Top 10 Most Successful and Beautiful Korean Drama Actresses

Author:
Diana
Updated date:
Dec 23, 2021 2:22 PM EST

Here is a list of top 10 most successful and beautiful Korean drama actresses. They have wonderful screen presence, can sing and dance, are TV and radio hosts or have successful modeling careers! Their brilliant talent, beauty, personality and charm are hard not to notice. You will also find some K-drama recommendations.

Top Most Popular and Beautiful Korean Drama Actresses

Han Hyo Joo
Song Hye Kyo
IU
Bae Suzy
Kim So Hyun
Jun Ji Hyun
Park Shin Hye
Lee Sung Kyung
Park Bo Young
Kim Yoo Jung

10. Kim Yoo Jung

One of the best known and most successful child actresses in South Korea, Kim Yoo Jung has won a great number of Best Young Actress awards. Soon, “Korea’s Little Sister” transitioned into teen roles and became known for her performances in Dong Yi, May Queen, Moon Embracing the Sun and Angry Mom. She even starred in her first adult role as a lead actress. Love in the Moonlight, the domestic and international hit series, perfectly shows she has a wonderful presence on the screen. Unlike many other acclaimed child actors and actresses, Kim Yoo has successfully transitioned into adult roles. It’s not that easy to achieve. Here are some of the most popular dramas in her career.

Moonlight Drawn By Clouds (Love in the Moonlight)

This is Kim Yoo’s first leading role. The actress stars as a girl who is disguised as a man and lives at the palace as a eunuch. Watch this sweet love story of the girl in disguise and the crown prince if you haven’t yet.

Clean With Passion for Now

Kim Yoo continues to make her transition into adult roles and stars as a leading heroine again. This time it’s a young and fresh romantic K-drama! The actress plays a grubby girl looking for a full-time job who ends up falling in love with her polar opposite.

9. Park Bo Young

Everyone knows Park Bo Young for her leading roles in such hit films like Scandal Makers, A Werewolf Boy, On Your Wedding Day, Oh My Ghost and Strong Woman Bong Soon. Making her acting debut at 16, this incredibly talented and beautiful woman became one of the most beloved and most popular actresses in drama land. She hasn’t had free time since her debut and for a good reason. She’s got an incredible range of dramas. We have so many options to choose from, so it gets even harder to pick and highlight some of her works.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

Park Bo plays a funny and charming lead named Do Bong Soon, an unbelievably strong woman with superpowers! One day, a man finds out about her super strength and becomes intrigued by her. The actresses’ chemistry with her fellow lead actor is awesome.

A Werewolf Boy

Park Bo Young plays a girl who falls for a boy with a beast inside of him! It won’t be easy for her to get along with the beast side of her loved one. It can hardly be tamed.

8. Lee Sung Kyung

Lee Sung literally became an overnight celebrity after her acting debut in Okay, That’s Love. She was a successful model at that time with no plans for appearing on TV. However, the director of the series was desperately in need for new, fresh faces, and that’s where he stumbled upon her Instagram page! After her role as a rebellious high school student in the drama, Lee had many other roles flood in. She landed her next roles as a mentally unstable student in Cheese in the Trap and Doctor Crush. Soon after this, she took her first leading role in the coming of age TV drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo!

7. Park Shin Hye

Park Shin was noticed when she appeared in singer Lee Seung Hwan’s music video. She then received formal training in singing, acting, and dancing. The actress debuted in the K-drama Stairway to Heaven, and it didn’t take long for her to gain fame. She successfully portrayed the younger version of the lead heroine. You’re Beautiful brought another hit title for the young talent. The drama was a hit on the internet. We also know Park Shin Hye for her amazing performances in such popular K-dramas as Pinocchio, Flower Boys Next Door, Heirs, and Heartstrings.

6. Jun Ji Hyun

To those of you who remember Jun Ji for her role in My Love from the Stars, the fact that she had a much bigger role some time ago might be surprising. My Sassy Girl is one of the most popular K-dramas of all time. The romantic comedy won her the Best Actress Award, and it became a real breakthrough for her career. The success of the series and films she has starred in internationally established her as a top Hallyu star. You can see her in the fantasy-romantic comedy Windstruck, the blockbuster drama Legend of the Blue Sea, and in other notable films like The Thieves, The Berlin File, Assassination, and Il Mare.

