Most Talented Korean Actors

Han Seok Kyu

South Korean

First Role: King Sejong in Tree with Deep Roots (2011)

Representative Role: King Sejong in Tree with Deep Roots (2011)

Only seen him in Tree With Deep Roots, but he really owns the role of King Sejong. I can feel his acting to my bones. Perfect portrayal of a smart king who deals with various problems related to whether he should continue his dream of making Korea's own alphabet for the betterment of society. He should have won a Daesang or the Best Actor Award for Baeksang 2012.

Lee Joon Gi

South Korean

First Role: Do Hyun Soo in Flower of Evil (2020) is the first completed drama I've seen him in but I've seen clips and pictures of him as Lee Geom/Yong/Iljimae from Iljimae (2008) over the years so that counts too since the role really made a big impression on my initial thoughts on him (don't know why I didn't watch that drama before Flower of Evil since I was familiar and watched many of his costars in other dramas). 

Representative Role: Lee Geom/Yong/Iljimae in Iljimae (2008)

My newest discovery in 2020. He completely disappears in his role as HyunSoo in Flower of Evil. You see his acting well even just by looking at his picture in the role. All the emotions of the character was well interpreted. Plus his chemistry with and way he looks at his FOE costar is so good (he deserves more praise because he shows the look of a man in love so well). After researching him, I discovered that this actor is multitalented, can sing, dance, and do martial arts (he doesn't need stuntmen). He's also great in sageuk, elevating the mediocre quality of most of his sageuks. He was also able to play feminine roles and have chemistry with fellow men. His martial arts are very serious, his action stunts in his sageuks are so good. Plus he's also good in comedy (see Iljimae). He should have been the most popular male  actor of the o.g. hallyu stars (those famous before 2008,  those born 1977-1983), I don't think any original hallyu star born 1977-1983 has been as impressive for me. The only thing missing from him is an epic sageuk drama (only King & the Clown is the masterpiece among his sageuks) however he's always the best in all his sageuk projects . Arthdal Chronicles just might be the sageuk masterpiece he needs, I'm confident he can aced the roles well  (just wishing his fans respect the OG cast fans disappointed with the cast change since OG fans waited 3 years).

Song Joong Ki

South Korean

First Role: Gu Yong Ha in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Representative Role: King Sejong in Tree with Deep Roots (2011)

Versatile actor. He has proven himself he can do many different genres, despite some people saying he couldn't. After a few supporting roles, he shined in Sungkyunkwan Scandal with his unique portrayal of a handsome playboy student, outshining the male lead. Due to the pretty boy image created in Sungkyunkwan however, it was initially hard for people to consider him in the serious role of young King Sejong in Tree with Deep Roots, but those opinions completely went down after his appearance. Despite it being a short stint, he was able to shine as King Sejong despite acting with veterans like Baek Yoon Shi, Jo Jin Woong, and even Han Suk Kyu (the older version of Sejong who himself is brilliant in the role). He continues to amaze people with his role of Kang Maru in Innocent Man, the complicatedness of the character was really portrayed well. And then in Werewolf Boy, he can really act like a dog and despite very few lines and words, was still able to touch viewers' hearts with his acting. People were doubtful whether he could play a soldier role in Descendants of the Sun due to his smaller body, but he actually made the role his and was able to charm fans around the world with this role plus show that he great in romcom acting. Arthdal Chronicles continue to diversify his acting skills where he was able to pull of the completely different characters of Eunseom and Saya, where viewers feel like those two are different characters despite both played by him. Vincenzo and Space Sweepers also proved further his talents.

He is such a good actor that the only actors I listed above him are the ones doing the adult versions of his best characters.

Bae Soo Bin

South Korean

First Role: Sayong in Jumong (2006)

Representative Role: Sayong in Jumong (2006)

Underrated actor. I was really impressed by this actor because he has four sageuks where his roles are all extremely different. In Emperor of the Sea, he acted well as a villain. In Jumong, he was very feminine and showed great chemistry with a man for some bit of romance, but was still able to do some action with this same role. In Painter of the Wind, he was very charismatic as King Jeongjo, I like his aura as King (completely forgetting my image of him in Jumong, which was the longest impressio I have of him). Then in Dong Yi, he was able to play this warrior protector, with a sad love for the main girl. I pity his characters so much for the love that he showed in both Dong Yi and Brilliant Legacy, especially because it's with the same actress. Then after many years, I saw him in King's Affection, what a brilliant role that was.

Yoo Ah In

South Korean

First Role: Moon Jae Shin/Geol Oh in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Representative Role: King Taejong/Lee Bang Won in Six Flying Dragons (2015)

I first met Yoo Ah In in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Though he was included in the superior 2 actors of the 4 main actors for me, he wasn't really my most favorite (I was too captivated by Song Joong Ki's Gu Yong Ha). I watched Tree with Deep Roots in 2015, being more impressed with Song Joong Ki there. Remembering the bromance with Yoo Ah In, I decided to research on Yoo Ah In. Turns out, Yoo was doing the prequel to Tree Tree with Deep Roots which is Six Flying Dragons (the first episode just aired). I meant to watch the drama after it finished, but somehow wasn't able too. Throughout the years however, I watched some clips of the show and was impressed by the performances. 

