Top 5 Favorite Korean Actors Around The World Revealed By Korean Government Survey

The Global Hallyu Trends survey was conducted this year by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), and the results for 2023 have just been published. The survey aims to uncover how Korean cultural content is perceived around the world. It included 25,000 men and women between the ages of 15 and 59 from 26 different countries.

Among other things, the participants were asked to vote on who is their current favorite Korean actor. The survey reported that the five following actors were voted as the most popular around the world.

1. Lee Min Ho

The Boys Over Flowers star led the top 5 most popular Korean actors with 9.1% of the votes from all around the world.

Mostly a quiet year for the actor, 2022 found Lee taking part in the TV series adaptation of Min Jin Lee‘s novel Pachinko. The actor portrayed Koh Hansu, a supporting character. The drama received numerous positive reviews and was well-received by the public.

2. Gong Yoo

One of the most renowned South Korean actors, Gong Yoo (also known as Gong Ji Cheol) took second place in this year’s survey with 2.7% of the votes.

While the actor didn’t have any projects lined up in 2022, he will always remain known for his legendary roles in Coffee Prince, Goblin, Train to Busan, and The Silent Sea. So it’s no surprise seeing him high up on the ranking, despite his lack of activities.

3. Hyun Bin

Another incredible actor, Hyun Bin (also known as Kim Tae Pyung) joined the top 5 with 2.4% of the overall votes.

The actor, mostly known for his roles in My Name Is Kim Sam Soon and Crash Landing on You, has been having a quiet year in the professional aspect. His personal life, on the other hand, has been full of exciting news. Hyun Bin announced his engagement to Son Ye Jin in early 2022, a few months later the actress also revealed that she was pregnant with the couple’s first child.

4. Song Hye Kyo

The well-known Hallyu star, Song Hye Kyo, has known international success since her leading roles in Full House and Descendants of the Sun. The success only seems to be increasing as she received 2% of the votes on the Global Hallyu Survey and is enjoying an incredible beginning to 2023.

The Glory, the actress’s most recent project, has become a Netflix sensation, breaking records and setting incredible standards for K-Drama international success. Her character is loved by many, just like the actress is in real life — with fans taking to online communities to share how amazed they are by her beauty and acting skills.

5. Lee Jong Suk

While the actor’s breakthrough role is from the 2012 K-Drama School 2013, he still remains a popular fan favorite all over the world. The 1.5% of votes he received on the survey, which placed him in the top 5, are exact proof of that.

Lee Jong Suk‘s comeback after completing his military enlistment consisted of a role in the 2022 series Big Mouth. He starred alongside Im Yoona, with the MBC drama being well-received and loved by the public. Earlier this year, the actor also received attention after revealing his relationship with Korean superstar IU.