As of February 2022, here are the 25 most recognized and multi-awarded Korean actors of all time:
25. Lee Jong-suk | 25 wins out of 44 nominations
Awards: 3 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 7 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 1 Popularity Award, 1 Hallyu Award; 1 Baeksang Arts Award, and others
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
School 2013 (2012), I Can Hear Your Voice (2013), Doctor Stranger (2014), Pinocchio (2014), W (2016), While You Were Sleeping (2017), VIP (2017), The Hymn of Death (2018), Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019)
State Honors: Prime Minister Award (2015)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 12th (2015)
24. Park Seo-joon | 25 wins out of 46 nominations
Awards: 8 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 3 Popularity Awards; 1 Grand Bell Award, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), The Chronicles of Evil (2015), She Was Pretty (2015), Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016–2017), Fight for My Way (2017), Midnight Runners (2017), What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), The Divine Fury (2019), Itaewon Class (2020)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 22nd (2018), 30th (2019), 14th (2021)
23. Park Hae-jin | 26 wins out of 40 nominations
Awards: 1 Grand Prize (Daesang) Award, 6 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 2 Popularity Awards; 1 Baeksang Arts Awards, and others
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
My Love From The Star (2013), Doctor Stranger (2014), Bad Guys (2014), Cheese In The Trap (2016), Man To Man (2017), Forest (2020), Kkondae Intern (2020)
State Honors: Seoul Mayor Award (2020)
22. Ju Ji-hoon | 26 wins out of 43 nominations
Awards: 13 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 4 Popularity Awards; 1 Baeksang Arts Award, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Princess Hours (2006). The Devil (2007), Antique (2008), Mask (2015), Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017), The Spy Gone North (2018), Dark Figure of Crime (2018), Kingdom (2019-2020), Jirisan (2021)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 40th (2019), 31st (2020), 25th (2021)
21. Ji Sung | 26 wins out of 50 nominations
Awards: 2 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 10 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 2 Popularity Awards
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
All In (2003), Save the Last Dance for Me (2004), New Heart (2007), Protect the Boss (2011), My PS Partner (2012) Secret Love (2013), Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), Innocent Defendant (2017), Familiar Wife (2018), Doctor John (2019), The Devil Judge (2021)
State Honors: Prime Minister Recommendation (2017)
20. Lee Je-hoon | 27 wins out of 37 nominations
Awards: 1 Grand Prize (Daesang) Award, 15 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 2 Popularity Awards; 1 Grand Bell Award, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
The Front Line (2011), Architecture 101 (2012), Fashion King (2012), My Paparotti (2013), Secret Door (2014), Signal (2016), Tomorrow, With You (2017), Where Stars Land (2018), Taxi Driver (2021), Move To Heaven (2021)
State Honors: Presidential Commendation (2019), Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation (2021)
19. Cho Seung-woo | 27 wins out of 51 nominations
Awards: 1 Grand Prize (Daesang) Award, 17 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 6 Popularity Awards; 2 Grand Bell Awards, 2 Baeksang Arts Awards, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas: The Classic (2003), Marathon (2005), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), The King’s Doctor (2012), God’s Gift: 14 Days (2014), Inside Men (2015), Stranger (2017 & 2020) Life (2018), Sisyphus: The Myth (2021)
State Honors: Prime Minister’s Citation (2012)
18. Yoo Jun-sang | 27 wins out of 40 nominations
Awards: 19 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 4 Popularity Awards; 1 Grand Bell Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Wide Awake (2007), Moss (2010), Ha Ha Ha (2010), The Day He Arrives (2011), In Another Country (2012), My Husband Got A Family (2012), Heard It Through The Grapevine (2015), The Uncanny Counter (2020)
State Honors: Prime Minister’s Commendation (2006)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 12th (2013), 29th (2014)
17. Han Suk-kyu | 28 wins out of 59 nominations
Awards: 2 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 15 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 7 Popularity Awards; 4 Grand Bell Awards, 2 Baeksang Arts Awards, 4 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Green Fish (1997), No. 3 (1997), Christmas In August (1998), Shiri (1999), The Scarlet Letter (2004), The President’s Last Bang (2005), Deep Rooted Tree (2011), Dr. Romantic (2016), Dr. Romantic 2 (2020)
State Honors: Presidential Recommendation (2012)
16. Lee Kwang-soo | 29 wins out of 38 nominations
Awards: 5 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 5 Popularity Awards; 1 Baeksang Arts Award, 1 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
