Complete List of 5 Most Popular South Korean Male Actors of All Time

In recent years, the “Korean Wave” has enjoyed unwavering popularity around the world. Along with that, South Korea has produced many talented male actors who not only impress with their acting skills but also their timeless visual charm.

From the classic era to the new wave of Hallyu stars, these popular South Korean male actors have captivated millions of fans worldwide. This article will present a comprehensive list of the top 10 most popular South Korean male actors of all time. Get ready to reminisce and rediscover the charms of the most legendary popular Korean male actors who have graced the journey of Korean films and dramas.

Most Popular Korean Male Actors of All Time Survey

The ranking.net website conducted a survey on the “South Korean Actor Popularity Rankings” based on everyone’s votes. Any actor from South Korea can qualify, from very popular South Korean actors with many leading roles to young actors who are expected to make a big breakthrough in the future. The rankings are determined by user votes. Respondents can vote to influence the ranking results by giving a score from 1 to 100 on the items they want to vote for. This article is based on the latest survey results as of April 7, 2025.

Park Hyung Sik

Park Hyung-sik (박형식) is ranked first as a popular South Korean male actor. He was born on November 16, 1991. He is a South Korean actor and singer. He graduated from Singal High School and earned a bachelor's degree in Acting from Digital Seoul Culture and Arts University.

After three years of training, he debuted as a member of South Korean boy group ZE:A in 2010. After that, they enjoyed much success and signed with Sony Music for promotions in 9 countries, mainly in Southeast Asia, where the group became very popular in a short time.

Their contract with Star Empire ended in January 2017 and rumors began circulating about a possible disbandment. However, the agency and the members released separate statements indicating that the group is now officially on an indefinite hiatus but not disbanding.

Park Hyung-Sik enlisted in the South Korean military on June 10, 2019 and was discharged on January 4, 2021. After his discharge, he founded a new company called P&Studio (피앤드스튜디오) with some of his old managers as a subsidiary of his old agency, United Artists Agency. He is now focusing on being an all-round entertainer as he appears in musicals, dramas, and commercial models.

As an actor, he is known for his roles in the series The Heirs (2013), High Society (2015), Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016), Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017), Suits (2018), Happiness (2021), Our Blooming Youth (2023), Doctor Slump (2024), and Buried Hearts (2025). He has also starred in films and musical theater productions.

Lee Joon-gi

Lee Joon-gi (이준기) is ranked second as the most popular South Korean male actor of all time. He was born on April 17, 1982. He is a South Korean actor, singer, and dancer.

His immediate family consists of his parents and a younger sister. Growing up, Joon-Gi was a fairly normal kid who enjoyed sports & computers. He first became interested in the performing arts as a high school student after watching the play “Hamlet.” Lee Joon-Gi initially failed to get into college and, he moved to Seoul with almost nothing, but a dream of working in the entertainment industry. For several years, Joon-Gi worked various part-time jobs, before being accepted into the Seoul Institute of the Arts.

In 2001, Lee Joon-Gi made his debut as a model for fashion brand So Basic, appearing alongside actress Hee-seon Kim. He then appeared in more CFs and music videos. Joon-Gi continued to audition for various acting roles, but did not find immediate success. In 2004, Joon-Gi landed his first substantive acting role in the TV drama “Star's Echo”. Joon-Gi also made his big screen acting debut that same year. He was discharged from his military service in February 2012.

He rose to fame in his first leading role as a clown in the film The King and the Clown (2005) and gained recognition in the romantic comedy My Girl (2005–06). Since then, he has diversified into other genres such as historical dramas and action thrillers. He is also known for his roles in Iljimae (2008), Two Weeks (2013), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), Lawless Lawyer (2018), and Flower of Evil (2020).

In 2009, Lee Joon-Gi worked primarily on his music career, holding concerts in South Korea, China, and Japan, while releasing several digital download singles. Lee Joon-Gi was also appointed as a tourism ambassador for Korea by the Korea Tourism Organization.

Ji Chang Wook

Ji Chang-wook (지창욱) is ranked third as a popular South Korean male actor. He was born on July 5, 1987. He is a South Korean actor and singer. Ji Chang-Wook enlisted in the South Korean military on August 14, 2017 and was discharged on April 27, 2019. He is currently under Spring Company, which was founded by his old manager.

He rose to fame playing the lead role of Dong-hae in the daily drama series Smile Again (2010–2011), and had notable leading roles in television series such as Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011), Empress Ki (2013–2014), Healer (2014–2015), The K2 (2016), Suspicious Partner (2017), The Worst of Evil (2023), and Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023–2024). He also appeared in the film Fabricated City (2017).

Nam Joo Hyuk

Nam Joo-hyuk (남주혁) is ranked fourth as a popular South Korean male actor. He was born on February 22, 1994. He is a South Korean model and actor. He began his career as a model, and appeared in several music videos before making his big screen debut in 2014 with The Idle Mermaid. Nam Joo-Hyuk entered the South Korean military on March 20, 2023 and was discharged on September 19, 2024.

During his studies at Gyeongnam High School, Nam dreamed of becoming a professional basketball player, playing on the basketball team for three years before suffering an injury that ended his sports career.

Nam rose to fame with her role in the television series Who Are You: School 2015 (2015), and has since been known for her leading roles in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016), The Light in Your Eyes (2019), Start Up (2020), Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022), and Vigilante (2023). She also starred in the film The Great Battle (2018).

Cha Eun Woo

Lee Dong-min (이동민) professionally known as Cha Eun-woo (차은우) is ranked fifth as a popular South Korean male actor. He was born on March 30, 1997. He is a South Korean singer and actor.

He is a member of the South Korean boy band Astro, and debuted as a solo artist with the extended play (EP) Entity in 2024. Cha made his acting debut in the film My Brilliant Life (2014) and is known for his roles in Gangnam Beauty (2018), Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019), True Beauty (2020–2021), Island (2022–2023), A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023–2024), and Wonderful World (2024).

He graduated from Hanlim Arts High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in Acting from Sungkyunkwan University. As of 2021, the members have mostly promoted as soloists and have focused on their individual activities. He appeared in several dramas and was also a member of several variety shows. He made his debut as a solo artist in February 2024 with the mini-album, "Entity".

With their incredible talent, captivating charisma, and ability to bring a variety of characters to life on screen, these five popular South Korean male actors have left an indelible mark on the history of South Korean films and dramas. The popularity of these popular South Korean male actors is not only limited to Korea, but has also spread throughout the world, proving the universal appeal of their talent and dedication. They are not just stars, but icons who have inspired many and paved the way for the next generation of popular South Korean male actors to shine on the global stage.

This list of popular South Korean male actors is just a small part of the many popular South Korean male actors who have graced the small and big screens of South Korea. Their legacies will live on through their timeless works, and their influence will continue to be felt in the Korean entertainment industry for years to come. Hopefully, this list of popular South Korean male actors can be a gateway for you to explore more of the amazing wealth of Korean dramas.