The global wave of Korean entertainment shows no signs of slowing down — and at the heart of it are the incredibly talented actors and actresses who bring stories to life on screen.
From intense K-dramas to blockbuster films, Korean stars have become household names not only in South Korea but across the world. Whether you’re a long-time K-drama fan or just getting started, this list will introduce you to the most iconic, loved, and talked-about Korean actors and actresses in 2025.
Some are rising stars making bold debuts, while others are seasoned legends who’ve consistently delivered unforgettable performances. Either way, their charm, talent, and dedication are reasons enough to keep watching.
Let’s dive into the faces that define Korean entertainment today.
20. Lee Min-ho
Lee Min-ho
South Korean actor and singer
Born: June 22, 1987 (age 38 years), Heukseok-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Lee Min-ho is one of the most followed South Korean actors on social media. He is an actor and singer.
He is now a global Hallyu star, he gained international fame through dramas like “Boys Over Flowers” and “The Heirs”, which also earned him the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor.
19. Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin
South Korean actor
Born: September 25, 1982 (age 42 years), Jamsil-dong, Seoul, South Korea
His real name is Kim Tae-Pyung, better known by his stage name Hyun Bin. Throughout his television and film career, he has been nominated for several awards, including five at the Baeksang Arts. Gained international fame through “Crash Landing on You” and “Secret Garden”.
He is an outstanding Korean actor who has been pretty successful throughout his television and film career. He showed his talent, hard work, and dedication.
18. Jun Ji-hyun
Jun Ji-hyun
South Korean actress and model
Born: October 30, 1981 (age 43 years), Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
Wang Ji-hyun, known professionally as Jun Ji-hyun. he rose to fame with her role in the romantic comedy film My Sassy Girl, which was popular in several Asian countries.
She got multiple awards such as Two Best Actress trophies at the Grand Bell Awards and a Grand Prize for Television at the Baeksang Arts Awards. She has also established herself as a top Hallyu star.
17. Song Joong-ki
Song Joong-ki
South Korean actor
Born: September 19, 1985 (age 39 years), Daejeon, South Korea
Song Joong-ki primarily works in television. He rose to fame in the historical coming-of-age drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal and the variety show Running Man. He has won both Baeksang Arts Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards. He also appeared on Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 six times, in the top ten four times.
He entered dramatically through Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010) and Running Man (2010-2011). His notable works include The Innocent Man (2012), Descendants of the Sun (2016), Arthdal Chronicles (2019), and many more. His television series and films have established him as one of the top Hallyu stars.
16. Park Shin-hye
Park Shin-hye
South Korean actress
Born: February 18, 1990 (age 35 years), Gwangju, South Korea
Park Shin-hye gained recognition as a child in television series Stairway to Heaven and Tree of Heaven. In 2013, she starred in the film Miracle in Cell No. 7, which is one of the highest-grossing Korean films of all time.
She revealed her expertise through a child television series Stairway to Heaven (2003) and Tree of Heaven (2006). Miracle in Cell No.7 was one of the highest-grossing Koran films ever. You’re Beautiful (2009), The Heirs (2013), Pinocchio (2014-2015), Doctors (2016), and so on are the most famous ones she gave us!
15. Park Seo-joon
Park Seo-joon
South Korean actor
Born: December 16, 1988 (age 36 years), Seoul, South Korea
Park Yong-kyu, better known by the stage name Park Seo-joon. He first gained wide recognition for starring in the television series Fight for My Way and What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, gaining further prominence with dramas Itaewon Class and Gyeongseong Creature.
Park became best known for his starring roles in the television series Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), She Was Pretty (2015), Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016-2017), Fight for My Way (2017), What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), Itawon Class (2020) and so on.
14. Kim Go-eun
Kim Go-eun
South Korean actress
Born: July 2, 1991 (age 34 years), Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Kim Go-eun debuted in the film Eungyo where she won several Best New Actress awards in South Korea.
Kim Go-Eun is very famous for some television series and films including Eungyo (2012), Cheese in the Trap (2016), Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016-2017), Yumi’s Cells (2021-2022), and Little Women (2022), and so on.
