We Got Our Eyes On These Handsome, Rising Korean Actors Ages 26 And Below!

Lee Do-Hyun, 25

Those who have just seen the recently-concluded K-drama "18 Again" (based on the film "17 Again" by Jason Filardi) will surely agree that Lee Do-hyun is one of the most promising young Korean actors today. He played the 18-year-old version of the character Hong Dae-young (his older counterpart is Yoon Sang-hyun) in the series, pairing him up with 42-year-old actress Kim Ha-neul. Despite starring in the series with such seasoned actors, Lee Do-hyun's performance matched theirs, showing brilliance in acting and major on-screen charm that make for a winning combination for success.

Photo Credit: JTBC

Many fans of K-drama "Hotel del Luna" would most probably find it hard to remember Lee Do-hyun and his character Go Chung-myung without being heartbroken. Although relatively minor, his appearances in this famous series were significant in the narrative. His short but sweet chemistry with IU was unmistakable, too! In his "Esquire" Korea magazine interview, he said of "Hotel del Luna," "So many people loved the character, and I also really like the character as well. And it was really hard while playing the character, including speaking in the sageuk tone." His first-ever K-drama was "Prison Playbook," wherein he played the young version of Jung Kyung-ho's character Lee Joon-ho. This project was followed by stints in series "Still 17" and "Clean With Passion for Now."

Photo Credit: tvN

The up-and-coming actor has so far received one award, Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama from the 33rd KBS Drama Awards for "Drama Special: Scouting Report." He's also been recently nominated as Best New Actor at the 7th APAN Star Awards for his outstanding performance in "18 Again." But to make his 2020 even greater is the fact that he was also cast in the Netflix drama/horror series "Sweet Home" that will be released soon. What's more, he was tapped to star in the 2021 drama titled "Youth of May," where he will reportedly play the role of a medical student.

Kim Min-Jae, 24

This actor/rapper has been on K-drama fans' radar since 2014, and he's becoming more and more popular and in-demand with every project. While he had K-dramas in the past that featured him as one of the main cast members, his most recent (read: well received) series, "Do You Like Brahms?," really cemented his male lead status as it marked his second lead role (the first one was in "Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency"). Opposite actress Park Eun-bin, Kim Min-jae played the role of a world-class pianist. In a Soompi article, Kim Min-jae was quoted saying, "I want to become an actor that people choose to watch because they trust me. I hope to become the kind of actor that will touch people’s hearts to the point that they’ll say, ‘Kim Min Jae’s in this. If Kim Min Jae’s in it, then I’d better watch it.'”

Photo Credit: @real.be

Before Kim Min-jae debuted as a K-pop idol, who's also known as Real.be, he dabbled in acting via the South Korean-Vietnamese drama "Forever Young." Like many K-pop idols seeking versatility and maximizing opportunities, Kim Min-jae has pursued acting and music at the same time, taking on small screen projects that not only introduced him to a wider audience but also honed his acting skills in preparation for more lead roles that are sure to come his way.

Photo Credit: SBS

For those who may be wondering where they might have seen him or those who wish to get to know him, he was a part of K-dramas "Second 20s," "My First Time," "My Little Baby," "Hit the Top," and "Tempted." He had cameos in "I Need Romance 3," "The Producers," and "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," too! But his stints on both "Dr. Romantic" and "Dr. Romantic 2" were especially memorable and notable; in fact, he even won the New Star Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards for the series' first season.

Photo Credit: SBS

Lee Sin-Young, 22

K-drama "Crash Landing on You" (CLOY) got people noticing Lee Sin-young. As one of Capt. Ri Jeong-hyeok's (Hyun Bin) comrades, he stood out and sparked curiosity with his head-turning looks. With the series reaching phenomenal status, CLOY gave him a great start (it's his first-ever K-drama!). Prior to this, he only worked on web series ("Just One Bite," "Just One Bite 2," and "It's Okay to be Sensitive 2") and modeling gigs. Although he's handsome and tall and is definitely fit to become a model, Lee Sin-young mentioned in a "GQ Korea" interview that acting feels more like the right career path for him to take rather than modeling.

Photo Credit: Dazed Korea via @leesin_y | Read more about Lee Sin-young here.

Proof that he created buzz and impact, thanks to CLOY, was his first-ever lead role in a mini series titled "How to Buy a Friend." The coming-of-age K-drama features him as a high school student who's talented in writing but is often bullied by his classmates.

