To open a healthy discourse about generations in the history of Korean dramas, we compiled some actors who defined their respective generations in the K-Drama industry. For the purpose of concision, we will be discussing K-Dramas from the past decade, that is, from 2002 to 2022. This list will only include male actors. If you’d like to see a female version of the same, please let us know in the comments section! Note: The division of generations in this article is purely subjective and is not meant to be taken as the ultimate standard or an exhaustive list. If we have missed any prominent actors, please let us know in the comments down below!
The 1st Generation
The 1st generation of “K-Drama” in the context of global recognition came with “Winter Sonata”, which proposed the idea of a male protagonist that is gentle, sensitive, and romantic instead of upholding Western ideals of machismo and indifference. This movement was spearheaded by Bae YongJoon, who achieved unprecedented success not just in Asia but all over the world, effectively launching the Korean Wave. Overseas distribution became commonplace and was even encouraged. The drama was later adapted into an anime as well as a musical production. Then came Ji JinHee in “Jewel In The Palace”, which aired in 2003, and became one of the first Korean historical dramas to achieve critical and commercial success worldwide. It played a major role in sparking global interest in Korean history and culture as well as Korean cuisine, thus boosting tourism. Besides being exported to 91 countries, this drama was also made into a stage musical and a Korean animated spin-off. Another blockbuster hit during this time was the timeless love story of “Stairway To Heaven” led by Kwon SangWoo. Not only was this drama a game-changer in South Korea, but was also broadcast in multiple countries, including Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and more. Kwon SangWoo became the face of romance and his popularity went through the roof. Riding the wave of his exceptional success in K-Pop, Rain aimed for the K-Drama industry next, taking it by storm with “Full House”. This drama began the vogue of the “romantic comedy”, and it did an excellent job of setting up an iconic example. Rain’s popularity was further propelled through his role as Lee YoungJae, who was once again establishing the “soft boy” image. Other prominent actors that had established themselves as forces to be reckoned with during this time include Song SeungHeon & Won Bin following the success of “Autumn in My Heart”, Kim RaeWon from “Cats on the Roof”, Lee DongGun from “Lovers In Paris” and Zo InSung & So JiSub from “Something Happened In Bali”. First-generation K-Drama actors went on to build their legacy even further as the 2nd generation dawned upon us.
The 2nd Generation
The 2nd generation of K-Drama appealed to a larger audience and explored a wider range of subject matter. Lee DongWook and Lee JoonGi became two of the most sought-after actors during this time after their mega-hit drama “My Girl” achieved unbelievable fame. Lee JoonGi was already gaining high praise for his role in the popular film “The King and the Clown”, even inspiring the rise of the “kkotminam” (flower boy), so with “My Girl”, his career was on a constant upward curve. On the other hand, Lee DongWook, who was known for the youth drama “School 2”, became even more beloved worldwide. Following the extensive adulation for “My Girl”, South Korea had yet another romantic comedy offering that dominated the market - “Princess Hours”. Through this drama, Ju JiHoon became everyone’s new crush, and his role as Crown Prince Lee Shin won him the Best New Actor award at the 2006 MBC Drama Awards. With his acting chops on full display, he drew attention from critics and fans all over the world. “Princess Hours” still continues to be highly popular, even among newer fans of K-Dramas. A breakout success during this time was “Coffee Prince” which launched Gong Yoo to global stardom. He became a forerunner of the Korean Wave, and his popularity in his home country also skyrocketed at once. The drama became so popular that it even received Thai, Chinese, Malaysian, and Filipino remakes, besides being broadcast in Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, the Middle East, India, and Chile! Lee SunKyun of Oscar award-winning “Parasite” fame also attracted mainstream attention during this time with his unique acting style and irresistible appeal in “Coffee Prince”. He was already an acclaimed actor in theatre then so it was only a matter of time before his popularity expanded. Lee SunKyun’s heyday carried over to the 2.5 generation with dramas like “Pasta”, “Golden Time” and most importantly, “My Mister” and even further to the latest generation with “Dr. Brain”, proving his long-standing popularity. Another notable sensation was Jang KeunSuk in “You’re Beautiful”, which received raving responses internationally. The drama maintained the unique worldview of this generation with quirky characters, light-hearted banter, and a plot that focused on individuality and young love. The popularity of “You’re Beautiful” surpassed even that of “Winter Sonata” in Japan, which is saying a lot, especially considering that “Winter Sonata” was one of the representative K-Dramas of the 1st generation. In addition, Lee ByungHun, who had been ruling the film industry with works like “Joint Security Area”, “Bungee Jumping of Their Own”, “A Bittersweet Life”, and more, claimed the throne of TV with the award-winning drama “Iris”, bringing on the popularity of thrillers. Considering the airing date of “Iris”, Lee ByungHun would ideally belong in Generation 2.5, but his filmography was already prolific enough by this time to place him in the 2nd generation proper. Much like the actors of the 1st generation, 2nd generation actors would go on to achieve their utmost success in the following generations.
