Top 10 Most Popular Korean Actors In 2015
The Most Popular Korean Actors as voted by the Korean entertainment companies such as KBS, MBC and SBC and other entertainment industry players in a recent survey include;
10. Song Joong Ki
Song was born on 19th September 1985. Although the first TV lead role he played in a melodrama titled the Innocent Man was in 2012, it is through the Sungkyunkwan Scandal (period drama) in 2010 and the Running Man (variety show) from 2010-2011 that brought him to fame. In his early life in high school, Song was active in games specifically short track speed skating and even represented his hometown in the National Games for three times in a row until he was forced out by an injury. With his attention entirely on studies after the injury, he managed to join the prestigious Sungkyunkwan University where his acting career kicked off when he contested in the KBS’s Quiz Korea. His acting debut was in 2008 in the film A Frozen Flower. Song also enlisted for the mandatory military service in August 2013 at the 102nd draft camp.
9. Park Yoo Chun
Park Yoo Chun simply was known as Yoochun was born on June 4, 1986, in Seoul- South Korea but when he was in the 6th grade his family relocated to the US. Brothers Entertainment scouted him hence he returned to South Korea where he later signed for S.M. Entertainment as an artist. Yoochun is not only an actor but also a singer, dancer, and a model. He is popular as a member of JYJ a South Korean pop group. He uses Park Yoochun as the stage name. Some of the dramas that made Park be well known include Miss Ripley, Missing You, Sungkyunkwan Scandal and Rooftop Prince. He started by taking part in minor roles while at TVXQ in dramas at the Banjun Theater but his official acting career kicked off in 2010’s mobile drama Beautiful Love appearing in Japanese Bee T. Park has achieved a grand slam since 2010 when he debuted as an actor.
8. Gong Yoo
Gong Yoo is the stage name for Gong Ji-chui who was born on July 10th, 1979 in South Korea. Gong studied and graduated with a B.A Theatre degree from Kyung Hee University from where he started his acting career by taking parts in small bits of films and dramas. It was in 2005 that he got the first leading role in Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy. Since then he caught the attention of audiences and casting directors making him an actor to watch. In 2007, he participated in MBC’s romantic comedy known as The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince. The drama was so popular that it becomes one of Korea’s most watched dramas in 2007. He joined the Korean Armed Forces in January 2008 for his mandatory military service which ended on December 2009.
7. Lee Seung Gi
Lee is not only an actor but also a singer, MC, and entertainer and was born on January 13, 1987, in South Korea. He gained popularity by being a member of the variety show 1 Night 2 Days weekend show in the first season from November 2007- February 2012. He was also the MC of the Strong Heart talk show from October 2009- April 2012. Before then, Lee had starred in MBC’s sitcom Nonstop 5 in 2005 and made his official acting debut in 2006 in KBS’s The Infamous Chil Sisters weekend drama. His participation in SBS’s weekend drama Brilliant Legacy in 2009 boosted his popularity as an actor locally and internationally and he received an Excellence in Acting award. Love Forecast was the first big screen movie he debuted in due to scheduling conflicts that rocked his appearances proposals. It was in January 2014 that Lee was confirmed to be in a relationship with Im Yoona since September 2013
6. Kim Woo Bin
Born in South Korea in July 1989, Kim who is 188cms tall is both an actor and a model. He has been active in his modeling career since 2009 when he debuted as a runway model. Since his high school days, he had wanted to be a model but commercials required him to have basic acting skills. This made him start study acting to improve himself as a model, but he fell in love with acting. His debut in acting was in 2011 where he starred in cable sitcom Vampire Idol and mystery drama White Christmas. 2013 was his breakthrough year after he took part in teen drama School followed by The Heirs and The Great Legacy later in the year. In 2014, he was cast in The Con Artists and Twenty which brought him to international fame and big screen.
5. Jo In Sung
Jo In Sung was born on July 28, 1981, in South Korea and is 188cms tall. He has been an active actor since 1998 to present and some of the movies he has taken part in include; A Frozen Flower in 2008, Love Impossible, Madeleine, Classic all in 2003 and Public Toilet in 2002. He has also been involved in many drama series including It’s Ok, This is Love among others. Sung has won four awards throughout his acting career which include Ten Star Award both in 2013 and 2014, SBS Special Award in 2013 and Best Couple Award in 2014. Sung had made his debut in the entertainment industry as a model in 1998. He took part in the mandatory military service from April 2009 to May 2011.
4. Lee Min Ho
Lee Min Ho is a South Korean actor, who was born on June 22, 1987. He began his acting profession in the South Korean drama series “Nonstop 5. Lee Min Ho won his first lead role in 2007 series “Mackerel Run” although it received low ratings. His breakthrough success came in 2009 with “Boys over Flowers” as Gu Jun Pyo.
Lee released his first album in May 2013 and went on a fan meeting tour in Asia cities, such as Osaka, Yokohama, Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Manila.
On January 30, 2014, Lee became the first South Korean celeb to perform on China’s CCTV Lunar New Year gala. He sang a song with Harlem Yu, the original singer of the theme song of “Meteor Garden”, the Taiwanese version of “Boys over Flowers”.
3. Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin is a south-Korean actor who was born on September 25, 1982. He is well-known for his leading roles in the TV dramas “My Name Is Kim Sam-Soon and “Secret Garden”.
His experienced a surge of success in 2010 with “Secret Garden”, a romantic fantasy movie about a penniless stunt woman who swaps bodies every time it rains and a busy and arrogant department store owner. Hyun was recognized at the 47thBaeksang Arts Awards and 2010 SBS Drama Awards for his astronomical performance. What’s more, he contributed to the soundtrack with “That Man”, which topped at number one in 8 Korean music portals.
2. Lee Byung Hun
Lee Byung Hun was born on 12th, July 1970 in Seoul, South Korea . He grew-up in a rich family that comprised of his businessman father, mother and one little sister. In 1991, he participated in an open audition for TV network KBS and was accepted. Lee then made his TV acting debut in 1991 KBS drama “Asphalt My Hometown”. Lee didn’t have any impact in television until the next year, when he featured a KBS drama “Tomorrow Love” in 1992.
It wasn’t until the year 1998, that Lee started drawing the attention of critics with his acting in “The Harmonium in My Memory”. In the early 2000s, Lee got more success with “All In” and “Beautiful Days”on the small screen and “Bungee Jumping of their Own” on the big screen with . Lee Byung Hun also featured in “I come With the Rain” and G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
1. Kim Soo Hyun
Kim Soo Hyun is a South Korean actor, who was born on 16th February, 1988. In High school, he began to take acting classes. He later decided to pursue a career in acting. At his university, Chung-Ang University, Kim studied theatre and film, and was involved in several plays. In 2007, he made his acting debut when he was awarded a small part on the TV show Kimchi Cheese Smile.
In the year 2008, Kim acted in a second television show, called Jungle Fish. In 2009, he acted in his first movie, a short movie called Worst Friends. He also featured in two more TV shows.
It wasn’t until the year 2011, however, after he had been in another three TV shows, that he received a big break in his acting profession. He was featured on the TV series Dream High. For the Dream High show, he learned how to dance, sing, and contributed several songs to the soundtrack. The show made him a star. In 2002, he featured in two more films, also in a very popular TV show, The Moon that Embraces the Sun.
In 2004, he enjoyed so much popularity all over Asia after playing the leading role Do Min Joon” in the drama “ You Who Came From Star (My Love From the Star)”, which received an average viewer rating of 24.02% in South Korea.