Photo Credit: KBS2

2020 was quite an eventful year for Lee Sin-young, considering that after "How to Buy a Friend," he also joined the cast of new K-drama "Awaken," with his character being a part of the Seoul Police Agency. "Awaken" premiered last November 30, and stars Namkoong Min and Kim Seol-hyun.

Photo Credit: @leesin_y

Cha Eun-Woo, 23

This list is incomplete without cutie Cha Eun-woo. There's no question about him being one of the most handsome K-pop idols and Korean actors today. He's been pursuing acting since 2013 with minor roles, but it was only in 2018 when he really established himself as an actor with his first-ever lead role in K-drama "Gangnam Beauty." He initially focused more on his singing career, as he debuted with K-pop boy group Astro in 2016.

Photo Credit: @eunwo.o_c

Following the success of "Gangnam Beauty," he was included in the "Men of the Year" list of "GQ Korea." And in 2019, he worked on his second lead role in K-drama "Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung."

Photo Credit: @eunwo.o_c

For his latest K-drama, he's going back to a webtoon-based series, like "Gangnam Beauty" that made him more popular. Titled "True Beauty," this new rom-com series is likewise based on a webtoon; it also stars Moon Ga-young and Hwang In-yeop. His character here feels a bit like Do Kyung-seok, but with his take on acting being "a process of bringing something out from deep inside you," we're sure Cha Eun-woo will still surprise viewers with his acting chops. This year, he also took on hosting duties when he joined reality TV program "Master in the House."

Photo Credit: tvN

Song Kang, 26

Song Kang is managed by Namoo Actors which is also the same agency that handles the careers of top Korean stars like Park Min-young and Lee Joon-gi. He made his TV debut in 2017 via a supporting role in "The Liar and His Lover." Last year, he got his big break through the romance/teen mini series "Love Alarm," beating around 900 applicants for the male lead role.

Photo Credit: Banila Co. | Read more about Song Kang here.

With the popularity and success of "Love Alarm," Song Kang secured another lead role via the soon-to-be-released drama/horror Netflix series "Sweet Home," where his character, a loner, moves into a new apartment where people turn into monsters. "Sweet Home" hasn't even been released yet, but Song Kang already has another project he'll reportedly take on next: a webtoon-based series called "Like a Butterfly."

Photo Credit: @songkang_b

Other K-dramas he appeared in were "Man in the Kitchen," "When the Devil Calls Your Name" (where he got to work with actor Jung Kyung-ho who he considers as one of his role models), and "Touch Your Heart" where he had a cameo. Apart from his small screen projects, he also starred in a film titled "Beautiful Vampire" and took on hosting duties in variety shows like the popular "Inkigayo."

Photo Credit: @songkang_b

Ong Seong-Wu, 25

Here's another K-pop idol/actor who caught our attention, when he was nominated as the Best New Actor (TV) for K-drama "At Eighteen" and for the TikTok Popularity Award – Male category at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards. While his stunning visuals would be the factor that draws you in to check out his dramas, his talent in acting would convince you he's a rising actor whose career is worth following.

Photo Credit: @osw_onge | Read more about Ong Seong-wu here.

Ong Seong-wu has only been a celebrity for about three years now, and yet he has accomplished so much already both in music and acting. He debuted as a member of K-pop group Wanna One in 2017 and worked on solo projects (the short film "Seong-Wu Is Alright" that was produced by his agency, Fantagio, and a stint on TV series "Idol Fever") and brand collaborations in the following years.

Photo Credit: JTBC

Come 2019, he was given a breakthrough lead role in coming-of-age K-drama "At Eighteen," where he took on the role of a student who struggled with being ridiculed in school. He did well in the series, so much so he won a Most Promising Actor award from StarHub Night of Stars and Rookie Actor Award from Asia Artist Awards in the same year. This year, he made waves again with his recently-concluded rom-com series "More Than Friends" where his role is a professional photographer who's in love with his friend. He's also making his big screen debut this month via the musical film "Life is Beautiful."

Photo Credit: JTBC

Lee Jae-Wook, 22

From his supporting role in the Hyun Bin and Park Shin-hye-starrer "Memories of the Alhambra," Lee Jae-wook has been achieving significant feats in just a fairly short amount of time, impressing many K-drama fans and making them look forward to more of him. He's only been an actor for about a couple of years and yet he already managed to snag two lead roles.

