Kapanlagi.com - Korean dramas that made their actors instantly famous are always interesting to discuss. The Korean drama (drakor) industry is known for producing new stars who were previously less known.
When a drama becomes a huge success, its cast also becomes the center of attention, even immediately receiving many project offers, advertising contracts, and fans from various countries. Here are some Korean dramas that successfully boosted the popularity of their actors, compiled by KapanLagi.com, Thursday (6/8/2026).
Heo Nam Joon in My Royal Nemesis / Photo: mydramalist.com
The latest drama on this list is My Royal Nemesis, which brings together Kang Dan Shim, the most feared woman in the Joseon palace who is executed, with a soul that awakens in the body of a contemporary actress named Shin Seo Ri in the year 2026. There, she confronts Cha Se Gye, the sole heir of a large business group known for his arrogance.
This drama airs starting May 8, 2026, on SBS TV and Netflix, starring Lim Ji Yeon, Heo Nam Jun, and Jang Seung Jo. Heo Nam Jun's role as a cold chaebol who gradually melts has made him one of the most talked-about actors in 2026. His role as Cha Se-gye, a ruthless yet powerful conglomerate CEO, has been praised for reviving the charm of classic Korean dramas from the 2010s.
Kim Jae Won in Yumi Cells 3/Photo: mydramalist.com
The popular series Yumi's Cells has also boosted the names of its cast members, including Kim Jae Won in the third season. This drama depicts Kim Yumi's love life and work through the visualization of her emotional cells, this time focusing on a new chapter in her romantic relationship.
The third season airs starting April 13, 2026, on tvN and Netflix, starring Kim Go Eun and Kim Jae Won. Kim Jae Won's presence as a new love interest for Yumi has made his name a hot topic among fans of Korean romantic dramas. This is another example of a Korean drama that catapults its actors to stardom.
Baek Sun Ho in If Wishes Could Kill/Photo: mydramalist.com
Still in the year 2026, the teen horror drama If Wishes Could Kill tells the story of five high school friends who receive death warnings from a mysterious app called Girigo that claims to grant wishes. The more they try to escape their fate, the darker the truth that is revealed.
This drama premieres on April 24, 2026, on Netflix, starring Jeon So Young, Kang Mi Na, Baek Sun Ho, Hyun Woo Seok, and Lee Hyo Je. This marks Baek Sun Ho's first leading role, immediately positioning him as one of the most sought-after new faces in the Korean drama industry this year. His popularity skyrocketed after the release of the show, and he and Jeon So-young, who plays his partner, were seen being very affectionate.
Lee Chae Min in Bon Appetit Your Majesty/Photo: mydramalist.com
Set in 2025, Bon Appetit, Your Majesty becomes a grand stage for Lee Chae Min. This drama tells the story of Yeon Ji Yeong, a French cuisine chef at the peak of her career, who is suddenly thrown back to the Joseon Dynasty and must cook for the ill-tempered king, Lee Heon.
The drama airs starting August 23, 2025, on tvN, TVING, and Netflix, starring Im Yoon Ah, Lee Chae Min, and Kang Han Na. The role as the romantic tyrant king is described as a breakthrough role for Lee Chae Min, elevating his name far more than his role in Crash Course in Romance. This proves the power of Korean dramas that catapult their actors to fame instantly.
Lee Jun Young in When Life Gives You Tangerines/Photo: mydramalist.com
The emotional drama When Life Gives You Tangerines also raises Lee Jun Young's profile thanks to his role in the latter part of the story. This drama follows the life journey of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik from youth to old age on Jeju Island, filled with struggles, love, and generational sacrifices.
The drama airs starting March 7, 2025, on Netflix, starring IU, Park Bo Gum, Moon So Ri, and Park Hae Joon, with Lee Jun Young playing Park Yeong-beom, the boyfriend of Yang Geum-myeong (played by IU). Although not a main character from the start, his appearance in this drama has received much praise from critics and audiences. His role as Park Young-beom, a sincere and devoted young man, has garnered acclaim for its warmth and genuineness.
Cho Jun Young in Spirit Fingers/Photo: mydramalist.com
Still in early 2025, the coming-of-age drama Spirit Fingers paves the way for Cho Jun Young to become more widely recognized. This drama tells the story of a group of teenagers who join the school's modern dance club while struggling to overcome their individual personal issues through dance movements.
