South Korea is a nation famous primarily for its Technology and Entertainment Industry. The South Korean Entertainment industry has two significant parts: K-pop and K-dramas. While K-pop is gaining love worldwide, the world of K-dramas is ever-growing. K-dramas are famous among international audiences for their versatility in plot, the chemistry between lead characters, and the impression they leave. Various South Korean actresses have come and gone, but Here is a list of 10 South Korean Actresses who continue to rule the Small Screen, a.k.a, the K-drama world.
1. Song Hye-Kyo
Born on November 22, 1981, Song Hye-Kyo is a South Korean actress. Known as one of the ‘Hallyu Stars,’ Song Hye-Kyo debuted in 1996 by starring in the K-drama ‘First Love,’ where she played an extra role. She gained fame in Korea through her leading role in the K-drama ‘Autumn in My Heart.’ After that, Song Hye-Kyo starred in dramas like All In, Full House, That Winter, the Wind Blows, and Descendants of the Sun, which made her an iconic actress in the K-drama Industry. Her recent K-drama is ‘The Glory,’ where she efficiently pulled off the lead role of Moon Dong-Eun. She is also known as one of “The Troikas,” along with Kim Tae-Hee and Jun Ji-Hyun.
2. Park Shin-Hye
Park Shin-Hye is an actress and singer in South Korea. Born on February 18, 1990, she debuted in 2003 by starring in the K-drama ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ Park Shin-Hye gained popularity for her acting skills and impactful performances. Some of her famous K-dramas include You're Beautiful, The Heirs, and Doctors. Her recent K-drama is Sisyphus: The Myth, released in 2021, where she played the character of Kang Seo-Hae. Apart from being an actress, she is also a singer who debuted officially in the music industry in 2009.
3. Kim Go-Eun
Born on July 2, 1991, Kim Go-Eun is a South Korean Actress. She debuted as an actress in 2012 by starring in the film A Muse, which also brought her several Best New Actress Awards that year. Initially, she was active in movies, and in 2016, she made her K-drama debut in Cheese in the Trap. Later that year, Go-Eun starred in the K-drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, popularly known as Goblin. Goblin became a megahit success internationally, which also led to Go-Eun gaining a significant amount of fame. She has starred in K-dramas like The King: Eternal Monarch, Yumi’s Cells, and Little Women.
4. Jun Ji-Hyun
Jun Ji-Hyun is a South Korean actress and model, and she is also known as Giana Jun. Born on October 30, 1981, she made her film debut in 1999 and her Television debut in 1998. She started her career as a model and TV Actress, but she became a sensation by featuring in a Samsung TV commercial. Later, she starred in films like My Sassy Girl, Windstruck, and The Thieves, which brought her immense popularity. In the small screen industry, she became popular after playing the lead roles in K-dramas like My Love from the Star, The Legend of the Blue Sea, and Jirisan. She is one of “The Troikas,” along with Song Hye-Kyo and Kim Tae-Hee.
5. Park Bo-Young
Born on February 12, 1990, Park Bo-Young is a South Korean Actress. She debuted as an actress in 2006 by starring alongside Lee Min-Ho in the K-drama Secret Campus. She is known for her lead roles in films like Scandal Makers, A Werewolf Boy, and On Your Wedding Day. Park Bo-Young gained national and international popularity through her K-drama Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon in 2017, where she played the role of Do Bong-Soon, a girl with extraordinary strength, alongside her co-star Park Hyung-Sik. Her recent K-drama is Doom At Your Service, which aired in 2021. She has won several awards, like the Best Actress (Drama) at The Seoul Awards in 2017.
6. Son Ye-Jin
Son Ye-Jin is a South Korean Actress who started her career as a film actress and later took up TV drama roles. Born on January 11, 1982, she debuted as an actress in 2000 by starring in the film Secret Tears. She initially gained fame through her roles in films like The Classic, Summer Scent, My Wife Got Married, and The Pirates. She began her career in K-dramas by starring in Delicious Proposal and gained international recognition by playing the role of Yoon Se-Ri in the 2019 K-drama Crash Landing on You. Her recent work includes the JTBC K-drama Thirty-Nine, which aired in 2022.
7. Park Min-Young
Park Min-Young is an actress in South Korea, born on March 4, 1986. She debuted in 2005 by starring in a SK Telecom Commercial. She debuted as a small-screen actress in 2007 and gained fame through dramas like Sungkyunkwan Scandal, City Hunter, A New Leaf, and Healer. Park Min-Young played the role of Kim Mi-So in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, a 2018 K-drama, and gained worldwide recognition. She starred alongside actor Park Seo-Joon and won several awards for the drama, like the Best Actress of the Year Award at the Soompi Awards in 2019. Her recent K-dramas include Forecasting Love and Weather and Love in Contract, both aired in 2022.
8. Kim Tae-Hee
Kim Tae-Hee is a South Korean actress, also known as one of “The Troikas,” alongside Song Hye-Kyo and Jun Ji-Hyun, collectively known as “Tae-Hye-Ji.” Born on March 29, 1980, she debuted in 2001 with a small role in the film Last Present. Kim Tae-Hee debuted in K-dramas in 2002 and rose to fame in 2003 for her role in the K-drama Stairway to Heaven. Considered South Korea’s one of the most beautiful actresses, she has starred in dramas like Love Story in Harvard (2004), My Princess (2011), Yong-pal (2015), and Lies Hidden in My Garden (2023). She has won several awards, including the ‘Netizen Popularity Award’ at the SBS Drama Awards in 2004 and the ‘Top Excellence Award,’ Actress at the KBS Drama Awards in 2009.
9. Gong Hyo-Jin
Born on April 4, 1980, Gong Hyo-Jin is a South Korean actress. She debuted as an actress in 1999 by starring in the South Korean Horror film Memento Mori. Gong Hyo-Jin starred in many movies and gained fame through the film Crush and Blush in 2008. She debuted in the small screen industry by starring in the K-drama My Funky Family in 2000. She gained popularity by starring in K-dramas like Thank You, Pasta, The Producers, and Don’t Dare to Dream. She is also known as the queen of romantic comedies because of her effective acting in rom-com films and TV dramas.
10. Lee Sung Kyung
Lee Sung-Kyung is a South Korean actress, singer, and model. Born on August 10, 1990, she debuted as a model in 2008 and actress in 2014 with the K-drama It’s Okay, That’s Love. She starred in famous K-dramas like Cheese in the Trap and The Doctors, and she played her first lead role ever as Kim Bok-Joo in the K-drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo alongside the actor Nam Ju-Hyuk in 2016. She gained immense popularity as an actress after this. Lee Sung-Kyung has won several awards, including The Popularity Award, Actress at the MBC Drama Awards in 2015, and Best Couple Award at the MBC Drama Awards in 2016. Her latest works include Shi**ting Stars, Call It Love, and Dr.Romantic Season 3.
