If you searched for “Chicken Nugget cast” because you just watched this bizarre K‑drama on Netflix and thought, “Who are these actors?”, you are not alone.
Chicken Nugget (Korean title: 닭강정 / Dakgangjeong) is a surreal comedy–mystery series about a young woman who accidentally turns into a fried chicken nugget and the two men desperate to turn her back. The show’s strange premise works largely because of its strong, experienced cast, led by three well‑known Korean actors.
This guide focuses on the main cast, their characters, and where you may have seen them before, based on verified information available up to late 2024.
Overview of Chicken Nugget
- Title: Chicken Nugget (Dakgangjeong)
- Platform: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy, fantasy, mystery
- Based on: A popular Korean webtoon of the same name
- Director: Lee Byeong‑heon (known for offbeat, character‑driven comedies)
The series revolves around a mysterious machine, a daughter who disappears, and a father and intern who end up chasing clues that become stranger and stranger. The tone is quirky, absurd, and often deadpan, relying heavily on the cast’s ability to play ridiculous situations with complete seriousness.
Main Chicken Nugget Cast (Netflix)
The core of Chicken Nugget rests on three characters:
- A devoted father
- His awkward intern
- The daughter who becomes a chicken nugget
These three carry the emotional and comedic weight of the drama.
Ryu Seung‑ryong as Choi Sun‑man
Role: Father and company CEO
Ryu Seung‑ryong plays Choi Sun‑man, the head of a small machine company and the father of Min‑ah. When his daughter steps into a bizarre device and turns into a chicken nugget, he becomes obsessed with finding a way to bring her back.
Character traits:
- Overprotective, slightly clumsy father
- Emotionally driven and often frantic
- Torn between running his business and rescuing his daughter
Ryu’s performance is a balance of heartfelt desperation and deadpan comedy. He treats the absurd situation with complete seriousness, which makes the humor land even better.
Where you may have seen him before:
- Extreme Job (film) – One of Korea’s most successful box-office comedies
- Miracle in Cell No. 7 (film) – Critically and commercially acclaimed drama
- Masquerade (film) – Historical drama hit
His experience with both comedy and intense emotional roles makes him a perfect choice to anchor such a strange story.
Ahn Jae‑hong as Go Baek‑joong
Role: Intern with a one‑sided crush
Ahn Jae‑hong plays Go Baek‑joong, an intern at Choi Sun‑man’s company. He secretly likes Min‑ah and ends up joining her father on the quest to restore her from chicken nugget back to human form.
Character traits:
- Awkward, loyal, and somewhat timid
- Completely smitten with Min‑ah
- Provides much of the show’s physical comedy and reaction humor
Baek‑joong often serves as the audience’s stand‑in: confused, overwhelmed, but determined. His interactions with Sun‑man add to the show’s odd-couple dynamic, especially as they chase increasingly wild leads together.
Where you may have seen him before:
- Reply 1988 – As one of the friends in the beloved nostalgic ensemble drama
- Fight for My Way – Memorable supporting role in a slice‑of‑life romance
- Be Melodramatic – Critically praised for his offbeat, natural comedic style
Ahn Jae‑hong is known for his understated, realistic comedy, which suits the off‑kilter tone of Chicken Nugget perfectly.
Kim Yoo‑jung as Choi Min‑ah
Role: The daughter who becomes a chicken nugget
Kim Yoo‑jung plays Choi Min‑ah, Sun‑man’s daughter. Early in the story, Min‑ah steps into a mysterious machine at her father’s company… and is transformed into a fried chicken nugget. From that point on, much of her presence is felt through memory, imagination, and the frantic search to restore her.
Character traits (before the transformation):
- Bright and stylish
- Caring, but slightly distant from her work‑focused father
- The emotional center of the story, despite limited physical screen time
Even though she appears less in human form than in many of her other dramas, her character is what motivates every action in the series. The father’s love and the intern’s crush both revolve around Min‑ah, so the audience constantly feels her importance.
