10 Actors and Actresses Whose K-Dramas Never Miss, Ranked

K-dramas are a source of ultimate fun and relaxation; they’re often full of multiple twists and (un)surprising turns, hooking audiences onto every new episode. Though the plot is often the biggest selling point of most K-dramas, sometimes fans watch them because of specific actors and actresses. With stans and fans all over the globe, some K-drama actors and actresses enjoy a higher level of attention; they could be good-looking or have a great public reputation (which is everything in the South Korean entertainment world).

As these actors get more TV and film under their acting belts, their dramas are more likely to be hits. Because of a combination of their public reputation and great offers, several South Korean actors and actresses have hit after hit. The success of their dramas may lie in a greatly written script and aesthetically enjoyable visuals, but most often, it’s their own presence. Those actors are often in K-dramas that never miss, bringing them even more love and attention from global audiences.

10

Gong Hyo-jin

‘When the Camellia Blooms,’ ‘The Greatest Love’

Gong Hyo-jin is more or less a household name in South Korea. Her career spans over 25 years, after she debuted in the K-horror movie Memento Mori. Today, most fans know Gong for her roles in When the Camellia Blooms, The Greatest Love, and The Producers. Gong Hyo-jin is often cast as the female lead character with a strong personality, a woman who’s tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Her gentle facial features make her a chameleon in each role, but also a recognizable actor in many ways.

Gong Hyo-jin’s dramas are often romantic comedies, since she has a knack for portraying relatable and funny women. In 2025, Netflix users can see her in another rom-com with elements of sci-fi, When the Stars Gossip; she portrays Eve Kim, a Korean-American astronaut who falls in love with a space tourist, Gong Ryong, played by another beloved actor, Lee Min-ho. The pair have excellent chemistry, with another playful comedy with a wild sci-fi setting that promised and delivered a great K-drama.

When The Camellia Blooms

Release Date

September 18, 2019

Finale Year

November 30, 2018

Cast

Kong Hyo-jin
, Kim Ji-seok
, Ji E-Suu
, Kang Ha-neul
, Oh Jung-se
, Yeom Hye-ran
, Son Dam-bi
, Kim Kang-hoon

Seasons

1

9

Lee Min-ho

‘Pachinko,’ ‘Boys Over Flowers,’ ‘Heirs’

Gong Hyo-jin’s most recent acting partner, Lee Min-ho, is more than just that today. Lee is more or less a living K-drama legend, a man who’s escorted the popularity and adoration of the genre to international success. Though only 37, he’s technically an acting veteran already; he debuted in the drama called Sharp in 2002. Today, fans mostly know him for his roles in The Heirs, Boys Over Flowers, and, most recently, Pachinko. Pachinko is considered one of the best K-dramas of the past few years, and it was produced by and aired on Apple TV+.

Lee Min-ho is a valuable name to most K-drama producers, so landing him for a role always means the drama is going to be successful. Beyond his name and good looks, however, Lee Min-ho is a great actor and his dramas typically deliver – Pachinko being the most recent example, while The Heirs and Boys Over Flowers enjoy a sort of cult classic status. Lee Min-ho often portrays courageous characters, or those who show the ability to change and adapt; the transformative nature of his roles allows him to be likable and a fan favorite.

Release Date

March 25, 2022

Cast

Lee Min-ho
, Minha Kim
, Anna Sawai
, Jimmi Simpson
, Eun-chae Jung
, Jin Ha
, Kaho Minami
, Yuh-Jung Youn
, In-ji Jeong
, Jun-woo Han
, Soji Arai
, Steve Sanghyun Noh

Seasons

2

Main Genre

Drama

Creator(s)

Soo Hugh

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8

Lee Dong-wook

‘Goblin,’ ‘Tale of the Nine Tailed,’ ‘A Shop For Killers’

Another K-drama veteran and household name, Lee Dong-wook, has successfully transitioned from portraying a moody rom-com lead to playing fierce action heroes. Before the 2020s, his fans knew him for the now world-famous drama Guardian (aka Goblin), in which he starred alongside Gong Yoo (Train to Busan, Squid Game) and Kim Go-eun (Little Women, Exhuma); his other work included My Girl, and Hell Is Other People.

In 2020, Lee starred in one of the most popular romantic dramas in the last five years, Tale of the Nine Tailed, but he also tried himself out as an action star in Disney’s 2024 A Shop for Killers and Netflix’s 2022 action comedy Bad and Crazy (alongside Wi Ha-jun). Lee Dong-wook has a recognizable face (and a handsome one), but he is also chameleonic. His transformations go from a gentle rom-com leading to a mysterious and erratic tenant; from a rich hotel heir to a manager of a store which supplies assassins. He’s versatile and one of South Korea’s biggest and best acting treasures.

