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Lee MinHo is the top Korean actor for 12 consecutive years, according to South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) in their 2025 Global Hallyu Survey. Annually, the survey looks at the influence of Korean cultural content in the world—and Lee MinHo's consistent popularity is a sign of his enduring impact on the Korean wave, or Hallyu.
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Next in ranking are other leading stars: Gong Yoo, Song HyeKyo, Kim SooHyun, Lee JongSuk, HyunBin, Jun JiHyun, Ma DongSeok, IU, and Cha EunWoo. It's significant that most of them became popular before streaming platforms arrived, during the onset of Hallyu.
Here is a closer look at how these actors built their followings overseas. Can new actors do the same?
1. Lee MinHo
Lee MinHo's Instagram
One cannot overstate Lee MinHo's status in Korean pop culture. Being one of the leads in "Boys Over Flowers" in 2009 made him a global phenomenon; he became a household name globally. His roles in "City Hunter," "The Heirs," and "The King: Eternal Monarch" added to his fame, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
His global following, active social media presence, and support of top brands made him a celebrity beyond his line of work—he is a symbol of the Hallyu. Achieving the top position again demonstrates that star quality endures when paired with suitable projects.
2. Gong Yoo
Gong Yoo's Instagram
He initially captivated global audiences in the ro
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