Daebak! Our Picks For The Sexiest Korean Actors (Part 1)
These oppas are just too hot to handle! We gathered these actors' sexy K-Drama/movie scenes and photo shoots for your viewing pleasure
In all the years we’ve been following K-Dramas, we can now identify our favorite Korean actors into four categories: 1) those who have an adorable boyish charm, 2) those who are polished to perfection, 3) those who are oozing with sex appeal, and 4) those who manage to exude two (or all!) of these auras, depending on what their characters require.
These men tick all the items on the checklist for looking drop-dead gorgeous: a well-styled hair, a great skin, perfect “pretty boy” features, a good sense of style and, of course, a hot body!
With summer on our minds now, we put the spotlight on Korean entertainment scene’s hottest actors with the best beach bods, to match the scorching heat outside. After working on this list, we can summarize our feelings in one oft-used Korean slang term: Daebak (which can mean "wow" or "amazing").
Scroll through the gallery below to see our favorite sexy Korean actors and their sizzling snaps in K-Dramas/movies as well as in various photo shoots:
Note: They appear in no particular order.
Metro.Style Picks: Sexiest Korean Actors
Metro.Style Picks: Sexiest Korean Actors
Ji Chang-wook, 32
Ji Chang-wook, no doubt, has a great physique, standing tall at 5’8”. But it’s his tough guy onscreen persona, paired with his killer smile, that makes him even sexier. His built and masculinity are perfect for action-filled projects, such as K-Dramas “Healer” and “The K2.” One of the most memorable scenes he has done in a K-Drama is the shower scene in “The K2,” where a naked Ji Chang-wook fought a bunch of naked men all by himself.
Photo Credit: tvN
Ji Chang-wook, 32
He trained to handle his action scenes in “The K2” well. A representative from his agency, Glorious Entertainment, said, “In order to handle his action scenes [in ‘K2’], Ji Chang Wook has been hitting the weights, which has paid off during practice. With great agility and reflexes, his combat training has been going smoothly.”
Photo Credit: tvN
Park Seo-joon, 31
Dubbed as the rom-com master, Park Seo-joon has the perfect balance of boyish charm and sex appeal. The 6’1” actor looks amazingly polished in sleek suits as seen in "What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim," but he’s also guaranteed to make any woman swoon with his more rugged characters in K-Drama "Fight for my Way" and movie "The Divine Fury" (as seen in this photo), in which he plays a martial arts fighter for both. In these offerings, viewers are treated to several scenes with a topless Park Seo-joon. Well, actually, his other K-Dramas "A Witch's Love," "She Was Pretty," and "Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth" as well as movie "Midnight Runners" also showed shirtless scenes with this oppa. It's like you can always look forward to a scene like that with a PSJ project.
Photo Credit: Lotte Entertainment
Park Seo-joon, 31
In an episode of the show "Youn’s Kitchen," he gave viewers a peek into his workout routine. He said his routine starts with jogging around his neighborhood. He then stops at a park and brings out a stretchy towel which he uses for toning his arms. He follows this up with push-ups and pull-ups, with the help of some playground equipment. In photo are scenes from (from left) "A Witch's Love," "Fight for my Way," and "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim."
Photo Credit: tvN and Dramacool
Jung Hae-in, 32
One smile from this 5’8” tall actor, and it’s easy for any girl to fall in love with him. We think his smile is the sexiest thing about Jung Hae-in; it’s the kind of smile that’s so captivating it’s unforgettable. He’s got the face of a boy, but let’s not pretend to not notice what a sexy man he is, too—cute yet manly! Check out a topless Jung Hae-in in K-Dramas "While You Were Sleeping" (as seen in these photos) and "Something in the Rain" (next slide). In "One Spring Night" (next slide), he’s a handsome pharmacist whose hobbies include playing basketball (check out his photo wearing a basketball jersey, so cute!).