It’s Okay, That’s Love (2014), Confession (2014), Collective Invention (2015), The Sound of Your Heart (2016), Live (2018), Inseparable Bros (2019)
State Honors: Prime Minister Award (2016)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 39th (2013), 30th (2016)
15. Park Bo-gum | 29 wins out of 48 nominations
Awards: 6 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 2 Popularity Awards; 2 Baeksang Arts Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Hello Monster (2015), Reply 1988 (2015), Love in the Moonlight (2016), Encounter (2018), Record of Youth (2020)
State Honors: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation (2017)
Gallup Korea: TV Actor Of The Year in 2016
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 1st (2017), 8th (2018), 18th (2019), 37th (2020)
14. Lee Jung-jae | 30 wins out of 56 nominations
Awards: 2 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 16 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 3 Popularity Awards; 2 Grand Bell Awards, 6 Baeksang Arts Awards, 3 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
City of the Rising Sun (1999), Il Mare (2000), Last Present (2001), The Last Witness (2001), Over the Rainbow (2002), Oh! Brothers (2003), Typhoon (2005), The Housemaid (2010), The Thieves (2012), New World (2013), The Face Reader (2013), Assassination (2015), Chief Of Staff (2019), Squid Game (2021)
State Honors: Prime Minister’s Commendation (2001)
Gallup Korea: Film Actor Of The Year in 2021
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 24th (2016)
Others: The first male actor from Asia and Korea to receive individual nominations at the Critics’ Choice Television Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in Squid Game.
13. Song Joong-ki | 31 wins out of 46 nominations
Awards: 2 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 12 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 3 Popularity Awards; 2 Baeksang Arts Awards, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
The Innocent Man (2012), A Werewolf Boy (2012), Descendants of the Sun (2016), The Battleship Island (2017), Arthdal Chronicles (2019), Vincenzo (2021), Space Sweepers (2021)
State Honors: Presidential Commendation (2016 & 2021)
Gallup Korea: TV Actor Of The Year in 2012 & 2017
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 27th (2012), 7th (2013), 27th (2014), 2nd (2017), 7th (2017)
Others: Who Moves Korea – Most Influential People in Broadcasting and Entertainment (Sisa Journal, 2016); 100 Next Generation Leaders (2016)
12. Jo In-sung | 33 wins out of 52 nominations
Awards: 1 Grand Prize (Daesang) Award, 9 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 5 Popularity Awards; 2 Baeksang Arts Awards, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
The Classic (2003), What Happened in Bali (2004), Spring Day (2005), A Dirty Carnival (2006), A Frozen Flower (2008), That Winter, The Wind Blows (2013), It’s Okay, That’s Love (2014), The King (2017), The Great Battle (2018), Escape from Mogadishu (2021)
State Honors: Honorary Citation from the Chief of Staff (2011), Presidential Commendation (2012 & 2016)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 32nd (2015)
11. Jang Hyuk | 33 wins out of 52 nominations
Awards: 1 Grand Prize (Daesang) Award, 16 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 2 Popularity Awards, and others
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Volcano High (2001), Successful Story Of A Bright Girl (2002), Windstruck (2004), Thank You (2007), The Slave Hunters (2010), Deep Rooted Tree (2011), You Are My Destiny (2014), Voice (2017), Money Flower (2017), The Swordsman (2020)
State Honors: Presidential Commendation (2012)
10. Jo Jung-suk | 33 wins out of 57 nominations
Awards: 16 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 1 Popularity Award; 1 Grand Bell Award, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
The King 2 Hearts (2012), You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin (2013), The Face Reader(2013), My Love, My Bride (2014), Oh My Ghost (2015), Don’t Dare to Dream (2016), My Annoying Brother (2016), Two Cops (2017), Exit (2019), Hospital Playlist (2020-2021)
State Honors: Presidential Commendation (2021)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 9th (2017), 37th (2021)
9. Cha Seung-won | 33 wins out of 52 nominations
Awards: 8 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 3 Popularity Awards, 1 Baeksang Arts Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Kick the Moon (2001), Jail Breakers (2002), My Teacher, Mr. Kim (2003), Ghost House (2004), Blood Rain (2005), My Son (2007), Bodyguard (2003), City Hall (2009), The Greatest Love (2011), Hwayugi (2017)
State Honors: Presidential Recommendation (2017)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 25th (2012), 11th (2016)
8. Lee Seung-gi | 36 wins out of 56 nominations
Awards: 2 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 5 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 9 Popularity Awards; 2 Baeksang Arts Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Brilliant Legacy (2009), My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), The King 2 Hearts (2012), Gu Family Book (2013), You’re All Surrounded (2014), A Korean Odyssey (2017), Vagabond (2019), Mouse (2021)
