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A Look Back on the Breakthrough Korean Stars of 2022

Here’s a list of some Hallyu scene stealers who made it big last year

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Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso

<p>Last year, some of the most popular Korean content helped cement their actors’ lead to breakout status by giving them a shot at key characters and unique roles. <a href="https://metro.style/people/celebrities/get-to-know-korean-actress-park-eun-bin/33412" target="_blank">Park Eun Bin</a>, for one, has garnered attention for playing the titular character of a courtroom lawyer with autism in <a href="https://metro.style/culture/film-and-tv/k-drama-extraordinary-attorney-woo-tops-the-charts/33409" target="_blank"><em>Extraordinary Attorney Woo</em></a>.<br/></p><div><br/></div><p>While not every young actor with a standout screen persona is also bestowed the opportunity to become a star, it seems that <strong>Shin Ye Eun</strong> has truly aced her four dramas in 2022, thanks to her ripe talent. Her versatility as an actress is also now magnified, especially for her take on a villainous high schooler in the revenge series <strong><em>The Glory</em></strong>.</p><div><br/></div><p>From rookie stars who landed their first major role to Korean drama regulars who have had a bigger stage to perform, these <em>Hallyu</em> artists are proof that with talent demonstration done right, everything is possible.<br/></p><div><strong>Check the gallery below and get to know some of the buzzworthy Korean celebrities of 2022:</strong><br/></div><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/6e92d42b-4648-414b-b0df-2ef2f529120a_breakout stars landscape.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b436dd18-dd63-427e-9136-33f4a560688a_lee jae wook 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/5e8a9fc7-c930-4259-8cd4-e7ae93ad002d_lee jae wook 2.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/41d6e7cd-3f7e-44fa-a39b-f1c0d5024e06_hwang min hyun 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/29ba4ddc-7b42-44cb-943b-048b34694dbc_hwang min hyun 2.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d28715f5-21f7-4129-889c-ae6fd1ee1021_park solomon 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/47680b81-aaca-4234-a289-264c9894e990_park solomon 2.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/08ec8457-01b3-4a3b-b3c1-1f71324d632a_shin ye eun 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/6559c1fd-6754-48d4-bd14-3f6ce54ed730_shin ye eun 2.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/61d2d5c0-fa41-4cbe-ad9c-50175da1c813_son suk ku 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/122ca6fd-7be6-4ffc-9187-1a321bf2e1f2_son suk ku 2.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/ea575c1a-22d0-408a-baa7-fdb9092f338f_park ji hyun 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/490a05d8-af7a-4013-839f-f5f09abd6ab1_park ji hyun 2.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/fdec8cdc-afbc-43d8-9cd3-2affe182019f_business proposal 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/e61d543e-b613-453f-93f9-3956216c7757_business proposal 2.jpeg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/f5dbe49f-1129-40b2-9137-03ffbd896d5b_park eun bin 1.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d8cfba25-225c-4c96-ad68-2a2e80b5301f_park eun bin 2.jpg" alt="A Look Back on the Korean Breakthrough Stars of 2022" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Lee Jae Wook  - From &#x27;Memories of the Alhambra&#x27; (2018), &#x27;WWW&#x27; (2019), &#x27;Extraordinary You&#x27; (2019), &#x27;When the Weather Is Fine&#x27; (2020), and &#x27;Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol&#x27; (2020) to his most recent TV project, Lee Jae Wook’s acting range is proof that he can take on multifarious characters with keen versatility. The South Korean star has yet again wowed the viewers with his role as Jang Wook in the Netflix fantasy drama &#x27;Alchemy of Souls&#x27; (2022), setting the screen ablaze with his magnetic leading-man charm. <cite>@jxxvvxxk</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><div><cite>@jxxvvxxk</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Hwang Min Hyun - Nothing short of an enigma, former NU’EST lead vocalist Hwang Min Hyun has showcased a stellar performance in the fictional nation of Daeho in Netflix’s &#x27;Alchemy of Souls.