The 2.5 Generation
Arguably the most popular generation of K-Drama, the 2.5 Generation began with the arrival of “Boys Over Flowers” and Lee MinHo. Indeed, this drama was a cultural reset in the history of K-Dramas, and Lee MinHo’s popularity was revolutionary, changing the course of the Korean Wave forever. “Boys Over Flowers” also brought Kim HyunJoong huge success, who followed it up with another massive hit, “Playful Kiss”. Soon after, Lee MinHo’s popularity grew further by leaps and bounds with “The Heirs”, which became a cult classic in its own right. This drama also brought us Kim WooBin in a whole new light, and fans all over the world just couldn’t get enough. K-Dramas now became a global affair on a larger scale than ever before, with viewers from quite literally every corner of the Earth tuning in for that K-Drama goodness. OTT platforms showed increasing interest in Korean content, thus giving rise to streaming worldwide. It was also during this time that the number of rising stars who became Hallyu icons with their stellar filmography increased more than ever. Kim SooHyun made our high school fantasies come true in “Dream High”, followed by “Moon Embracing The Sun”, which put his versatility on full display. However, it was the fantasy romance “My Love From The Star” that cemented his position as a global top star. At the same time, Song JoongKi was steadily building his reputation as one of the most talented actors in the industry with dramas like “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and “The Innocent Man”. Song JoongKi’s claim to international fame was his post-military smash hit “Descendants of the Sun”, which quickly became one of the representative dramas of this generation and continues to enjoy lasting success to date. Ji ChangWook, who came to be known as an irreplaceable and flawless actor, hit a streak of immeasurable success during this time with a host of powerful K-Dramas back to back: “Empress Ki”, “Healer”, “The K2”, “Suspicious Partner” and more. He emerged as the “action hero” the K-Drama industry was desperately in need of. Eventually, Ji ChangWook became a household name, not just in South Korea, but all over the world. Speaking of household names, actors like Hyun Bin, Lee JongSuk, Jung HaeIn, Seo KangJoon, Yoo SeungHo, and Ji Sung, were enjoying unmatched love and attention from fans all over the world. Hyun Bin’s “Secret Garden” became a runaway success soon after its release, and years later, when it was brought on Netflix, viewership remained remarkably high. Another bright actor who rose to fame with “Secret Garden” was Lee JongSuk, who later went on to give us masterpieces like “School 2013”, “I Can Hear Your Voice” “Doctor Stranger”, “Pinocchio”, “W”, “While You Were Sleeping”, and “Romance Is A Bonus Book”. His filmography was marked with outstanding hits, thus earning him the title of an unbeatable Hallyu star. “While You Were Sleeping” was also notable for Jung HaeIn’s incredible acting, who was constantly proving his mettle as an actor through dramas like “Bride Of The Century” and “The Three Musketeers”. With this drama, Jung HaeIn struck gold, and the audience’s admiration for him soared. He soon became one of the most beloved leading men in the industry, especially with “Something In The Rain”, “One Spring Night”, “A Piece Of Your Mind”, and “Snowdrop” The range of genres he mastered extended even further with “D.P.” where the actor gave the performance of a lifetime as Private Ahn JoonHo. Seo KangJoon won the Best New Actor award at the 7th Korea Drama Awards for his role in “Cunning Single Lady”, which propelled his career to tremendous success. This was only increased even further with “Cheese In The Trap”, which made him a fan favorite as well as a critic’s choice actor. At the same time, Yoo SeungHo, who had been consistently successful as a child actor, gained recognition for his stellar performance in dramas like “Warrior Baek DongSoo”, “Missing You”, “I’m Not a Robot” and “My Strange Hero”. On the other hand, Ji Sung, who was already a revered TV and film star during this time, saw an incomparable rise in global fame with “Kill Me, Heal Me”, introducing him to a whole new generation of fans. His career, which was already illustrious during the 1st and 2nd generations, was reborn in this generation with dramas like “Innocent Defendant” and “Familiar Wife”, continuing in the next one, with “Doctor John”, “The Devil Judge” and “Adamas”. Speaking of “Kill Me, Heal Me”, it was also an incredibly significant work for Park SeoJun, who went on to create some of the greatest hits of this generation: “She Was Pretty”, “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth”, “Fight For My Way”, “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?” and “Itaewon Class”. In present time, Park SeoJun is set to appear in the Hollywood film “The Marvels”, which speaks volumes of his international impact. Finally, another representative actor of this generation was the extraordinary Cho JungSeok. After his amazing performance in “The King 2 Hearts”, there was simply no looking back. He followed it up with overwhelming success in cinema and returned to TV with “Oh My Ghost” and “Don’t Dare To Dream”, both of which were lauded for their refreshing plots, bringing due appreciation to his impeccable acting skills. His popularity reached new heights however when he took on “Hospital Playlist”, turning him into a global sensation.
