As the year comes to a close, we’re sharing the most iconic heartthrobs in the world of Korean drama in 2023:
JO INSUNG | Moving
Totally swoonworthy. What sets him apart is his towering height with the ability to fly, and his protective love that knows no bounds.
Jo Insung as Kim Doosik or Moonsan in the superhero series, Moving (2023) is the most elite black ops agent at the Agency for National Security Planning (ANSP) who has the secret ability to fly and shoot guns from the air. He may seem cold, calculated, and quiet but he begins to have a change of perspective upon meeting his wife (Han Hyo Joo) and son (Lee Jung Ha), becoming their ultimate protector.
SONG KANG | My Demon
He’s the epitome of irresistible charm who is “cold but kind, innocent yet sexy and whose whole existence exudes sensuality.” He has the power to leave you smitten.
Song Kang as Jeong Guwon in the fantasy-romance drama, My Demon (2023) is an immortal and pitiless demon who loses his powers when he encounters Do Dohee (Kim You Jung). To retrieve his source of power, he becomes a bodyguard for the woman but gradually falls for her and vows to protects her at all costs, even though his immortality slowly flickers.
LEE JUNHO | King The Land
A dashing young man in suit who captivates with his elegance in overall appearance and extravagant love for one woman. Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked for life.
Lee Junho as Gu Won in the rom-com drama, King The Land (2023) is an elegant heir of a luxury hotel. He earned high quality education in UK, rides a luxury car, wears designer brands, and lives at a penthouse suite. However, he never smiles and he totally abhors people who smile but he changes when his world collides with Cheon Sa Rang (Yoona) whose job is to smile, gradually setting him free from his life’s prisons.
NAMGOONG MIN | My Dearest
He’s a warrior at heart who pursues like no other and he draws you into his world of mysteries and vulnerabilities, leaving you awestruck with his constant love that never falters.
Namgoong Min as Lee Jang-Hyun in the historical-romance drama, My Dearest (2023) is a mysterious nobleman with a dark secret who has no interest in romance and vows not to marry anyone. But after getting to know a noblewoman who hopes to love again after a failed marriage, he unexpectedly finds himself attracted to her and opens the door to his heart.
ROWOON | Destined With You
He’s the jaw-dropping visual whose bewitching presence sweeps you off your feet, like a spell.
Rowoon as Jang Sin Yu in the fantasy-romance drama, Destined With You (2023) is an ace lawyer who gets swept up in a series of unexpected events including an irresistible romance due to the curse of an ancient forbidden book obtained by Lee Hong Jo (Jo Boah), a shaman in her past life. From a stoic man who seems unbothered with anything, he gets spellbound in life and love.
RYEOUN | Twinkling Watermelon
He makes you swoon with his sparkling smile and makes your heart flutter with his dazzling skills of the strings.
Ryeoun as Ha Eun Gyeol in the time-slip, teen drama, Twinkling Watermelon (2023) is a CODA (child of deaf adult) person who struggles with his relationship with his deaf father who is against his interest in a band. Frustrated, he suddenly travels back in time to 1995, meets the younger version of his father, and forms a band with him to help him make his youth days twinkle while getting to know him better.
HWANG MINHYUN | My Lovely Liar
He’s a mysterious heartthrob whose gentle soul that lies within his walls captivates in thrilling ways like a poetry.
Hwang Minhyun in the rom-com drama, My Lovely Liar (2023) is a well-known composer and producer but whose identity is a mystery. He goes hiding and changes his name from Kim Seung-joo to Kim Do-ha due to an incident in the past. Until he meets Mok Sol-Hee (Kim So Hyun), a woman who has the supernatural ability to detect lies, finding love and breaking free.
LEE JE HOON | Taxi Driver 2
An action hero who drives you crazy with his blend of recklessness and flexibility, and sense of humor while performing superb fighting and chasing.
Lee Je-hoon as Kim Do-gi in Taxi Driver 2 (2023) is a special taxi driver for Rainbow Taxi Company, a secret company that offers service to its clients who seek justice for the crimes committed to them but neglected by the law, helping them take revenge.
LEE JOON GI | Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun
Simply breathtaking. He’s a highly skilled fighter who makes your jaw drop in astonishment and a devoted lover who makes your heart move and flutter.
Lee Joon-gi played the twin roles of Eunseom and Saya in Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun (2023). In his quest to save Tanya (Shin Se-kyung) and their people, Eunseom as Inaishingi unifies and leads 30 clans of the Ago Tribe to march towards Arthdal, while he learns about his fate as the reincarnation of the legendary hero and founder of the Arthdal Union, Aramun Haesulla.
AHN HYO SEOP | Dr. Romantic 3
A charming young man in scrubs who stuns with his skills and passion, fully determined and simply devoted even in the face of adversities.
Ahn Hyo-seop as Seo Woo-jin in the medical drama, Dr. Romantic 3 (2023) is a skilled surgeon who was discipled medically by Master Kim Sabu (Han Suk-kyu) and is eternally in love with his co-doctor Cha Eun-jae (Lee Sung-kyung). He becomes one of the trusted and exemplary surgeons at Doldam Hospital located in the countryside, helping Master Kim build a new trauma center, while he faces new challenges in his love life.
JI CHANG WOOK | The Worst Of Evil
A thrilling type of heartthrob who keeps you on the edge of your seat with his wide range of emotions and fighting skills against crime.