The drama will air starting February 7, 2025, on Netflix, starring Go Yoon Jung, Kim Min Ju, and Cho Jun Young. His role as a teenager with a complex emotional background has garnered much praise for Cho Jun Young's performance, and his name is starting to rise among fans of Korean teen dramas. He successfully leads the narrative with a multidimensional performance, showcasing unwavering dedication.
Byeon Woo Seok in Lovely Runner/Photo: mydramalist.com
Still in 2024, one of the most phenomenal dramas lately is Lovely Runner, which is a prime example of a Korean drama that has catapulted its actor to global fame. Byeon Woo Seok plays Ryu Sun Jae, a band idol whose life ends tragically, while his fan, Im Sol, finds a way to go back in time to save him.
This drama airs starting April 8, 2024, on tvN, starring Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon. The chemistry between the two has led Byeon Woo Seok to be flooded with advertising offers and international projects. His role as Ryu Sun-jae, his first leading role, earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards and various other accolades.
Cha Woo Min in Night Has Come/Photo: mydramalist.com
Looking back to 2023, Cha Woo Min first caught attention through Night Has Come. This drama follows a group of high school students who must play a deadly mafia-style game during a study tour, where one of them turns out to be a real killer. The drama airs starting December 4, 2023, on U+ Mobile TV and Netflix, starring Lee Jae In, Kim Woo Seok, Choi Ye Bin, and Cha Woo Min as the antagonist character who steals the audience's attention.
The role as this complex villain paved the way for Cha Woo Min to various subsequent projects like Study Group. This shows that even antagonistic roles can lead to a Korean drama that makes its actors rise to fame instantly.
Choi Hyun Wook in Twinkling Watermelon/Photo: mydramalist.com
Still in 2023, the musical fantasy drama Twinkling Watermelon became a real example of a Korean drama that catapulted its actors to fame, especially for Choi Hyun Wook. This drama tells the story of Ha Eun Gyeol, a hearing-impaired teenager who magically communicates with his father in his youth through time travel, while also pursuing his dreams in the music world. The drama airs starting September 8, 2023, on tvN and Netflix, starring Ryeoun, Choi Hyun Wook, and Seol In Ah.
The dual role as a young father and son serves as proof of Choi Hyun Wook's acting abilities, and since then, his name has continued to rise in various subsequent projects. He successfully ranked third in the most talked-about actor category on TV and OTT during the last week of the drama's airing.
Kang Tae Oh in Extraordinary You/Photo: mydramalist.com
Looking back to 2022, one of the most phenomenal dramas in recent years, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, became a major platform for Kang Tae Oh. The drama follows Woo Young Woo, a genius lawyer with autism spectrum disorder who must prove her abilities at a large law firm while facing various social challenges around her.
The drama aired starting June 29, 2022, on ENA and Netflix, starring Park Eun Bin, Kang Tae Oh, and Kang Ki Young. His role as the warm and empathetic Lee Jun Ho made Kang Tae Oh one of the most sought-after actors in the Korean drama industry after the drama aired. He even ranked first for five consecutive weeks in the analysis of buzzworthiness among TV-OTT drama actors.
Park Solomon in All of Us Are Dead/Photo: mydramalist.com
Still in early 2022, the most phenomenal zombie drama in the world, All of Us Are Dead, also propelled the names of several young actors, including Park Solomon. This drama tells the story of a group of high school students who are trapped in their school when a zombie outbreak suddenly spreads and turns their city into a disaster zone.
The drama premiered on January 28, 2022, on Netflix, starring Park Ji Hu, Yoon Chan Young, Cho Yi Hyun, and Park Solomon. His role as Lee Soo Hyeok, a brave student who is willing to sacrifice for his friends, made his face instantly recognizable to Korean drama viewers worldwide. This role is considered his breakthrough role.
Cha Eun Woo in True Beauty / Photo: mydramalist.com
Looking back to 2020, True Beauty is a classic example of a Korean drama that catapulted its actors to fame. The drama tells the story of Lim Ju Kyung, a girl who transforms her appearance through make-up to cover her insecurities, and then falls in love with two very different men at her new school.