13. Lee Jong-suk
Lee Jong-suk
South Korean actor and model
Born: September 14, 1989 (age 35 years), Yongin-si, South Korea
Lee Jong-suk debuted in 2005 as a runway model and gained recognition as an actor with television series School 2013 and I Can Hear Your Voice. He received further prominence with dramas Doctor Stranger, Pinocchio, W, While You Were Sleeping, and Big Mouth.
His famous work – I Can Hear Your Voice (2013), Doctor Stanger (2014), Pinocchio (2014), W (2016), VIP (2017) and so on.
12. Song Hye-kyo
Song Hye-kyo
South Korean actress
Born: November 22, 1981 (age 43 years), Dalseo District, Daegu, South Korea
Song Hye-kyo gained international popularity through her leading roles in the television dramas Autumn in My Heart, All In, Full House, That Winter, the Wind Blows, Descendants of the Sun, Encounter, and The Glory.
Song Hye-Kyo became 7th in Forbes of Korea Power Celebrity 40 list in 2017 and 6th in 2018. She is considered a top Hallyu Star. She became popular through her leading roles in the television dramas Autumn in My Heart (2000), All In (2003), Full House (2004), That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), Encounter (2018), and so on
11. Kim Soo-hyun
Kim Soo-hyun
South Korean actor
Born: February 16, 1988 (age 37 years), Irwon-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Kim Soo-hyun is the recipient of five Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards and one Blue Dragon Film Award. Kim made his television debut in 2007 with the family sitcom Kimchi Cheese Smile following a few theatrical performances.
He is another incredible actor of all time in Korea. An interesting thing about him is that he was an introvert like you 
. Kim took several acting classes during his school years on his mother’s recommendation to overcome his introverted personality.
He gives us surprise and shows his level again again. M Love from the Star (2013-2014), The Producers (2015), His romantic comedy It’s Okey to Not Be Okey (2020), One Ordinary Day (2021), and Queen of Tears (2024) and more.
10. Ji Chang-wook
Ji Chang-wook
South Korean actor and singer
Born: July 5, 1987 (age 38 years), Anyang-si, South Korea
Ji Chang-wook rose to fame for playing the lead role of daily drama series Smile Again, and gained further prominence with television series Warrior Baek Dong-soo, Empress Ki, Healer, The K2, Suspicious Partner, The Worst of Evil, Welcome to Samdal-ri, and film Fabricated City.
He is also a singer.
He becomes well-known by playing roles in Warrior Baek Song-Soo (2011), Empress Ki (2013-2014, Healer (2014-2015), The K2 (2016), Suspicious Partner (2017) and many more.
9. Kim Tae-ri
Kim Tae-ri
South Korean actress
Born: April 24, 1990 (age 35 years), Sangbong-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Kim Tae-ri gained widespread recognition for her breakout role as Sook-hee in Park Chan-wook’s critically acclaimed film The Handmaiden, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and earned her multiple Best New Actress awards.
She got the award for Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film. Director’s Cut Awards, Buil Film Awards, and Busan Film Critics Awards.
She showed her best performance in The Handmaiden (2016), Little Forest (2018), and Space Sweepers (2020), as well as the television series Mr. Sunshine (2018), Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) and Revenant (2023).
8. Gong Yoo
Gong Ji-cheol, known professionally as Gong Yoo, is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his starring roles in the television series Coffee Prince, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, the Netflix series Squid Game, and the films Silenced, The Suspect, Train to Busan and The Age of Shadows.
7. IU (Lee Ji-eun)
IU (Lee Ji-eun)
South Korean singer-songwriter and actress
Born: May 16, 1993 (age 32 years), Songjeong-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Lee Ji-eun, also known by her stage name IU, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She became 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s!
She signed a song with LOEN Entertainment which is now Kakao Entertainment in 2007 as a trainee and debuted as a singer at the age of fifteen with Lost and Found (2008), her first EP. Although her follow-up albums in 2009, Growing Up and IU…IM brought mainstream success.
