The Best K-Drama Actors Of All Time

K-dramas have grown from local hits to a global phenomenon, and that rise has been powered by performers who anchor great writing with memorable characters and consistent craft. The names below have carried landmark series, set audience records at home and abroad, and earned major trophies that mark real achievement. You will find leads known for romantic hits, intense thrillers, and prestige courtroom dramas alongside veterans who shaped the medium for decades. Each entry highlights essential roles, notable awards, and career milestones that show why these stars define the K-drama landscape.

Lee Byung-hun

Lee Byung-hun bridged television and film with standout turns in ‘Iris’ and ‘Mr. Sunshine’. He is one of the first Korean stars to build sustained international visibility through Hollywood credits and festival favorites. His dramas helped drive premium production values and location shoots that became standard for large-scale series. He continues to headline projects that pair strong ratings with critical recognition across Asia.

Jun Ji-hyun

Jun Ji-hyun led global breakout series like ‘My Love from the Star’ and ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’. She earned Korea’s top television honors for her work, reflecting both popularity and industry respect. Her roles expanded the Hallyu footprint across China and Southeast Asia through streaming syndication and international remakes. She is also known for carefully spaced projects that consistently land as event television.

Song Hye-kyo

Song Hye-kyo anchored signature hits including ‘Autumn in My Heart’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’, and ‘The Glory’. She won top television prizes for ‘The Glory’, underlining a successful shift into darker prestige storytelling. Her titles travel widely through global platforms and drive strong OST and tourism tie-ins. She remains a reliable lead for high-profile projects that shape programming slates.

Gong Yoo

Gong Yoo’s television work in ‘Coffee Prince’ and ‘Goblin’ helped set ratings and streaming records in multiple regions. He combines romantic leads with genre pieces and selects projects that become long-tail favorites on global platforms. His appearances in event series and specials have boosted new releases through cameos and franchise links. He maintains broad brand appeal that extends well beyond Korea.

Hyun Bin

Hyun Bin’s star-making roles include ‘My Lovely Sam Soon’, ‘Secret Garden’, and ‘Crash Landing on You’. His series generated significant overseas distribution sales and strong post-broadcast streaming performance. He has collected major network grand prizes and popularity awards tied to these titles. His career shows a pattern of high rewatch value and sustained international fan engagement.

Kim Soo-hyun

Kim Soo-hyun headlined ‘My Love from the Star’, ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’, and ‘Queen of Tears’. He has been one of television’s highest-paid leads, reflecting consistent demand. His projects dominate real-time buzz metrics and brand rankings during broadcast runs. He is known for careful script selection that pairs character depth with mainstream reach.

Son Ye-jin

Son Ye-jin’s television work includes ‘Something in the Rain’ and ‘Crash Landing on You’. These series strengthened Netflix and regional platform libraries and spurred location tourism. She holds major film and television awards, showing range across mediums. Her casting often signals elevated production quality and strong soundtrack partnerships.

Park Seo-jun

Park Seo-jun’s lead roles in ‘Itaewon Class’, ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’, and ‘Fight for My Way’ delivered strong domestic ratings and global binge numbers. He has won excellence trophies at major network ceremonies tied to these shows. His characters often catalyze fashion and product trends that track in monthly brand indexes. He also contributes to ensemble projects that lift newer actors into wider recognition.

Jeon Do-yeon

Jeon Do-yeon brought film-level prestige to television with ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘Crash Course in Romance’. She is a Cannes Best Actress winner, and that profile elevated her K-drama entries as premium titles. Her series choices regularly spotlight strong writing and character-driven plotting. She continues to move between film and TV while maintaining top-tier accolades.

Lee Jung-jae

Lee Jung-jae’s ‘Squid Game’ became one of the most-watched series worldwide and earned him a historic Emmy for lead actor in a drama. The show’s impact accelerated global investment in Korean series and opened doors for follow-up seasons and spin-offs. His earlier TV and film work established range that translated smoothly to streaming-era hits. He remains a central figure as Korea expands big-vision genre storytelling.

Lee Min-ho

Lee Min-ho rose to international fame with ‘Boys Over Flowers’ and followed with ‘City Hunter’, ‘The Heirs’, and ‘Pachinko’. His series are staples in international catalogs and consistently trend on streaming charts. He has accumulated multiple year-end network awards and long-standing popularity trophies. His projects often drive strong social media traction across multiple languages.

Ji Sung

Ji Sung delivered acclaimed performances in ‘Kill Me, Heal Me’, ‘Defendant’, and ‘The Devil Judge’. He has earned top television honors including a Baeksang Best Actor win for ‘Defendant’. His roles frequently involve complex character work that rewards extended episode counts. He is noted for steady ratings gains across a season due to word-of-mouth growth.

Namkoong Min

Namkoong Min led ‘Hot Stove League’, ‘Doctor Prisoner’, and ‘One Dollar Lawyer’ with high viewer retention. He won Baeksang Best Actor for ‘Hot Stove League’ and multiple grand prizes at network ceremonies. His projects often revitalize underused genres, from sports management to legal capers. He maintains a reputation for detailed preparation that strengthens ensemble casts.

Kim Hye-soo

Kim Hye-soo fronted ‘Signal’ and ‘Juvenile Justice’, two touchstones for crime and legal drama. She holds Baeksang trophies across film and television, reflecting long-term excellence. Her series show strong afterlife streaming and frequent inclusion on best-of lists. She is often attached to titles with robust writing teams and high rewatch value.

Gong Hyo-jin

Gong Hyo-jin’s major series include ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’, ‘The Master’s Sun’, and ‘When the Camellia Blooms’. She earned a Baeksang Best Actress award for ‘When the Camellia Blooms’. Her work often pairs character-driven romance with social themes that broaden audience reach. She has a proven track record of lifting newer co-stars and supporting casts.

Lee Joon-gi

Lee Joon-gi built a career on action-forward and historical dramas such as ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’, ‘Flower of Evil’, and ‘Again My Life’. He performs extensive action and wire work, contributing to tight shooting schedules. His shows travel well in Southeast Asia and maintain strong fan-meet demand. He frequently anchors comeback time slots that need reliable leads.

Park Bo-gum

Park Bo-gum became a household name through ‘Reply 1988’ and ‘Love in the Moonlight’, followed by ‘Record of Youth’. He has collected excellence and popularity awards from major broadcasters. His series generate strong OST performance and active international fan clubs. He is frequently chosen for roles that expand platform viewership among younger demographics.

Kim Hee-ae

Kim Hee-ae delivered standout television in ‘Secret Love Affair’ and ‘The World of the Married’. She won Baeksang Best Actress for ‘Secret Love Affair’ and earned additional major awards for later work. Her projects often lead ratings within competitive weekend slots. She is known for selecting scripts that sustain high tension across long episode counts.

Park Eun-bin

Park Eun-bin headlined ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ and later led ‘Castaway Diva’ after key supporting turns in ‘Hot Stove League’. She won Baeksang Best Actress for ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’. The series boosted awareness for disability representation and achieved broad international streaming success. She continues to balance contemporary roles with period pieces from earlier in her career.

Song Joong-ki

Song Joong-ki led ‘Descendants of the Sun’, ‘Vincenzo’, and ‘Reborn Rich’. His titles post strong sales in overseas markets and remain among the most-binged Korean series. He has collected grand prizes and popularity awards tied to these projects. His casting often coincides with strong pre-sales and robust marketing partnerships.

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