&#x27; Upon his return to Part 2, Min Hyun’s talent has gotten even sharper as he portrayed the pure-hearted yet pain-bearing Seo Yul.<cite>@optimushwang</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><div><cite>@optimushwang</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Park Solomon - With his tall stature, handsome looks, and deep-set eyes, breakout star Park Solomon a.k.a. Lomon indeed has a lasting effect among &#x27;All of Us Are Dead&#x27; fans. The Netflix zombie flick, where the actor has portrayed a life-saving, freedom-loving high schooler named Lee Su Hyeok, ushered him into overnight popularity, making his Instagram account explode from a mere 5-digit followers tally to a few-million count. He, too, landed the lead role in the teen revenge thriller series &#x27;Revenge of Others.&#x27; <cite>@lomon991111</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><div><cite>@lomon991111</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Shin Ye Eun - It was indeed a fruitful 2022 for South Korean actress Shin Ye Eun as she rocked the K-drama circuit with four projects. She starred in &#x27;Revenge of Others&#x27; alongside &#x27;All of Us Are Dead&#x27; actor Park Solomon and the Song-Hye-Kyo-led revenge series, &#x27;The Glory.&#x27; Ye Eun also had cameo appearances in &#x27;Rookie Cops&#x27; and in the second season of &#x27;Yumi’s Cells.&#x27;<cite>@__shinyeeun</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><div><cite>@__shinyeeun</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Son Suk Ku - South Korean actor Son Sun Ku has recently created a buzz with his mystery-evoking character in &#x27;My Liberation Notes.&#x27; His role as Mr. Gu, although with minimal speaking lines, has drawn significant attention among the show’s viewers. Suk Ku’s portrayal of a cunning serial killer supervillain in the crime-action film &#x27;The Roundup&#x27; is also testament to his superb acting skills.<cite>@sonsukku</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><div><cite>@sonsukku</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Park Ji Hyun - Park Ji Hyun is definitely a force to reckon with as she plays the character of a media heiress, Mo Hyun Min, in the high-rating Korean drama &#x27;Reborn Rich.&#x27; Garnering acclaim for her outstanding performance, the actress even outranked the series’ female lead in one of Good Data Corporation’s most buzzworthy lists. The said Korean IT company gathers stats from multimedia companies, publications, and social media to determine who qualifies for the roster.<cite>@namooactors</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><div><cite>@namooactors</cite></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Seol In Ah and Kim Min Kyu - The reason why the second-lead fever is hot among fans is because we want room for more—more backstory, more screen time, and more love scenes for on-screen partners. Such is true in the case of &#x27;Business Proposal&#x27; couple Kim Min Kyu and Seol In Ah. The pair’s breakout kissing scene, let alone their endearing tandem, left the fans asking for m-o-r-e.<cite>@sbsdrama.official</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Kim Min Kyu and Seol In Ah<cite>@sbsdrama.official</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Park Eun Bin - Although Park Eun Bin has long been a fixture in the Korean entertainment industry, her leading-lady chop in the South Korean series &#x27;Extraordinary Attorney Woo&#x27; put her in the limelight anew. Her titular character, a female rookie attorney who is on the autism spectrum, has gained traction both in the local and international landscape. The show has also stirred important and progressive discussions among peers and advocates of autism awareness. Last October, Eun Bin visited the Philippines for her first fan meet, too.<cite>@eunbining0904</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><div><cite>@eunbining0904</cite></div></div></div></div></div><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>@jxxvvxxk</strong>, <strong>@eunbining0904</strong>, and <strong>@lomon991111</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/celebrities/best-kdrama-actors-2022-mbc-sbs-kbs-drama-awards/34631" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Best K-Drama Actors of 2022, According to Year-End Drama Awards</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/celebrities/2022-year-ender-top-filipino-buzzmakers/34556" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2022 Year-Ender: A Look Back On The Filipino Buzzmakers</a></div>