Lee Young-ae (9ers Entertainment, from left), Kim Hye-soo (tvN), Kim Ji-won (KBS 2TV) and Ha Ji-won (MBC)

A number of Korean stars have seen their popularity increase after taking on military and police roles, and The K-pop Herald has identified four actresses who won audiences over in uniform, including the most recent roles of detective Cha Soo-hyun (Kim Hye-soo) in tvN’s “Signal” and 1st Lt. Yoon Myung-joo (Kim Ji-won) in KBS 2TV’s “Descendants of the Sun.”

1. Lee Young-ae (Maj. Sophie E. Jean) at "Joint Security Area" (2000)

(9ers Entertainment)

Actress Lee Young-ae starred in the classic film “Joint Security Area.” Taking the role of Swiss Army Maj. Sophie E. Jean, who carryies out an investigation into a gunfire incident that broke out in the Joint Security Area between North and South Korea, she keps a cool attitude while questioning those allegedly involved in the incident, including South Korean soldier Lee Soo-hyeok (Lee Byung-hun) and North Korean soldier Oh Kyung-pil (Song Kang-ho). The military uniform Maj. Jean wore represents her mental state.

2. Ha Ji-won (Kim Hyang-ah) at "The King: Two Hearts" (2012)

(MBC)

Acterss Ha Ji-won acted as North Korean military officer Kim Hyang-ah in MBC miniseries “The King: Two Hearts.” She costarred with Lee Seung-gi, who played a South Korean prince who met the North Korean officer in a junior officer competition. Ha and Lee fell in love with each other after the drama.

3. Kim Hye-soo (Cha Soo-hyun) at "Signal" (2016)

(tVN)

Actress Kim Hye-soo played police officer Cha Soo-hyun in tvN’s crime series “Signal.” Kim acted both the young Cha, a rank-and-file police officer in the 1980s, and an older Cha, who a detective in the present. The junior version of Cha wore a police uniform, while the senior Cha put on a leather.

4. Kim Ji-won (1st. Lt. Yoon Myung-joo) at "Descendants of the Sun" (2016)

(KBS 2TV)

Actress Kim Ji-won plays 1st Lt. Yoon Myung-joo in the phenomenal drama series “Descendants of the Sun” Not only did her military combat uniform add to her stardom, but having her hair cut short also contributed to her change of image. Her character is so attractive that even Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) compliments her, saying that even women “fetishize uniforms” during an episode. Master Sgt. Seo Dae-young (Jin Goo) has a crush on the junior officer.

By Son Ji-hyoung (json@heraldcorp.com)