As one of the highest paid Korean actresses, Jun Ji is also considered the be one of the most demanded advertisement spokespersons in the country. She has advertised for a wide range of popular brands like Samsung, Lotte Duty Free, and many Chinese brands.

5. Kim So Hyun

Kim So started her acting career at the age of seven. She was labeled as the “Nation’s Little Sister”. Her early roles were in Moon Embracing the Sun and Missing You. Who Are You: School 2015 was her first film where she got the leading role, and since then she has starred in a wide range of K-dramas: Hey Ghost, Lets Fight for the fans of horror genre, The Emperor: Owner of the Mask for historical melodrama lovers, and Radio Romance for those who want to run away from real world and dive into a romantic comedy. You might also want to check out some of her other dramas: Page Turner, Goblin, The Suspicious Housemaid, Rooftop Prince, Reset, I Hear Your Voice, The Girl Who Sees Smells, Nightmare Teacher, and Rooftop Prince.

4. Bae Suzy

Suzy (Bae Su Ji) is one of the most in-demand actresses in Korea. However, not everyone knows that she started out as an online shopping model! She was one of the contestants in the reality show Superstar K, where she was noticed by a talent scout. It didn’t take her long to transfer from a modeling career and become a music trainee. Soon, she debuted with Miss A, and she became a host in some music shows. Only after all these successes, the young talent went into acting. It was Dream High that made her recognizable among millions of K-drama lovers. Here are some of her career-defining performances.

Gu Family Book

You can’t miss this one, especially if you call yourself a fan of the historical fantasy drama genre. Suzy plays a tomboy here that is skilled in archery and martial arts. She crosses paths with an unusual guy. He turns out to be a mythological nine-tailed fox, but he is half-human at the same time.

While You Were Sleeping

After a tragic event, a girl (played by Suzy) receives a gift (or a curse, it depends on how you see it) to dream about the accidents that will happen to different people in the future. It may be her relative or friend, or it can be a complete stranger. She tries to stop these horrible events from happening in real life. However, things become even more interesting when she finds out there are two more people in her life who have the same gift.

3. IU

Lee Ji Eun, best known by her stage name IU (which stands for “I and You” – to become one with music (you and me) is not only one of the best-selling K-Pop solo artists (in an entertainment industry dominated mostly by K-Pop groups), she is a radio and television host and the most influential celebrity in the country. She has also ventured into acting. You can see the actress not only in commercials selling smartphones but also in highly popular K-dramas. She acted in You're the Best, Pretty Man, The Producers, Lee Soon Shin, Moon Lovers, and My Mister.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

IU plays a 21st-century woman who travels back in time due to the strange sequence of events during a total eclipse of the sun. She gets trapped in the Goryeo era and lives in the body of another woman. A member of the royal family, many palace intrigues are ahead of her. As some time goes by, she falls for the violent fourth Prince who is known for being an outcast. This historical drama is a real rollercoaster of emotions! Don’t miss this gem with IU as the leading heroine!

2. Song Hye Kyo

Though Song Hye first debuted as a model, she decided to go into acting and gained international stardom as a top Hallyu star. The actress made her debut starring in KBS2’s Autumn in My Heart and in All In. Both dramas gained fame abroad in Taiwan, Japan, and Europe. Song is also well-known for her leading roles in television dramas Full House, That Winter, the Wind Blows, Descendants of the Sun and Encounter.

Descendants of the Sun

Descendants of the Sun was a mega-hit during its broadcast on TV. In this popular love story, Song Hye plays the lead. Basically, the story revolves around a medical team that saves lives and a Special Forces unit that deals with various secret missions. The series is set in Uruk, a fictitious country which is in a state of war.

Encounter

Song Hye Kyo stars here as the daughter of a powerful politician. The girl is tired of living life controlled by others, where she doesn’t have the right to make her own choices. After divorcing her husband from an arranged marriage, she travels overseas. The trip changes her life as she meets a simple, kind and free-spirited guy on the way. They are instantly drawn to each other, even despite the fact that they are complete opposites.