I watched Six Flying Dragons in 2022, and now did I just realized what I was really missing. Yoo Ah In was fantastic as Bang Won. He showed Bang Won well from his youthful innocence to the controversial king who kills very well. Even though his character did many things considered immoral, Yoo was able to make people understand the actions of the character. Plus he has great sageuk presence which I really love.  He really deserved the baeksang he won from the role (he might be my favorite baeksang winner from 2010s). I also watched The Throne movie a few months after Six Flying Dragons. He was excellent there as well. 

Kim Nam Gil

South Korean

First Role: Bidam in Queen Seon Deok (2009)

Representative Role: Bidam in Queen Seon Deok (2009)

BIDAM. To be honest, I had not seen much of his other roles (when I first wrote this essay) except in Portrait of a Beauty (he was also good here) but he completely owns the Bidam character in Queen Seon Deok. The character's complicated relationships, from his mother that abandoned him, to the master that despises him, the the woman he loved but he thought never loved him back. All kinds of emotions from being a joker, to being funny, to being good, to being serious, to being evil was shown well when he acted this character. From his portrayal of this character alone, I feel like he's someone who can do almost all other roles well.

I watch recently Through the Darkness and I was impressed. I'm so excited for his upcoming 1920s sageuk.

Song Il Gook

South Korean

First Role: Jumong in Jumong (2006)

Representative Role: Jumong in Jumong (2006)

An actor who does really great in historical dramas from my childhood days, Song Il Gook really has my respect. There are many great sageuk actors (in fact most of them also on this list), but none of them emit a warrior king aura as much as Il Gook does. I like the lead actor in Emperor of the Sea, but Il Gook’s acting and charisma somehow outshines him more. Then  came his magnum opus, Jumong, a project that shows more of his sageuk charisma as initially presented in Emperor of the Sea. He was so natural and believable in the role of Jumong. He played Jumong very well from the time of Jumong's irresponsible youth to the time Jumong was a strong king. He also does a lot of action scenes that are really impressive. My respect is also doubled by the fact that Jumong has 81 episodes, but he has enough will and strength to finish shooting a very long drama. I know newer fans know him as the good father of young triplets, but I wish they should discover on how well a good actor their father was by watching at least Jumong among his impressive filmography. He was also great in Kingdom of the Winds.

Yeo Jin Goo

South Korean

First Role: Teenage Ddol Bok in Tree with Deep Roots (2011)

Representative Role: Young Lee Hwon in Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) and Young Han Jung Woo in I Miss You (2012)

Has the skill of a top actor at only 15 years old. He's acting in both Moon Embracing the Sun and Missing You is so good that he supercedes the acting of both his adult versions in both dramas. He was also really good as the child male lead in Iljimae (though he does not supercede his adult version there since it's Lee Joon Gi), he portrayed the initial happy life of a young noble who suddenly became a slave. He made a great impression also in Tree with Deep Roots as teenage Jang Hyuk. All the acting he did as a boy really prepared him for the masterpiece that is The Crowned Clown. His acting of twin characters are so good you can differentiate one against the other whether the twins are together or apart despite them exchanging places all the time. 

Jung Ho Bin

South Korean

First Role: Mun No in Jumong (2006)

Representative Role: Mun No in Jumong (2006)

Great actor with martial arts skills. Even though he wasn't the lead actor in Jumong, he managed to make his role really likeable that I actuallly ship the lead female with him instead of Jumong. He was so good in portraying his love and attachment for the female lead in Jumong. He was also great in Queen Seon Deok, I love how he portrayed the role of a rigthteous teacher who didn't somehow really got how to raise a child who is the son of the enemy. 

Baek Yoon Shik

South Korean

First Role: King Taejong in Tree with Deep Roots (2011)

Representative Role: King Taejong in Tree with Deep Roots (2011)

Tree with Deep Roots is that good of a drama that I have to put their actors on my faves list even though I haven't watch them in other dramas/movies.  For the longest time, I've only seen him in Tree with Deep Roots but he really made a great impression as the power-obsessed king Taejong (really liked his confrontations with Song Joong Ki as young King Sejong there). After many years, I've seen him in Feng Shui (2018) movie and I also liked his performance as the powerful noble Kim Jwa Geun.

Jeon Noh Min

South Korean

First Role: Seolwon in Queen Seon Deok (2009)

Representative Role: Seolwon in Queen Seon Deok (2009)

I'm putting him here because even though his role in Queen Seon Deok is minor, I really noticed him in his role. It's really remarkable since his character is on the dark side and he somehow made his character likeable even though I'm totally team good side on the drama.  It doesn't help that I love his character's romance with Mishil, even though both are villains. In addition, I also love his cameo appearance as Jung Do Kwang in Tree with Deep Roots. And then in 6 Flying Dragons, he made an appearance again, I really liked him there too.

Choi Woo Shik

Canadian

First Role: Young Gwi Dong in The Duo (2011)

Representative Role: Kim Ki Woo in Parasite (2019)

Yoo Seung Ho

South Korean

First Role: Young Dam Deok in The Legend (2006)

Representative Role: Kim Chun Chu in Queen Seon Deok (2009)

Lee Tae Ri

South Korean

First Role: Bok Soo in Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Representative Role: Young Prince Yangmyung in Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) and Jo Jung Kyu in  Grudge the Revolt of Gumiho (2010)