Jisoo has built a few film credits. In 2019, she played the ex-lover of the male lead in TVN’s epic period fiction Arthdal Chronicles. In 2015, before her debut with Blackpink, she had a cameo role in the KBS drama The Producers. Her pre-debut public exposure also included several ads and minor roles in two music videos.

Many K-pop idols have taken up the challenge of acting for TV dramas and movies, and public evaluation of their performances has played a profound role in setting the course of their future careers. Some even left the music industry to become fully fledged actors, while others have pursued both fields. Some received embarrassing critiques, putting their acting futures in doubt.

Among those who fans can no longer see on music stages is Lee Seung-gi. He debuted as a teenage singer in 2004 and became active in TV and movies soon after. His transition to acting is partly attributable to playing the main character in his music videos – a rarity for most other singers. His consistent public exposure on TV variety shows also allows him to keep his fandom happy.

Starting with a sitcom on MBC in 2004, Lee has been cast consistently, nailing leads in eight TV series and two movies. Most recently he secured a lead role in a TVN drama that will air in 2021.

After serving his mandatory military duty, which ended in 2017, it didn't take Lee long to resume his show business career.

Yoon Kye-sang, 41, who debuted with now-defunct popular boy band G. O. D in 1998 and stayed with it until 2004, has been busy since 2006 in dozens of TV dramas and movies.

He is considered one of a few quality singers-turned-actors, garnering initial high recognition as an actor in 2011 in the movie Poongsan. He played a “person delivery” man who surreptitiously crosses back and forth over the inter-Korean border.

His most memorable roles include the 2017 cop movie The Outlaws, playing villain Jiang Chen, a pony-tailed crime lord from China wreaking havoc in Seoul's Chinatown, and the 2019 period film Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, set during World War II when Japan occupied the Korean peninsula.

Among those more agile in Korean show business is singer Jung Ji-hoon, better known by the stage name Rain. He has entertained the public with credible performances as an actor – though with mixed reviews.

Jung debuted with boy band Fanclub in 1998 and launched his solo act in 2002. He started his acting career with a lead role in KBS’ 2003 drama Sang Doo! Let's Go To School.

While not neglecting fans of his singing and renowned dancing, he built acting credentials to the point of being cast in Hollywood, with a supporting role in Speed Racer (2008) and, rarely for an Asian, the lead in gore-action film Ninja Assassin (2009).

Although his 2019 period film Race to Freedom: Um Bok Dong was a major flop due to a historical controversy regarding the historical figure the film is based on, his MBC TV drama Welcome 2 Life from the same year drew positive reviews, offsetting criticism of his role from the movie as a Korean cyclist rivalling Japanese competitors during the occupation era.

Soloist IU, boasting all-lead credits in four movies and seven TV dramas, and Jeong Eun-ji from girl band Apink, who had a successful acting debut in TVN’s Reply 1997 in 2012, have also established acting careers while flying high on the K-pop scene.

Some musicians have weathered harsh evaluation of their professional transition. Apink leader Park Cho-rong's film debut with Road Family, which hit theatres in July, garnered criticism for her “unnatural” acting. But the star, who previously played female leads in the 2014 TVN drama Plus Nine Boys and the 2017 web-drama Special Law of Romance on Naver TV, reacted humbly, saying she “learned a lot” from her first movie role.

Bae Suzy from girl band Miss A has also accumulated some negative reviews after signing up for acting. Debuting with the JYP Entertainment idol group in 2010 and venturing into acting the following year, she successfully proclaimed her acting potential in the 2012 romance flick box office success Architecture 101. But critiques of her performances in follow-ups, including 2016 KBS drama Uncontrollably Fond and SBS’ Vagabond in 2019, have not been so kind.

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This article originally appeared in Korea Times.