The 3rd Generation
The 3rd generation of K-Drama saw an increase in idol actors who were both immensely competent and capable. Because of the popularity of K-Pop, these idol actors brought more attention to the television industry, allowing both K-Pop and K-Drama to flourish internationally. Solo singers like Seo InGuk and Lee SeungGi became exceptionally popular starting from this generation. Some prominent names during this time were ZE:A’s Park HyungSik and Im SiWan, Lee Joon, 2PM’s Lee JunHo and Ok TaecYeon, BTOB’s Yook SungJae, INFINITE’s L, EXO’s D.O., Super Junior’s Choi SiWon, SHINee’s MinHo and Key, BTS’ V and more. In the latter half of this generation, we saw stars like ASTRO’s Cha EunWoo, SF9’s RoWoon, Ong SeongWu, and GOT7’s JinYoung solidify their positions as the frontrunners who would bring on the 4th generation. It is important to note here that while these idols ventured into the acting industry in this generation, they saw tremendous success in the next. In addition to idol actors, a new group of indie actors came into the mainstream spotlight, proving their incredible talent on a global scale. Among them, Lee JeHoon and Yoo AhIn, in particular, achieved unparalleled success with dramas like “Signal”, which was later remade in Japan and China, and “Chicago Typewriter”, which is often considered a sleeper hit. Yoo AhIn was already an extremely successful film actor during the 2nd and 2.5 generations, but his claim to television fame started with “Six Flying Dragons” and only grew from then. It was also now that actor NamKoong Min was truly appreciated for his extraordinary skills and celebrated as a generation-defining actor. Most remarkably, this generation was the era of Park BoGum, who won hearts all over the world for his endearing personality and unrivaled talent. His endless potential was put to amazing use in “Hello Monster” and “Naeil’s Cantabile”, and his popularity ultimately exploded with “Reply 1988” - a work that is still one of the most popular slice-of-life dramas of all time. Park BoGum became representative of Hallyu and his name, synonymous with glory. Some more actors who represented the 3rd generation include Nam JooHyuk, Ahn HyoSeop, Kim SeonHo, Jang KiYong, Go KyungPyo, Lee JinUk, Kim JaeUck, Kim DongWook, and Sung Hoon.
The 4th Generation
The 4th and current generation of K-Drama is characterized by a global approach. Webtoon-based K-Dramas are more common than ever before, and so are remakes of American and European TV series. OTT platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Wavve, KakaoTV, and more are thriving with original productions, thus meeting the increased demand for K-Content all over the world. Genres like science-fiction, revenge thrillers, dystopian horror, and psychological thrillers are hugely popular, especially when they incorporate the essence of Korean culture in their plots. A reverse globalization from South Korea to the world is underway, and it is grander than ever. Pioneering this generation are young actors who embody a rare and precious sense of universality. Artists like Lee DoHyun, Lee JaeWook, Song Kang, Kim YoungDae, Hwang InYoup, Ahn BoHyun, Jang DongYoon, Kang TaeOh, Wi HaJun, and Lee JunYoung are mastering their craft and delivering a wider spectrum of characters that simply hit different. Their international fanbases are just as influential as their home-grown ones, thus amplifying their popularity beyond belief. On the other hand, actors like Yeo JinGoo, Nam DaReum, and Park JiHoon, who have always been on a constant high in terms of popularity since their child acting days, are expanding the horizons of their range and garnering whole new fandoms in their praise. Some new rising stars that we have our eye on are Tang JunSang, Mun SangMin, SF9’s Chani, Choi HyunWook, Kim MinGi, Chu YoungWoo, Bae InHyuk, Byeon WooSeok, Kang Hoon, Chae JongHyeop, Shin HyunSeung, Shin SeungHo, VICTON’s ByungChan, Hwang MinHyun, Golden Child’s BoMin, Yoo InSoo, WEi’s Kim YoHan, Lomon, Nam YoonSu, DKZ’s JaeChan, Park SeoHam, and ASTRO’s Rocky, to name a few. With such talented artists in the industry, the future of K-Drama is in exceptionally capable hands. Did we miss any of your favorite actors in this article? Which other actors would you add to it? Let us know in the comments section down below!
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