Where you may have seen her before:
Kim Yoo‑jung is a well‑known actress with a long career:
- Love in the Moonlight (2016) – Historical romance where she plays a cross‑dressing court eunuch opposite Park Bo‑gum
- Clean with Passion for Now (2018–2019) – Romantic comedy with a germaphobic CEO
- Backstreet Rookie (2020) – Convenience store rom‑com with Ji Chang‑wook
- Lovers of the Red Sky (2021) – Fantasy sageuk as a genius painter
- My Demon (2023–2024) – Fantasy romance as a chaebol heiress
Her participation in Chicken Nugget adds star power and draws many K‑drama fans to check out the series, even with her unconventional role.
Supporting Characters and Ensemble Tone
While the main promotional focus is on Ryu Seung‑ryong, Ahn Jae‑hong, and Kim Yoo‑jung, Chicken Nugget also features a range of supporting characters who add to the strange world of the drama:
- Office employees at Sun‑man’s company
- People connected to the mysterious machine
- Characters who become entangled in the quest to bring Min‑ah back
Because the series leans heavily into surreal and episodic humor, many supporting roles function as:
- Odd experts or “geniuses” who may (or may not) know something about the machine
- Eccentric side characters who complicate the father and intern’s mission
- Comedic foils who react to the idea of a “chicken nugget daughter” in different ways
To avoid inaccuracy, this article focuses on the verified main cast who are consistently highlighted in official materials. For a complete, episode‑by‑episode credit list, viewers should refer to the official Netflix credits for each episode.
Why the Chicken Nugget Cast Works So Well
Even with such an absurd premise, Chicken Nugget maintains emotional impact because the cast plays everything sincerely.
1. Serious Acting in a Ridiculous Situation
Ryu Seung‑ryong and Ahn Jae‑hong do not treat the story as a joke. Their characters are truly:
- Worried, stressed, and emotionally invested
- Exhausted by repeated failures
- Pushed into weirder and weirder solutions
Their commitment makes the series feel oddly grounded, which is essential for this kind of surreal comedy.
2. Strong Emotional Core
Although the show is funny and strange, the emotional engine is simple and relatable:
- A father trying to save his daughter
- A young man trying to help the woman he cares about
Kim Yoo‑jung’s presence as Min‑ah, even when she is not physically on screen, keeps that emotional line clear, giving the audience something real to hold on to amid the absurdity.
3. Proven Comedic Timing
All three main actors have extensive experience with comedy and character-driven stories. This means:
- They know how far to push a joke without breaking the tone
- They can switch from comedy to sentiment quickly and believably
- Their delivery supports the director’s unusual style
As a result, Chicken Nugget feels cohesive, not random, despite its extremely unusual central idea.
Where to Watch Chicken Nugget
- Platform: Netflix
- Type: Limited series (all episodes released for streaming)
Because of its short length and fast-moving episodes, Chicken Nugget is easy to finish in a weekend. It is especially recommended if you enjoy:
- Offbeat, experimental K‑dramas
- Dark or absurd comedy
- Character‑driven stories with a simple but emotional core
FAQ: Chicken Nugget Cast and Characters
Is Kim Yoo‑jung on screen a lot in Chicken Nugget?
She appears in human form less than in her other lead roles because her character turns into a chicken nugget early in the story. However, her character remains central to the plot, and the entire series revolves around finding a way to restore her.
Is Chicken Nugget more comedy or mystery?
It is primarily a comedy with surreal and absurd elements, framed by a mystery: how and why Min‑ah became a nugget, and how to reverse it. The mystery supports the comedy rather than the other way around.
Is Chicken Nugget connected to any of the actors’ previous dramas?
There is no direct story connection, but fans of:
- Ryu Seung‑ryong’s film comedies
- Ahn Jae‑hong’s roles in Reply 1988 and Be Melodramatic
- Kim Yoo‑jung’s work in Love in the Moonlight and My Demon
will likely appreciate seeing how each actor adapts their skills to a much stranger premise.
Conclusion
The Chicken Nugget cast is a major reason this unusual Netflix series works as well as it does. With:
- Ryu Seung‑ryong anchoring the story as a desperate father,
- Ahn Jae‑hong providing relatable, understated comedy as the intern, and
- Kim Yoo‑jung giving emotional weight to the role of Min‑ah,
the drama turns a seemingly ridiculous idea into a surprisingly engaging, emotional, and memorable viewing experience.
If you came here wondering, “Who are these actors, and where have I seen them?”, you now have a clear, structured overview of the main Chicken Nugget cast and their most important previous works.
