10 Korean Actors with the Most Popular Dramas That Made Their Names More Recognized

Kapanlagi.com - The Korean drama industry continues to grow by presenting many talented actors who have managed to capture the audience's attention. The popularity of these actors often increases after starring in dramas that receive widespread public response.

Each actor has a different journey before becoming widely recognized. Some start from short series, web dramas, to the modeling world before finally landing significant roles on screen.

Over time, several actors have successfully built their reputations through the popular dramas they starred in. Here’s the journey of ten Korean actors known through the drama works that made their names even more recognized.

1. Song Kang

Song Kang is known for various popular dramas (credit:instagram.com/songkang_b)

Song Kang is a South Korean actor under the management of Namoo Actors. He studied Film Arts at Konkuk University before starting his career in acting.

In 2015, Song Kang starred as the main character in the short series Hello Spring. He then made his television debut through the drama The Liar and His Lover in 2017.

Some dramas that strengthened his popularity include:

• Hello Spring (2015)
• The Liar and His Lover (2017)
• Love Alarm (2019)
• Sweet Home (2020)
• Navillera (2021)
• Nevertheless (2021)
• Forecasting Love and Weather (2022)
• My Demon (2023)

Song Kang also underwent mandatory military service as an active soldier on April 2, 2024. He then completed his military service on October 1, 2025.

2. Woo Do Hwan

Woo Do Hwan caught attention through the drama Save Me (credit:instagram.com/wdohwan)

Woo Do Hwan is an actor managed by H& Entertainment. He majored in theater at the Faculty of Performing Arts at Dankook University.

His acting debut began in 2011 through the drama Come, Come, Absolutely Come. However, he gained widespread recognition when he landed the lead role in the drama Save Me in 2017.

Some of the dramas that solidified his name include:

• Come, Come, Absolutely Come (2011)
• Save Me (2017)
• My Country: The New Age (2019)
• The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
• Bloodhounds (2023)
• Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023)
• Mr. Plankton (2024)

Woo Do Hwan completed his mandatory military service from July 6, 2020, to January 5, 2022. After that, he signed an exclusive contract with H& Entertainment in 2023.

3. Choi Hyun Wook

Choi Hyun Wook became popular through teen dramas (credit:instagram.com/_choiiii__)

Choi Hyun Wook is an actor under the Gold Medalist agency. He graduated from Hanlim Multi Arts School in 2019.

In the same year, he made his acting debut through the drama Real:Time:Love. Since then, he has appeared in several dramas that captured the audience's attention.

Some of the dramas he has starred in include:

• Real:Time:Love (2019)
• Racket Boys (2021)
• Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)
• Weak Hero Class (2022)
• High Cookie (2023)
• Twinkling Watermelon (2023)
• My Dearest Nemesis (2025)

His roles in Racket Boys and Taxi Driver earned him the Best New Actor award at the SBS Drama Awards 2021.

4. Lee Jong Suk

Lee Jong Suk succeeded through various hit dramas (credit:instagram.com/jongsuk0206)

Lee Jong Suk is an actor and model who studied Motion Pictures and Art at Konkuk University. He made his debut through the short film Sympathy in 2005.

He gained more recognition after appearing in the drama School 2013. From that drama, he won the Best New Actor award at the KBS Drama Awards 2012.

Some of his popular dramas include:

• School 2013 (2013)
• W (2016)
• While You Were Sleeping (2017)
• The Hymn of Death (2018)
• Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019)
• Big Mouth (2022)
• Law and the City (2025)

Lee Jong Suk completed his military service in January 2021. In January 2024, he signed a contract with the Ace Factory agency.

5. Nam Joo Hyuk

Nam Joo Hyuk from basketball athlete to actor (credit:instagram.com/skawngur)

Nam Joo Hyuk was born in Busan and once aspired to be a professional basketball player. He played on a basketball team for three years before suffering an injury that ended his dreams in the sports world.

He then started his career as a model in 2013 by appearing in the SONGZIO Homme Spring/Summer 2014 collection. His acting debut began in 2014 through the drama Surplus Princess.

The dramas that strengthened his popularity include:

• Surplus Princess (2014)
• Who Are You: School 2015 (2015)
• Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016)
• The Light in Your Eyes (2019)
• Start-Up (2020)
• Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)
• Vigilante (2023)

Nam Joo Hyuk underwent mandatory military service on March 20, 2023, as part of the Capital Defense Command military police.