Hell Is Other People

Release Date

May 25, 2016

Finale Year

November 30, 2018

Cast

Im Si-wan
, Lee Dong-wook
, Cha Rae-hyung
, Kim Han-jong
, Oh Hye-won
, Park Ji-han

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Kim Yong-ki
, Lee Chang-hee

Writers

Jung Yi-do

Network

OCN

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7

Song Hye-kyo

‘Descendants of the Sun,’ ‘The Glory’

While Song Hye-kyo is a somewhat controversial personality in South Korea – she committed tax evasion in 2014 – she is also a great philanthropist and a higly popular actress. She made her television debut in 1995, and has had only a couple of breaks between projects since then. She’s most known to romantic K-drama fans as Doctor Kang Mo-yeon in the highly popular romantic K-drama Descendants of the Sun. She even married her Descendants co-star Song Joong-ki after they met on set, though the two later called it quits in 2019. Song is a little more known to Netflix drama watchers as the lead in the revenge thriller The Glory, where she portrays a vengeful and calculated woman with deep-seated trauma and PTSD.

Song Hye-kyo initially portrayed characters of ethereal and untouchable beauty (which makes sense as she’s one of the most beautiful South Korean actresses alive). Her roles shifted to be less gentle and more fierce; it seems that over time, Song started picking characters that would allow her more range and versatility. Her fans will be able to see her as the lead in an upcoming supernatural thriller Dark Nuns, where she tries to save a young boy from possession.

The Glory

Release Date

October 30, 2022

Finale Year

November 30, 2022

Cast

Song Hye-Kyo
, Lee Do-Hyun
, Lim Ji-yeon
, Yeom Hye-ran
, Park Sung-hoon
, Jung Sung-il

Seasons

1

Producers

Yoon Ha-lim

Writers

Kim Eun-sook

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6

Jung Hae-in

‘D.P.,’ ‘Love Next Door,’ ‘Prison Playbook’

Despite being a more recent K-drama face, Jung Hae-in is already an established name. His role as Jun-ho in the military drama D.P. ensured his undying popularity; however, before that, Jung was in a couple of other beloved K-dramas, from While You Were Sleeping to Prison Playbook. Jung Hae-in made his acting debut in 2014, and has been consistently working. His most recent work includes the Netflix series Love Next Door, a rom-com considered among the best K-dramas in 2024.

Jung Hae-in has a long career ahead of him, so we’re left to see what kind of characters he’ll portray next (people still hope for a D.P. season 3 announcement). So far, however, his roles have been accompanied by high-praise and incredible hype, which is what any young actor wants to experience. Jung Hae-in is versatile with his acting as much as he is with his looks; he fits the buzzcut-sporting stoic Jun-ho from D.P. perfectly, but he also embodies the perfect boy next door in Love Next Door. Is there anything Jung Hae-in can’t do?

Prison Playbook

Release Date

November 22, 2017

Finale Year

November 30, 2017

Cast

Park Hae-soo
, Jung Kyung-ho
, Krystal Jung
, Yoo Hyeong-kwan
, Lee Kyoo-hyung
, Jeong Woong-in
, Choi Moo-seong
, Kang Ki-doong

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

1

5

Nam Joo-hyuk

‘Moon Lovers,’ ‘Twenty Five Twenty One,’ ‘Start-Up’

Another fairly new face in the K-drama realm, Nam Joo-hyuk, is still very familiar to many drama fans all over the world. He debuted the same year as Jung Hae-in and has a similar number of heavy-hitting dramas on his roster. His first television role was in The Idle Mermaid, but he became a much bigger face thanks to 2016’s best K-drama, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. This K-drama finds itself on lists like those with the perfect ending, romantic dramas that can be binge-watched all day long, and the most romantic K-dramas ever made.

In 2016, Nam Joo-hyuk also starred in two incredibly popular titles – Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo and Cheese In the Trap. These dramas helped establish him as a charming and lovable lead, though lots of his characters start off as shy and end up the heroes of the story; he also has a great knack for physical comedy. It seems Nam Joo-hyuk will star in another historical drama soon, as his upcoming supernatural fantasy drama East Palace wraps up production. Until then, he has plenty of binge-able K-dramas for fans that want to watch some wholesome characters’ journeys.

Release Date

August 29, 2016

Cast

Lee Joon-Gi
, IU
, Kang Ha-neul
, Nam Joo-hyuk
, Ji Soo
, Yoon Sun-woo

Creator(s)

Hua Tong

Writers

Hong Jung-eun
, Hong Mi-ran

Directors

Boo Sung-chul

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Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is not currently available for streaming in the US.

4

Son Ye-jin

‘Crash Landing on You,’ ‘Thirty Nine,’ ‘Alone In Love’

When K-drama fans think of Son Ye-jin, they can’t help but think of the most romantic K-drama ever, Crash Landing On You. This drama had the ideal formula for a successful show, with two gorgeous leads – Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin – and a sort of friends to lovers trope that could also double as enemies to lovers and a slow-burn romance. Son had her television debut in 2002, and her acting biography shows nothing less than pure bangers when it comes to K-dramas of all genres – though she mostly portrayed romantic leads.

Despite being more known for her movie roles, Son Ye-jin starred in some K-drama cult classics, from the historical drama The Great Ambition in 2003 to the oddly cute rom-com Personal Taste with Lee Min-ho in 2010. Her biggest K-drama success came with Crash Landing On You, where she and co-star Hyun Bin fell in love in real life, too (to the joy of the show’s numerous fans). Her most recent drama is the slice of life dramedy Thirty Nine on Netflix, which takes an earnest look at three women and best friends’ lives as they near their forties. Son is charming and more grounded in this show, which counts as some of her best work.