1. Han Hyo Joo

Han Hyo Ju got her first leading role in K-drama Spring Waltz. However, it was Brilliant Legacy that brought her breakout role. The series showed her brilliant acting, and she got signed by a popular filmmaker soon after. She was cast in the film Ad Lib Night, which brought her many honors. This success brought many more opportunities for the talented actress! It gained her roles in other big TV dramas - Ilijimae, Shining Inheritance, and Dong Yi! Every K-drama lover knows these gems; they became hits, so Han became even more famous! You will also enjoy watching her acting in the period K-drama Masquerade, where she played a queen. It turned out to become the highest grossing film in Korea at the time. Check out her other works, such as Miracle: Devil Claus' Love and Magic, Cold Eyes, The Beauty Inside, Golden Slumber, and W: Two Worlds!

That's It!

Who is your favorite Korean drama actress? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!

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Comments

Arlene Rodriguez on September 15, 2020:

Where is Son Ye Jin? How can you define success and beautiful here to be on the list? Is this just based on your personal opinion? If it is, then, I can’t question that. But at least, your opinion should Be based on facts for it to be credible. Sorry, but your list is unbelievable.

manni on September 08, 2020:

Where is ku hye sun i know now she is not active but through boys over flowers and also she is very popular in the world

santoshitha on September 07, 2020:

i actually like park shin ye(doctors),song hye kyu(descendents of the sun) .so much.i think the way of their acting skills cannot be spoken and fabricated by words by me.simply i am a huge heart core fan of them.

Sherapova Rodriguez on September 04, 2020:

Only song hye kyu , jun ji hyun and kim you jung are popular in our country.the rest not familiar

Korean Movies kdrama exclusive on September 03, 2020:

Watch it on my channel

With their some funny and amazing facts also with their amazing commercials and photoshoots

Kavya Shukla on August 26, 2020:

Where is Son Ye Jin? She is one of the most popular actress in South Korea and also one of the most popular korean actress in the world.

mini on August 22, 2020:

jun ji hyun is my favourite. she is just the best

MJ on August 17, 2020:

I luv IU, park shin hye, bae suzy and kim soo hyun they are so pretty

Ely dj on August 15, 2020:

So ye jin is best. She captured the role of yoon seri in crash landing on you to a T. Amazingly good!

Paniz on August 14, 2020:

Suzy is everything

Shiees on August 07, 2020:

Iu my queen. U r the best

James Ruth on August 05, 2020:

What about park min young?

Dunno on July 31, 2020:

Song Hye kyo is the besttttttt

Nikki on July 17, 2020:

Love you all. AHHHHHH!!!!!!

Elvy on July 08, 2020:

Diana How can u skip im yoon ah,park min young and yoon bora from a korean oddesey(alice[the octopus]) that's not how to do it you skipped park min young of all people huh the MOST POPULAR AND BEAUTIFUL ACTRESS.

Tina on July 07, 2020:

Kim yoo is the best... muah...

sagirkafur030@gmail.com on July 07, 2020:

Han hyo Joo is best of all

Somani on July 06, 2020:

Where the hell is Son Ye-Jin????

Fangirl on July 05, 2020:

Iu is the most stunning and best one

Jeff on July 03, 2020:

IU is the Best

Sana on June 26, 2020:

Park as an iconic act in her own way

Fapohunda Motunrayo on June 24, 2020:

l choose IU and Bae suzy.they are very beautiful and they are the best.l also love park shin hye she is beautiful and l love her dramas

Amanda on June 21, 2020:

Bae Suzy and IU are d best

gabilove on June 19, 2020:

i didn't park so young

francis from ghana on June 17, 2020:

South Korean movies are the best

Umka on June 16, 2020:

Bae Suzy is the best

Bernadette on June 11, 2020:

Kim Tae Hee should be included in that list.

jessy studio on June 09, 2020:

song hye kyo

ani natung on June 02, 2020:

jun ji hyun

smile gold on May 23, 2020:

all of them are the best buh i wish i could be the best among the best.that's me for you guyz

Nia on May 18, 2020:

Bae Suzy, IU and park bo young are the best actresses

tamia on May 16, 2020:

park shin hye is the best luv you

SMW on May 13, 2020:

How come Son Ye Jin is not on this list

Park hye sun on May 10, 2020:

All the actresses are beautiful,but to me park shin hye is the prettiest,i vote for IU because she is not bad.

Hauwa Usman Tahir on May 01, 2020:

How can you throw away Krystal Soo Jung?

khate on April 28, 2020:

all of them is so pretty i couldn't imagine their beautyy

Marian on April 21, 2020:

Kim So Hyun is the most beautiful and most elegant korean actress.