She did well in the music industry but also in the film industry as well. Her drama series like Dream High (2011), and You Are the Best! (2013), romance comedies such as Bel Ami (2013-2014), The Producers (2015), and so on. She won the Best Actress in Television nomination at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
6. Jung Hae-in
Jung Hae-in
South Korean actor
Born: April 1, 1988 (age 37 years), Daebang-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Jung Hae-in first gained recognition with supporting roles in the television dramas While You Were Sleeping and Prison Playbook. He has since starred in Something in the Rain, One Spring Night, D.P., Snowdrop, and Love Next Door.
Jung appeared in AOA Black’s music video for “Moya” in 2013 and then he officially debuted in the series in the series called Bride of the Century (2014). He became fame through roles in the television series called While You Were Sleeping (2017), Prison Playbook (2017-2018), Something in the Rain (2018), One Spring Night (2019), Love Next Door (2024), and so on.
5. Shin Hye-sun
Shin Hye-sun
South Korean actress
Born: August 31, 1989 (age 35 years), Seoul, South Korea
Shin Hye-sun debuted in the television series School 2013. In 2017, Shin played her first leading role and became well known in the weekend drama, My Golden Life, which garnered more than 8 million viewers.
Shin played her first leading role and became well known in the weekend drama called My Golden Life, garnering more than 8 million viewers.
Her famous works are Still 17 (2018), Angel’s Last Mission: Love (2019), Mr. Queen (2020-2021), See You in My 19the Life (2023), and so on.
4. Bae Suzy
Bae Suzy
South Korean singer and actress
Born: August 31, 1989 (age 35 years), Seoul, South Korea
Bae Su-ji, anglicized as Bae Suzy, and also known mononymously as Suzy. A former member of girl group Miss A, she made her debut as an actress in 2011 with the television series Dream High and starred in the film Architecture 101.
She made her debut as an actress in the hit television series Dream High (2011). Her consistent performance has gone on to appear in series such as Gu Family Book (2013), Uncontrollably Fond (2016), While You Were Sleeping (2017), Vagabond(2019), Start Up (2020), Anna (2022), and Doona! (2023).
She made her film debut in Architecture 101 (2012), and, following its success, has been hailed as “The Nation’s First Love” in her home country.
3. Park Bo-gum
Park Bo-gum
South Korean singer and actress
Born: August 31, 1989 (age 35 years), Seoul, South Korea
Bae Su-ji, anglicized as Bae Suzy, and also known mononymously as Suzy. A former member of girl group Miss A, she made her debut as an actress in 2011 with the television series Dream High and starred in the film Architecture 101.
She made her debut as an actress in the hit television series Dream High (2011). Her consistent performance has gone on to appear in series such as Gu Family Book (2013), Uncontrollably Fond (2016), While You Were Sleeping (2017), Vagabond(2019), Start Up (2020), Anna (2022), and Doona! (2023).
She made her film debut in Architecture 101 (2012), and, following its success, has been hailed as “The Nation’s First Love” in her home country.
2. Nam Joo Hyuk
Nam Joo Hyuk
South Korean model and actor
Born: February 22, 1994 (age 31 years), Dongsam-dong, Busan, South Korea
Nam Joo-hyuk began his career as a model and appeared in several music videos before making his screen debut in 2014 with the television series The Idle Mermaid. He gained wide recognition with his role in the dramas Who Are You: School 2015 and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.
However, he rose to prominence with his role in the television series Who Are You: School 2015(2015), and has since become known for his leading roles in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo(2016) and many more! Such a magnificent profile!
1. Yoo Ah in
Yoo Ah in
South Korean actor
Born: October 6, 1986 (age 38 years), Nam-gu, Daegu, South Korea
Uhm Hong-sik, known professionally as Yoo Ah-in, and he is known for playing a diverse spectrum of roles in both television and film, where he often portrays dynamic characters who exhibit significant personal growth.
He is the recipient of various accolades including Asian Film Awards, Fantasia International Film Festival’s Cheval Noir award, two Blue Dragon Film Awards and two Baeksang Arts Awards. He is best known for his leading roles in Punch (2011), Secret Affair (2014), Veteran (2015), The Throne (2015), Six Flying Dragons (2015–2016), Burning (2018), #Alive (2020), Voice of Silence (2020), and Hellbound (2021).