Ji Chang-wook as Park Jun-Mo in the crime series, The Worst Of Evil (2023) is a countryside senior patrol officer whose wife is an elite polite officer. To seek promotion and huge bonus, he accepts the order to become an undercover agent named Kwon Seung-ho whose job is to infiltrate Gangnam Union to investigate a gang leader and his massive criminal organization involved in an illegal drug trade.
LEE JUNG HA | Moving
He’s the epitome of a happy heart that radiates through his bright smile and uplifts another like no other.
Lee Jung-ha as Bongseok in the superhero series, Moving (2023) has the ability to fly with super five senses. His body gets heavy when he is calm and he floats if he gets emotionally excited. To control himself from floating, he carries a school bag that contains heavy weights, his lower legs are wrapped with sandbags, and tries his best not to float by reciting the Pi digits 3.14. He considers himself a loner who has no friends until he meets Jang Huisoo (Go Youn-jung), a transfer student who becomes his buddy and crush, filling his happy heart.
TEO YOO | Love To Hate You
A chef’s kiss of a heartthrob. He simply makes you smile non-stop with his sense of humor and charisma.
Teo Yoo as Nam Kang-ho in the rom-com series, Love To Hate You (2023) is a popular actor who strongly distrusts women. He bumps into a headstrong lawyer who hates losing to men and unexpectedly becomes his personal lawyer, gradually falling for her and changing as a person in the process.
JUNG KYUNG HO | Crash Course In Romance
A swoonworthy math genius who leaves an indelible mark with the way he makes numbers fun and love formulas thrilling.
Jung Kyung-ho as Choi Chi-yeol in the rom-com drama, Crash Course In Romance (2023) is a celebrity and highly in-demand math instructor at a popular private education institute. Although he is known as the “One Trillon Won Man”, he has an eating disorder until he gets a taste of Nation’s Best Banchan, a shop run by his student’s mother who becomes his personal chef in exchange for private tutorial sessions with her daughter. He slowly transforms from a man indifferent around people to a man who is warm and generous.
CHA EUN WOO | Island
The eye-catching young man in cassock who allures hearts with his sense of humor and fighting spirit against the dark forces.
Cha Eun-woo as Johan in the fantasy-action series, Island (2022-23) is a priest who performs exorcism against evil spirits and embarks on a dangerous journey to face off against haunting demons that attack the mysterious island of Jeju. He speaks Italian, Latin, and to awaken and increase his spiritual powers, he wears his trademark earrings and listens to hip hop songs with his headphones on.
KANG MIN HYUK | Celebrity
A glamorous chaebol in a million dollar suit who grabs attention with his sense of mystery and oozing charisma.
Kang Min-hyuk as Han Jun-kyung in the thriller series, Celebrity (2023) is a sought-after CEO of Han Cosmetics, which is the leading cosmetics brand in South Korea. Although he seems to show lack of interest in anything other than his company, he begins to feel attraction towards Seo Ari (Park Gyu-young) and helps her deal with her attackers.
MIN WOO HYUK | Doctor Cha
A knight in shining armor who wears a scrub and stethoscope and whose extra kindness is a ray of sunshine.
Min Woo-hyuk as Roy Kim in the medical-comedy drama, Doctor Cha (2023) is a surgeon who bumps into a woman struggling to perform an emergency care on a patient. He transfers to a university hospital only to meet her there as a resident doctor and eventually develops feelings for her while he helps her face challenges with her career and marriage life.
OK TAECYEON | Heartbeat
Thump, thump. He’s simply spellbinding as a vampire who makes hearts race with his suave looks, height, good sense of fashion, and humor.
Ok Taecyeon as Seon Woo Hyeol in the fantasy, rom-com drama, Heartbeat (2023) is vampire from the Joseon era who desperately wants to become human. To attain such ambition, he’s advised to slumber for 100 uninterrupted years in a mysterious hawthorn coffin but failed to become fully human due to a one-day difference. As a result, he’s living in the modern times as a half human and half vampire.
CHAE JONG HYEOP | Castaway Diva
The awe-inspiring one who goes the extra mile to find, save, protect, and make her girl’s dream come true. He’s the epitome of unwavering love.
Chae Jong-hyeop portrayed one character but two names in the rom-com drama, Castaway Diva (2023). In his younger years as Jung Kiho, he lived alone with his abusive father and tried to run away several times until he meets Seo Mokha (Park Eunbin) who went missing during their escape. After 15 years, he becomes Kang Bogeol, an entertainment producer who succeeds in finding his childhood friend on an island.
YANG SEJONG | Doona!
An ordinary young man whose pure heart beckons a place of rest and whose extra charms give butterflies.
Yang Se-jong as Lee Won-jun in the romance series, Doona! (2023) is an ordinary university student who moves to Seoul to pursue studies. Amid a hectic life as a working student, he finds himself drawn to a mysterious woman named Lee Doona (Bae Suzy) who happens to be a popular idol leading a solitary life. By chance, he becomes closer to her and eventually, falls for her.
BAE IN HYUK | The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
A charming bachelor who captures attention with his cold appearance but intriguing nature.
Bae In-hyuk as Kang Tae-ha in the historical-romance drama, The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023) is an icy and emotionally detached chaebol heir who suffers from a congenital heart disease and childhood trauma. His life transforms when he meets a strange woman from the 19th century Joseon who time-travels to modern day and insists that he looks exactly like her husband who passed away during their wedding day.
Copyright KORB Blog Team.
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