6. Kim Young Dae

Kim Young Dae became popular through the drama Penthouse (credit:instagram.com/youngdae0302)

Kim Young Dae began his career through the web drama Secret Crushes: Special Edition. He also appeared in several web series such as Office Watch 2 and It's Okay to Be Sensitive.

His name became widely known after starring in the drama Extraordinary You. He then became even more popular through his role in the drama The Penthouse: War in Life.

Some of the dramas he has starred in include:

• Extraordinary You (2019)
• Cheat On Me, If You Can (2020)
• Shooting Stars (2022)
• The Forbidden Marriage (2022)
• No Gain, No Love (2024)
• Dear X (2025)

His roles in various dramas have earned him several awards, including at the Asia Artist Awards.

7. Byeon Woo Seok

Byeon Woo Seok from model to drama actor (credit:instagram.com/byeonwooseok)

Byeon Woo Seok initially sought an agency to pursue a career as an actor. However, he instead got the opportunity to start his career as a model.

He is active in various Seoul Fashion Week events and collaborates with several fashion magazines. His acting career began with the drama Dear My Friends in 2016.

Some of the dramas he has starred in include:

• Dear My Friends (2016)
• Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (2019)
• Office Watch Season 3 (2019)
• Record of Youth (2020)
• Moonshine (2021)
• Strong Girl Nam Soon (2023)
• Lovely Runner (2024)

The drama Lovely Runner is one of the works that has once again drawn attention to his name.

8. Lee Do Hyun

Lee Do Hyun is known through the drama The Glory (credit:instagram.com/ldh_sky)

Lee Do Hyun made his acting debut in 2017 and is under Yuehua Entertainment. He is known for his acting skills in various dramas.

His name began to attract attention through the drama 18 Again. He also appeared in the dramas Sweet Home and Youth of May.

Some of the dramas he has starred in include:

• 18 Again (2020)
• Sweet Home (2020)
• Youth of May (2021)
• The Glory (2022)
• The Good Bad Mother (2023)
• Death's Game (2023)

Lee Do Hyun began his mandatory military service on August 14, 2023, and will complete his service on May 13, 2025.

9. Seo In Guk

Seo In Guk is successful as a singer and actor (credit:instagram.com/seo_cccc)

Seo In Guk is known as a singer and actor who was born in Ulsan, South Korea. He also studied various martial arts such as hapkido and boxing.

He made his acting debut in 2012 through the drama Love Rain. Since then, he has continued to appear in various popular dramas.

Some of the dramas he has starred in include:

• Love Rain (2012)
• Shopaholic Louis (2016)
• The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)
• Doom at Your Service (2021)
• Cafe Minamdang (2022)
• Death's Game (2023)
• Boyfriend on Demand (2026)

Seo In Guk was once scheduled to undergo mandatory military service in 2017, but was exempted due to health conditions.

10. Lee Jae Wook

Lee Jae Wook became popular through the drama Alchemy of Souls (credit:instagram.com/jxxvvxxk)

Lee Jae Wook made his acting debut through the drama Memories of the Alhambra in 2018. He is a graduate of Chung-Ang University with a major in theater arts.

His name began to be widely recognized after appearing in the drama Extraordinary You. From that role, he won the Best New Actor award at the MBC Drama Awards 2019.

Some of the dramas he has starred in include:

• Memories of the Alhambra (2018)
• Extraordinary You (2019)
• Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020)
• Alchemy of Souls (2022)
• The Impossible Heir (2024)
• Dear Hongrang (2025)

Over time, he has also received several awards from the Asia Artist Awards and Korea Drama Awards.

11. Popular Q&A About Korean Actors

Q: Who is a popular Korean actor in romantic dramas?
A: Some actors known for their roles in romantic dramas include Song Kang, Nam Joo Hyuk, and Lee Jong Suk.

Q: Which dramas made Korean actors famous?
A: Dramas like Sweet Home, While You Were Sleeping, and Twenty Five Twenty One are often mentioned as works that increased their actors' popularity.

Q: Do many Korean actors start their careers as models?
A: Some actors indeed start their careers as models before transitioning to acting, such as Nam Joo Hyuk and Byeon Woo Seok.

Q: Do Korean actors have to serve in the military?
A: Most South Korean male actors serve in the military as per the country's regulations.

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(kpl/vna)