The Korean Wave or Hallyu is a global phenomenon, and it has swept to all the four corners of the earth since the 90s. Starry-eyed boys and girls (and plenty of adults too) go gaga over the Korean celebrities and the fact that not only are they highly talented, they are so very pretty and gorgeous to look at too.
We have selected the top 5 male Korean actors to follow.. yay.. more K-dramas and movies to binge on.
Song Joong-Ki
Name: Song Joong-ki
Birthdate: September 19, 1985 (36 years old)
Trivia:
- Joong-Ki’s parents had enrolled him in acting classes because he was an extremely shy child
- Was an original member of hit variety show “Running Man” from 2010 to 2011
- Married his “Descendants of the Sun” co-star Song Hye-Kyo in October 2017, known as the ‘Song-Song Couple’, but they divorced in July 2019
- Became Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year in 2012 and 2017
- Has played a diverse spectrum of roles in the TV series “The Innocent Man” (2012), “Descendants of the Sun” (2016), “Arthdal Chronicles” (2019) and “Vincenzo” (2021), as well as hit films “A Werewolf Boy” (2012), “The Battleship Island” (2017) and “Space Sweepers” (2021)
Kim Soo-Hyun
Name: Kim Soo-hyun
Birthdate: February 16, 1985 (33 years old)
Trivia:
- His father is Kim Chung-Hoon, the lead singer of the 80’s band Seven Dolphins
- Selected as Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year in 2014
- Won four Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards and one Blue Dragon Film Award
- Gained further success with “Dream High” (2011), “Moon Embracing the Sun” (2012), “My Love from the Star” (2013–2014), “The Producers” (2015), “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” (2020), as well as in the top-grossing films “The Thieves” (2012) and “Secretly, Greatly” (2013)
Gong Yoo
Name: Gong Ji-cheol
Birthdate: July 10, 1979 (42 years old)
Trivia:
- His stage name is a combination of his father’s last name “Gong” and of his mother’s last name “Yoo”
- Admitted that he is a big fan of American basketball team, the Golden State Warriors
- Won various awards including Popular Star Award at the 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, Grand Prize (Daesang) at the Korea Film Actors Association Awards and Best Actor (TV) at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards
- Best known for his roles in television dramas “Coffee Prince” (2007) and “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (2016–2017), and the films “Silenced” (2011), “Train to Busan” (2016), “The Age of Shadows” (2016) and “Seo Bok” (2021)
Park Seo-Joon
Name: Park Seo-joon
Birthdate: December 16, 1988 (33 years old)
Trivia:
- First came on screen in a music video in Bang Yong Guk’s song, “I Remember” in 2011
- A member of the high-profile celebrity squad, WOOGA, with “Parasite” star Choi Woo Shik, V from BTS, Park Hyung Sik from idol group ZE:A, and musician Peakboy
- Has a YouTube channel, Record PARK’s
- Best known for his roles in the TV dramas “She Was Pretty” (2015), “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth” (2016–2017), “Fight for My Way” (2017), “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” (2018), “Itaewon Class” (2020), and the films “Chronicles of Evil” (2015), “Midnight Runners” (2017) and “The Divine Fury” (2019)
- Set to star in Marvel film “The Marvels”
Hyun Bin
Name: Kim Tae-pyung
Birthdate: September 25, 1982 (39 years old)
Trivia:
- Rock ballad band Buzz have revealed that Hyun Bin almost became their lead vocalist
- Selected as Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year in 2011
- Won various acting recognition, including Best New Actor at 2004’s MBC Drama Awards and the Grand Prize (Daesang) for TV at the 47th Baeksang Art Awards
- Has appeared in leading roles in popular TV shows including “Secret Garden” (2010–2011), “Memories of the Alhambra” (2018–2019), “Crash Landing on You” (2019–2020) and box-office films “Confidential Assignment” (2017), “The Swindlers” (2017) and “The Negotiation” (2018) as well as the zombie horror “Rampant”