Crash Landing On You

Release Date

December 14, 2019

Cast

Hyun Bin
, Son Ye-jin
, Seo Ji-hye
, Kim Jung-hyun

Seasons

1

Creator(s)

Lee Jung-hyo
, Park Ji-eun

3

Kim Go-eun

‘Cheese in the Trap,’ ‘Little Women,’ ‘Goblin’

An actress with over a decade of experience under her acting belt, Kim Go-eun is best known to people for her portrayal of Eun-tak, a girl in the middle of a love triangle with the Grim Reaper and a guardian angel in Goblin. Her biggest flex is her indomitable movie career, which is much more prominent than her K-drama career, but Kim Go-eun can show off with the fact that every K-drama she’s been in has been an absolute smash hit among audiences. She’s versatile but still highly recognizable, and has a specific way of performing.

Kim Go-eun has a certain charisma – besides her incredible beauty – that attracts people to watch her in different roles. Before Goblin, she was in Cheese In the Trap, and most recently starred in the highly acclaimed K-mystery Little Women on Netflix. With her appeal, Kim Go-eun is more than likely to win over even wider audiences in her future roles; she’s still young and has immense potential. For fans who’ve seen all of Kim’s dramas, she is thrilling in the horror movie Exhuma and radiant in the friendship drama movie Love In the Big City.

Little Women

Release Date

September 3, 2022

Finale Year

November 30, 2021

Cast

Kim Go-eun
, Nam Ji-hyun
, Park Ji-hu
, Wi Ha-jun
, Uhm Ji-won
, Uhm Ki-joon
, Kim Mi-sook
, Kang Hoon
, Jeon Chae-eun
, Gong Min-jeung
, Cho Seung-yeon
, Park Bo-kyung
, Oh Jung-se
, Kim Byung-nam
, Jeon Jin-oh
, Lee Min-woo
, Lee Do-yeop
, Kim Myung-soo
, Park Ji-young
, Nam Kee-ae
, Park So-yi
, Hong Seo-hee
, Song Joong-ki
, Adrian Pang

Seasons

1

Main Genre

Drama

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2

Woo Do-hwan

‘Bloodhounds,’ ‘Mr. Plankton,’ ‘Joseon Attorney’

Currently, the most popular actor on social media, Woo Do-hwan, is also a fresh face in the K-drama world. He made his acting debut in 2011, but his biggest success came with the release of the Netflix action thriller Bloodhounds, where he stars alongside Lee Sang-yi as the boxing prodigy that begins chasing a powerful loan shark who conned his mother. Woo and Lee have brilliant chemistry, making Bloodhounds a buddy comedy at times. While Lee is the comic relief in Bloodhounds, though, Woo displays a little more of that skill in his most recent Netflix rom-com, Mr. Plankton.

However, Woo Do-Hwan starred in other shows before these two, which currently hold the most popular spots among Netflix K-dramas. One of his most notable roles was in the thriller drama Mad Dog with Yoo Ji-tae, but he also shines in the historical dramedy Joseon Attorney as the lead. It seems Woo Do-hwan chooses mostly serious characters that give him the opportunity to display his physicality; while this is an attribute viewers do not mind at all, he is also quickly becoming one of South Korea’s biggest action stars, and has dramas that haven’t missed the mark yet.

Release Date

November 1, 2024

Cast

Rich Ting
, Woo Do-Hwan
, Lee Yoo-mi
, Oh Jung-se
, Kim Hae-sook
, Lee Hae-young

Seasons

1

Finale Year

November 30, 2023

Writers

Jo Yong

Network

Netflix

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1

Bae Suzy

‘Anna,’ ‘Uncontrollably Fond,’ ‘Gu Family Book’

South Korea’s sweetheart, Bae Suzy, isn’t just a (very) pretty face. She’s also one of the most hardworking actors in the industry, a great singer, and a performer unlike many others. Bae Suzy, often just known as Suzy, has a long acting career which could have flopped at times, but luckily didn’t. This may not only be attributed to luck, though – she chose the roles she knew would be great for her, having stepped out of her usual box when it comes to drama roles sometimes. Her first foray away from a more “innocent” look is the brilliant one-day binge Anna. Suzy portrays a cold and deceitful woman who finds redemption at the end of her difficult journey.

Before that, Suzy starred in some highly-acclaimed hits, like the family drama Gu Family Book, Uncontrollably Fond, and Start-Up. She is often considered one of the most present faces in the K-drama field, and has a term coined after her – “Suzy Power,” which producers and companies mostly use when they want to have successful ad campaigns by hiring her. Because of her udying popularity, Suzy starred in some amazing K-dramas, which are all worth watching.

Release Date

July 6, 2016

Cast

Kim Woo-bin
, Bae Suzy
, Lim Ju-hwan
, Im Joo-eun
, Jin Kyung

Finale Year

November 30, 2015

Creator(s)

Lee Kyoung-hee

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

1

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