State Honors: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation (2014), President Citation (2011)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 7th (2010), 4th (2011), 6th (2012), 11th (2013), 14th (2014), 6th (2015), 33rd (2018), 25th (2019), 21st (2020), 30th (3021)
7. So Ji-sub | 37 wins out of 47 nominations
Awards: 2 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 15 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 1 Popularity Award; 1 Grand Bell Award, 3 Baeksang Arts Awards, 1 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
What Happened in Bali (2004), I’m Sorry, I Love You (2004), Rough Cut (2008), Cain and Abel (2009), Phantom (2012), Master’s Sun (2013), Oh My Venus (2015)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 35th (2010), 21st (2012)
6. Lee Minho | 41 wins out of 79 nominations
Awards: 1 Grand Prize (Daesang) Award, 12 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 9 Popularity Awards, 1 Hallyu Award; 1 Grand Bell Award, 3 Baeksang Arts Awards, 1 Blue Dragon Film Award, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Boys Over Flowers (2009), Personal Taste (2010), City Hunter (2011), The Heirs (2013), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
State Honors: Prime Minister’s Commendation (2014), National Brand Award Grand Prize – Culture Sector (2017)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 18th (2010), 35th (2011), 40th (2012), 21st (2014), 31st (2016), 22nd (2017), 16th (2021)
5. Yoo Ah-in | 41 wins out of 82 nominations
Awards: 1 Grand Prize (Daesang) Award, 19 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 1 Popularity Award; 2 Baeksang Arts Awards, 3 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Punch (2011), Secret Affair (2014), Veteran (2015), The Throne (2015), Six Flying Dragons (2015-2016), Voice of Silence (2020), Hellbound (2021)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 2nd (2016)
Others: The first Korean actor to be included being selected for The New York Times‘ “The Best Actors of 2018”
4. Lee Joon-gi | 43 wins out of 64 nominations
Awards: 14 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 7 Popularity Awards; 3 Grand Bell Awards, 3 Baeksang Arts Awards, 2 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
The King and the Clown (2005), My Girl (2005−2006), Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), Criminal Minds (2017), Flower Of Evil (2020)
3. Sol Kyung-gu | 45 wins out of 78 nominations
Awards: 3 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 35 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 4 Popularity Awards; 2 Grand Bell Awards, 4 Baeksang Arts Awards, 5 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Peppermint Candy (2000), Public Enemy (2002), Oasis (2002), Silmido (2003), Hope (2013), The Merciless (2017), The Book Of Fish (2021)
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 33rd (2010)
2. Kim Soo-hyun | 61 wins out of 84 nominations
Awards: 5 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 19 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 11 Popularity Awards, 4 Hallyu Awards; 2 Grand Bell Awards, 4 Baeksang Arts Awards, 1 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
Dream High (2011), Moon Embracing The Sun (2012), The Thieves (2012), Secretly, Greatly (2013), My Love From The Star (2013–14), The Producers (2015), It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020), One Ordinary Day (2021)
State Honors: Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation (2012), Prime Minister’s Commendation (2014), National Brand Award Grand Prize – Culture Sector (2015), Exemplary Taxpayer Commendation
Gallup Korea: TV Actor Of The Year in 2014
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 39th (2012), 4th (2013), 17th (2014), 2nd (2015), 20th (2021)
Others: Who Moves Korea – Most Influential People in Broadcasting and Entertainment (Sisa Journal, 2014-2016)
1. Lee Byung-hun | 81 wins out of 117 nominations
Awards: 6 Grand Prize (Daesang) Awards, 41 Best Actor/Excellence Awards, 6 Popularity Awards; 6 Grand Bell Awards, 8 Baeksang Arts Awards, 4 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and others.
Most Recognized Films/Dramas:
In South Korea: Joint Security Area (2000), A Bittersweet Life (2005), The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008), Iris (2009), I Saw the Devil (2010), Masquerade (2012), Inside Men (2015), Mr. Sunshine (2018)
In USA: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), Red 2 (2013), Terminator Genisys (2015)
State Honors: Presidential Commendation in 2011
Gallup Korea: Film Actor Of The Year in 2012 and TV Actor Of The Year in 2018
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity: 4th (2010), 16th (2014), 40th (2016), 19th (2019)
Others: The first South Korean actor to present an Oscar at the annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
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