Photo Credit: @jxxvvxxk

Lee Jae-wook, who belongs to the same agency (Vast Entertainment) that manages Hyun Bin's career, starred in K-dramas "Extraordinary You" and the recently-concluded "Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol" that paired him with actress Go Ara. Viewers enjoyed their chemistry of Lee Jae-wook and Go Ara as their characters' love story blooms in a small piano institute called La La Land.

Photo Credit: Vast Entertainment

If you want to see how Lee Jae-wook is evolving to become a sought-after actor, start by watching the K-dramas that featured him in a supporting role: "Memories of the Alhambra," "Search: WWW," and "When the Weather is Fine." Then move on to "Extraordinary You" and "Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol" which both cast him in lead roles. Hey, "Extraordinary You" earned him three acting awards, so that's reason enough to intrigue even the most discerning K-drama lovers.

Photo Credit: @jxxvvxxk

Kim Dong-Hee, 21

The first K-drama Kim Dong-hee appeared in is no less than the second highest-rated drama in Korean cable TV history, "Sky Castle," where he played the role of the son of Yoon Se-ah's character.

Photo Credit: @kim_d.he

It was an incredible project that kicked off his promising acting career. But this year, the Park Seo-joon starrer "Itaewon Class" happened for him, and the popular series gave his career a huge boost. Although some viewers weren't too convinced with his role here as a villain, there's no denying it got viewers curious about him.

Photo Credit: @kim_d.he

Last year, Brand of the Year Awards recognized him as a Rising Star. And further proof of that title is his first-ever lead role in a series, following the success of "Itaewon Class." The teen / crime drama "Extracurricular" features him as a top student whose extracurricular activity is running an illegal prostitution business. Its dark theme earned praises, as it offered a compelling narrative from start to finish.

Photo Credit: @kim_d.he | Read more about Kim Dong-hee here.

Rowoon, 24

Rowoon, who's the lead vocalist of boy band SF9, has also crossed over the world of acting. It was in 2016 when he debuted as a K-pop idol. He started acting around the same time as his debut as a singer. He joined the casts of K-dramas "School 2017," "About Time," and "Where Stars Land" (for which he earned a Best New Actor nomination at the SBS Drama Awards).

Photo Credit: MBC

Last year, he finally got an offer for a lead role via the webtoon-based K-drama "Extraordinary You," for which he received the Best New Actor awards at the 32nd Grimae Awards and the 2019 MBC Drama Awards.

Photo Credit: The North face via @ewsbdi

What's next for this rising K-pop idol/actor is another lead role in the 2021 K-drama "Sunbae, Don't Put on That Lipstick" which pairs him up with actress Won Jin-a; his character is a part of a cosmetics brand's marketing department.

Photo Credit: @ewsbdi

Jo Byung-gyu, 24

The star of the newly-released fantasy/mystery/thriller series "The Uncanny Counter," Jo Byung-gyu has been acting since 2015. And thankfully, after five years of consistently apearing in support roles in K-dramas, he now has a lead role he truly deserves. His latest project has been generating buzz and is seeing an increase in viewership ratings with each new episode.

Photo Credit: @bk_arta

A series based on a webtoon, "The Uncanny Counter" casts him as a high school student who's physically handicapped but is miraculously healed when he accepted the task of becoming a "counter" (or a demon hunter). Since this is his first-ever lead role , Jo Byung-gyu admitted he's feeling the pressure to do a great job. At this series' press conference, he said, "It would be a lie to say that I didn’t feel the pressure. But when I was feeling pressured, I met the director, Sejeong, and the senior actors, and felt like I could depend on them. As soon as I depended on them, I felt more natural about taking on the lead role."

Photo Credit: @bk_arta

Although "The Uncanny Counter" marks his first lead role in a series, he may not be a new face to many K-drama fans as he appeared in a number of popular titles such as "Who Are You: School 2015," "The K2," "Queen for Seven Days," "Radio Romance," "Time," "Sky Castle," "He Is Psychometric," "Arthdal Chronicles," and "Hot Stove League."

