What a wonderful treat it is to watch rookie artists pave their way towards a successful career. The K-drama world is no stranger to a long list of rising stars. Every year there is a long list of rookie artists who made it big in the initial days only. The fresh faces with impressive enthusiasm make people pay close attention. Like every year, in 2021, there have been many actors who have made the world’s hearts skip a beat with their phenomenal performances and handsomeness. Here are the Top 10 Rising K-drama Actors in 2021:
1. Hwang In Yeop
Sitting on the top of the rising star’s throne since last year, Hwang In Yeop is the man who lives in millions of hearts. With his role as the second lead in the massive hit drama “True Beauty”, Hwang took the world by storm and held people spellbound. Yeop left people astonished with his spellbinding performance and stole the spotlight just like he did in his previous drama, “18 Again”. The actor owns the bad boy character. His popularity is skyrocketing with each passing day. The actor is all set to take over the entertainment world.
2. Lee Do Hyun
Lee Do-Hyun rose to fame with his role in IU’s smash-hit drama, “Hotel Del Luna”, where he played the role of IU’s lover from the past. The actor delivered a phenomenal performance and left all the K-drama lovers in tears with his emotional character. The actor’s next big hit was yet another hit drama, “18 Again”, where he played the younger counterpart of the protagonist and left people speechless with his moving acting skills and blinding smile. This young actor had his share of struggles. Now he is all set to make his presence known in the world.
3. Lee Jae-Wook
Remember the second male lead with a stone-hearted boy mask over a hidden gem of a heart from “Extraordinary You”? Yes, we are talking about Lee Jae-Wook, for whom every K-drama fan felt vulnerable in the said drama. The audience didn’t take long to see his hidden potential and the versatility of the actor. From playing a side role in “Memories of the Alhambra” to bagging the lead role in “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol”, Lee came a long way. The young 23-years-old actor is taking firm steps towards his successful future.
4. Kim Seon-Ho
How can we forget the actor who made our condition of second lead syndrome worse and made us ugly cry? Kim Seon-Ho, whose popularity is touching the sky, has been a part of the entertainment industry since 2017. The actor’s breakthrough came with his role in the hit drama, “Start-Up”. People were astonished by his acting skills and beautiful, charming personality that it became impossible to stop the tears for the actor’s character in the drama. With having a prominent name on the big screen, the actor is ready to own the small screen.
5. Kim Min Jae
Even after being 24-years-old, Kim Min Jae is an experienced actor who debuted in the year 2015. The actor has played many notable roles, including his role in the mega-hit series “Dr. Romantic”. “Do You Like Brahms?” was his very first lead role. Kim Min Jae is also widely known for his side roles. One of the most famous among them is in the drama “Tempted”. The actor won hearts with his charm and cute personality in the television drama. Kim Min Jae is a rising star. The world will witness his power sometime soon.
6. KimYoung Dae
We have another actor from “Extraordinary You” on our list. Kim Young Dae is a well-known name today. The actor’s visuals and powerful presence are something very impossible to ignore. Kim made his acting debut in 2017. With being part of some big-hit dramas like “Welcome to Waikiki 2” and “The Penthouse”, the actor saw a rise in his popularity after his role in the drama “Extraordinary You”. With his youthful enthusiasm and potential, Kim will surprise the audience in the future.
7. Song Kang
The list would be incomplete without Kang in it. The actor, lovingly known as “Netflix’s Son”, has phenomenal acting and a handsome face. He has the looks that can make anyone’s heart flutter. The actor made his acting debut in 2017 and rose to popularity with his breakthrough role in one of the most popular dramas of 2019 and 2020, “Love Alarm”. His cute and charming looks make girls scream whenever he’s on the screen. The actor is playing the lead role in the ongoing drama “Nevertheless”, which is already the talk of the town. Kang’s popularity is shooting above the sky.
8. Bae-In Hyuk
Bae-In Hyuk debuted very recently in 2019. The young actor has been in the spotlight since the time he stepped foot into the entertainment world. With handsome looks and youthful energy, Bae managed to take his place in the hearts of the audience. Bae started gaining popularity after his role in the drama “The Spies Who Loved Me” and was nominated for the Best New Actor Award. The actor’s popularity took a massive jump after his role in the hit-popular drama. “My Roommate is a Gumhio.” He captured the hearts of the audience with his acting and innocent looks.
9. Ahn Hyo-Seop
The angsty and genius surgeon from “Dr. Romantic 2”, Ahn Hyo-Seop, left a massive impact on the audience with his stunning performance. The handsome actor with a tall build also has a beautiful voice and is a singer. His lead roles in the dramas “Dr. Romantic 2” and “Abyss” gained him immense popularity. The actor is known for the passion that he puts into portraying a character. He is all set to make a comeback with his new drama. Everyone is anticipating the actor’s popularity to skyrocket.
10. Kim Sung Cheol
Kang started his career as an actor in 2017 with the drama “Prison Playbook” and gained popularity just after that. His role as the second lead in the drama “Do You Like Brahms?” amplified his popularity. But the world went crazy over him after he made a guest appearance in the humungous hit drama “Vincenz”. He took one of the crowns of the rising stars because of his impressive acting skills and compelling aura.