Eden on April 18, 2020:

I would say Ha Ji Won should be in the list. One of the most versatile Korean actresses.

Park Hyo Jung on April 16, 2020:

Finally! Han Hyo Joo And Kim Yoo Jung are on a list of Most beautiful and successful Korean actresses! BUT they forgot THE MOST beautiful and MOST successful of them all!! PARK MIN YOUNG!!

AJD on April 14, 2020:

Son Ye Jin is the most beautiful Korean Actress.

TSHERING YANGDON on April 13, 2020:

I am looking for Kim sae Ron.....

She is the most beautiful actress also

pulivarthi srinivasa rao on April 12, 2020:

I require money help with love

Ellie on April 09, 2020:

I was expecting to see Ha Ji Won on this list.

Jenerelyn Calusayan on April 09, 2020:

...

Why? Out of the blue, Ms. KiM HYUN JOO not always part of the list.

Shes also VERSATile and BEAUTiFUL iN and OUT..

Jenerelyn Calusayan on April 09, 2020:

...

I'm. Just looking Ms. KiM HYUN JOO, Hope that her name part of them..

She also BEAUTiFUL iN and OUT

Lara Jean on April 08, 2020:

Hey!! Where the heck is Son Ye-Jin???? Isn't she the top award winning actress in Korea?

Chloe on April 05, 2020:

Are you for real? Where is Son ye Jin?

Sneha on March 23, 2020:

These actresses are really beautiful❤ bt their are too many cute and adorable actresses in korea ... ❤❤Why they are not here..

jason on March 18, 2020:

i sweet girl i saw you on sevi

hi baby girl my name is jason i want you on March 18, 2020:

hi baby I want you

Rachel on March 05, 2020:

Im not from Korea but Song Hye Kyo should be on Top 1

Include also Ha Ji won

Sofi on March 01, 2020:

This seems fake.

where is top actress like son Ye Jin, Ha Ji Won, Kim Tae Hee ?

Promise Warren on February 29, 2020:

I love IU and Park Bo Young

Bbt on February 25, 2020:

Kim So Hyun

glayse on February 24, 2020:

Son Ye jin is the first on the list. With all the awards and recognition. She is the Best Actress among all the list above.

Sj on February 22, 2020:

why Son Ye jin is not included in this list ?

It is disgusting to see that No blogger, youtuber, etc include Son ye jin in their list.

LEE SUNG KYUNG on February 11, 2020:

Well, she is beautiful and I like her plays. That's why I like her.NOTHING ELSE...

지안 on January 16, 2020:

IU Forever

Ez on January 03, 2020:

I like IU, IU is life! I heart heart her. I love love her so very much indeed.

자ㅣ납 zainab on December 31, 2019:

What about park hyung sik and shin ye eun and kim da som and ji so ? They are really handsom thank goodnes that park bo young is there but i liked strong woman the most of all her films if you did not watch

Voice

Strong woman

He is psychometric

And Hwarang you should watch them 사랑해요

Rica on December 22, 2019:

Jung somin

Geralt of Rivia on December 22, 2019:

Son Ye jin should be on around top 5 , but you didn't put her name at all .

Niki on December 15, 2019:

How bout kim tae hee?

Lexy on December 05, 2019:

Park Min Young

Haemosu on December 02, 2019:

"Bae Suzy , GuFamilyBook : .....He turns out to be a mythological nine-tailed fox, but half-human at the same time...."

Are you sure he was nine-tailed fox.... ?

Olive on November 15, 2019:

Han Hyo Joo

ABC on November 07, 2019:

Kim So Hyun

Leelamma on November 07, 2019:

Jung Na Ra should be included.

Chioma on October 28, 2019:

Iu is the best

luO on October 21, 2019:

I was waiting to see Ha Ji Won ;;;;;;

Amara on September 06, 2019:

Ha ji won is the best actress, populer, beauty inside and outside

Song hye kyo on August 22, 2019:

She’s beautiful and the best moves

Saima Rizvi on August 10, 2019:

Park shin hye❤ hwaiting

Argel Noel on July 24, 2019:

Why Yoo In-na is not in the list?!

Pakistan on June 16, 2019:

Song hye kyo is the best of all.

Pppppp on June 10, 2019:

Song hye kyo is the best

Aaaaa on June 08, 2019:

Song hye kyo is the best of all in the list.why ha ji won is not in this list she is also beautiful