Photo Credit: @bk_arta

Ryeoun, 22

This newbie is fresh from the K-drama "18 Again," where he played the son of Hong Dae-young (portrayed by both Yoon Sang-hyun and Lee Do-hyun). In the series, he goes from being a student who's being bullied to a heartthrob basketball player. Given his good looks and noticeable potential in acting, it won't be surprising to see him take on a more major role soon.

Photo Credit: @_ryeoun

In fact, apart from appearing in 2020 K-dramas "365: Repeat the Year," "18 Again," and "Homemade Love Story," he also starred in a web web drama titled "The World of My 17" this year. So, yes, to say that he's been busy this 2020 is quite an understatement, considering he's also studying and honing his acting skills at the SeoKyeong University.

Photo Credit: @_ryeoun

The K-dramas he previously appeared in were "You Are Too Much," "Temperature of Love," and "Doctor Prisoner." With his role in "Doctor Prisoner" as the brother of Kwon Nara's character, he caught the attention of the viewers, some of which pointed out that he looks like Lee Min-ho and Park Bo-gum. Ryeoun heard about these comparisons and is very honored. Who knows, he could even end up following these top Korean actors' career paths?!

Photo Credit: @_ryeoun

Song Geon-Hee, 23

From a Crown Prince in "Mystic Pop-Up Bar" to a café owner in "Missing: The Other Side," Song Geon-hee has undoubtedly caught our attention this year. Although he is yet to star in a K-drama, it seems he's on the right track, building on his acting portfolio as he waits for his big break.

Photo Credit: @songgeonhee

You may have seen him in minor roles and special appearances in K-dramas "Gangnam Beauty," "Sky Castle," "At Eighteen," "Love Alarm," "Arthdal Chronicles," and "The Tale of Nokdu."

Photo Credit: @songgeonhee

With popular titles such as those as part of his filmography, Song Geon-hee is slowly but surely making it to K-drama fans' radar.

Photo Credit: JTBC

Kim Young-Dae, 24

If you're currently hooked on K-drama "The Penthouse: War in Life," it's impossible for you to not notice (and be smitten by) Kim Young-dae. Tall, handsome, and good in acting, he's shaping up to become a sought-after Hallyu star, and is definitely a heartthrob in the making.

Photo Credit: Singles via @youngdae0302

He began acting in 2017, taking on cameos and supporting roles until he landed a main role in K-drama "Extraordinary You" just last year.

Photo Credit: @youngdae0302

This year alone, he was cast in K-dramas "When the Weather is Fine," "The Penthouse: War in Life," and the newly-released "Cheat on Me, If You Can," wherein he's among the main cast members.

Photo Credit: KBS2

Choi Bo-Min, 20

Choi Bo-min debuted as a member of K-pop boy group Golden Child. As is the career path for many K-pop idols, he makes his transition to acting, starting off with a lead role in a web series titled "A-Teen 2" which earned him the Favorite Web Series Actor award at the 2019 V Live Awards.

Photo Credit: @official_gncd11

Last year, Choi Bo-min was tapped for an episode in the reality-documentary show "Law of the Jungle: Chatham Islands," got a hosting stint on music program "Music Bank" and had a minor appearance in K-drama "Melting Me Softly" that starred Ji Chang-wook and Won Jin-a.

Photo Credit: @official_gncd11

This year, he appeared in the well-loved series "18 Again." Opposite actress Roh Jeong-eui, Choi Bo-min showed that he has what it takes to make viewers swoon with his cute and charming on-screen presence.

Photo Credit: @official_gncd11

BONUS! Nam Da-Reum, 18

Nam Da-reum is the youngest in this list but he has the most number of projects because he started out as a child actor. He's been playing young versions of Korean actors in various K-dramas since 2009. Now, he's all grown up and has become a teen heartthrob.

Photo Credit: @magiq_official | Read more about Nam Da-reum here.

In the past, he served as the young counterpart of actors like Kim Hyun-joong in "Boys Over Flowers," Lee Dong-wook in "The Partner," and Lee Jong-suk in "Pinocchio" and "While You Were Sleeping."

Photo Credit: @namdareum_mom

This year, he had three K-dramas: "A Piece of Your Mind" (Jung Hae-in's young version), "Private Lives" (Ko Gyung-pyo's teen version), and "Start-Up" (Kim Seon-ho's young counterpart). With the popularity of "Start-Up," the handsome Nam Da-reum gained more fans, something that will surely have a positive effect on his career.

Photo Credit: @namdareum_mom