This drama aired starting December 9, 2020, on tvN and Viki, starring Moon Ga Young, Cha Eun Woo, and Hwang In Youp. The role of Lee Su Ho, a handsome yet deeply troubled character, propelled Cha Eun Woo to become one of the most sought-after idol actors in Asia. Since then, he has become increasingly recognized as a figure of the Korean Wave.
Lee Do Hyun in 18 Again/Photo: mydramalist.com
Still in 2020, Lee Do Hyun received widespread attention through 18 Again. This drama tells the story of Hong Dae Young, a 37-year-old man with a bleak life, who suddenly finds himself back in his teenage body at the age of 18 and gets a second chance to live his life. The drama aired starting November 27, 2020, on JTBC and Netflix, starring Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Do Hyun, and Kim Ha Neul.
Lee Do Hyun plays a dual role as both the young and older versions of the main character, and it is this performance that began to establish him as one of the most promising young actors. His appearance in this drama even earned him the Best New Actor award at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Yang Se Jong in Dr. Romantic/Photo: mydramalist.com
Returning to one of the legendary medical dramas, Dr. Romantic, which marked the starting point of Yang Se Jong's success. This drama tells the story of Kang Dong Joo and Yoon Seo Jung, two young doctors placed in a small rural hospital and guided by an eccentric genius doctor named Kim Sabu. The drama aired starting November 8, 2016, on SBS, starring Han Suk Kyu, Yoo Yeon Seok, Seo Hyun Jin, and Yang Se Jong. The role of the stubborn yet idealistic Kang Dong Joo earned Yang Se Jong immediate widespread recognition and made him one of the most promising young actors of his time. This proves that Korean dramas that catapult their actors to fame do not always have to be from the romantic or fantasy genre.
Song Jong Ki in Descendants of the Sun/Photo: mydramalist.com
Still in 2016 but a few months earlier, Descendants of the Sun became one of the most iconic dramas in the history of Korean dramas and a major stage for Song Joong Ki. This drama tells the story of the relationship between Yoo Shi Jin, the captain of the Korean special forces, and Kang Mo Yeon, a surgeon, whose differing worldviews initially separate them before they meet again in a fictional disaster-stricken country to lead a humanitarian mission.
This drama aired starting February 24, 2016, on KBS2, starring Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji Won. The popularity of this drama was immense, reaching 32 countries, and the role of Captain Yoo Shi Jin made Song Joong Ki instantly one of the most recognized Korean actors on the international stage. This drama solidified his position as one of the top Hallyu stars.
Nam Joo Hyuk in School 2015/Photo: mydramalist.com
Closing this list, the oldest drama that proves the phenomenon of Korean dramas that makes its actors rise to fame has been happening for a long time is School 2015. Long before becoming one of the top actors, Nam Joo Hyuk started his career with an important role in this drama. This drama tells the story of Eun Byeol, a student who suddenly has to take the place of her missing twin sister at an elite school, complete with all the social pressures within it.
This drama aired starting May 4, 2015, on KBS2, starring Kim So Hyun, Nam Joo Hyuk, and Yook Sung Jae. His role as Kang Ji Yeol, the best friend and support for the main character, became the starting point for Nam Joo Hyuk to gain wide attention from the Korean drama industry, proving that one right role can indeed change everything for an actor.
What is the newest Korean drama airing on this list?
My Royal Nemesis (Heo Nam Jun), which aired on May 8, 2026, is the newest drama, followed by If Wishes Could Kill (Baek Sun Ho) on April 24, 2026.
Which drama made Byeon Woo Seok so popular?
Lovely Runner, which aired in 2024, is the drama that made Byeon Woo Seok a global phenomenon through his role as Ryu Sun Jae.
Who is the rising actor from the zombie drama All of Us Are Dead?
Park Solomon became one of the actors who received significant attention for his role as Lee Soo Hyeok in the drama that aired in 2022.
Did Extraordinary Attorney Woo also boost the name of a male actor?
Yes, Kang Tae Oh also rose to fame through his role as Lee Jun Ho, the close partner of the main character in the drama that aired in 2022.
What is the oldest Korean drama on this list and who rose to fame because of it?
School 2015 (2015), which propelled Nam Joo Hyuk to fame, is the oldest drama on this list, followed by Descendants of the Sun and Dr. Romantic 1, both of which aired in 2016 and each made the names of Song Joong Ki and Yang Se Jong more widely recognized.
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