, Song hye kyo, Jun Ji-hyun etc

I think its more that most idols take what roles they can, not necessarily the best/biggest roles.

Quote from Kreatin

eh, from the current active female idols, who besides Suzy, Yoona and IU are consistent in getting big leading roles in dramas that are somewhat successful? And even then theres still a level above of actors that are usually considered to be at the top, like Bae Dona, Song hye kyo, Jun Ji-hyun etc

I think its more that most idols take what roles they can, not necessarily the best/biggest roles.

Hyeri has hit Dramas, Krystal.

But just that

#1. Not as much hits internationally as Suzy or IU

#2. They aren't as active as idols,

IU is the one who is still highly active and has top notch hits.

Successfully has leveraged two way popularity between music and acting.

Others mostly drop off on music if they get successful in acting.

Suzy releasing a single every few years.. Can hardly be deemed active.

Eunji gets good gigs, but nothing as successful as Reply.

Why only the actresses?

Musicians branch into acting in every country. I don't see the fuss unless the idols are untalented, but even then, there are plenty of terrible actors as well constantly booked and busy

idols generally have more solid fanbases than actresses. The revenue opportunity is stronger.

They also get more criticism.