Photo Credit: SBS
Jung Hae-in, 32
Exercising daily is a must for Jung Hae-in, and he knows that in order to stay fit, he needs to eat healthy, too. Growing up, he was on the heavier side, and later on, he revealed that he actually gains weight easily, which is why he watches what he eats. Still, he allows himself to enjoy indulgent food once in a while. (He loves chicken and beer!)
Photo Credit: Soompi and @holyhaein
Kim Jae-wook, 37
There’s something in the way Kim Jae-wook stares that could pierce through the heart. His smile is subtle yet powerful. He looks sexy both with long hair (check out “Coffee Prince”) and side-swept, curly bangs styled to frame and soften his defined and structured face (check out “Her Private Life”). Tall (his height is 6 ft.) and lean, the actor has a model-like figure, so suits and smart casual outfits fit perfectly on his body.
Photo Credit: tvN
Kim Jae-wook, 37
Undoubtedly the sexiest photo shoot he’s ever done is for Marie Claire Korea, in which he poses only in his denim jeans, his abs on full display. In a past interview with 10Asia, Kim Jae-wook revealed that he has a sporty side, sharing that he wanted to be a soccer player and that he loves playing basketball, too.
Photo Credit: Marie Claire Korea and We Heart It
Joo Ji-hoon, 37
In the K-Drama “Kingdom,” this actor who played the role of the crown prince is clad in traditional Korean clothing, and yet we still found him sexy despite being covered in blood while fighting zombies. So imagine how much more drool-worthy he is in the recently concluded K-Drama “Hyena,” a series which started off with a scene showing a topless Joo Ji-hoon (who portrayed the role of a lawyer) working out; immediately, we’re hooked!
Photo Credit: Swoon and KBS
Joo Ji-Hoon, 37
The seasoned actor, whose height is almost 6’2”, fits perfectly in sultry, badass characters, but he’s got a bit of tenderness too in the way he smirks and smiles with his eyes. He’s said to workout for three hours every day, focusing on weight training and strengthening the core. As for his diet, he’s known to take a high-protein, salt-free diet.
Photo Credit: Line Hub
Song Joong-ki, 34
“Descendants of the Sun” (DOTS) blessed us with scenes showcasing Song Joong-ki’s post-military abs and overall toned physique. He’s one of those actors who, even with their boyish looks, will surprise you with their passion and intensity. In DOTS, where his role is the captain of a South Korean Special Forces Unit, we saw him exercising in the gym and running around with his fellow soldiers for a morning workout outdoors—shirtless!
Photo Credit: gifer.com
Song Joong-ki, 34
On how hard this 5'8" tall actor worked for his role in DOTS, Song Joong-ki told Soompi, “Rather than doing it to be outwardly attractive, I thought that I should build up my body to lend to the melodrama with Song Hye Gyo, since my character is a soldier who likes to work out.” Song Joong-ki is sporty, too. His first love is skating, followed by baseball and swimming. And because he has an active lifestyle, no wonder he’s got a great body! In this photo, Song Joong-ki is in character as Eun-seom in "Arthdal Chronicles."
Photo Credit: Netflix
Lee Dong-wook, 38
Our favorite grim reaper (from “Goblin”) was seen shirtless and heating up our screens with shower scenes in K-Dramas like “Hotel King,” “Scent of a Woman” and “Blade Man.” We find his gentle demeanor and mild-mannered personality mysterious and sexy.
Photo Credit: Kingkong by Starship
Lee Dong-wook, 38
The 6 ft. tall actor has a great body that makes him a favored model for luxury brands like Chanel. In an interview with Tatler Singapore, he admits opportunities like this put pressure on him to maintain his appearance, saying, “Well, I would be lying if I said there was no pressure. But now, I feel that it is important to gradually show the more real and natural Lee Dong Wook… I also don’t get to sleep as much when things get busy... so working out continuously is the best way to maintain myself overall, in my opinion.” Since he loves eating and drinking every now and then, he makes it a point to exercise.
Photo Credit: Koreaboo and Channel Korea
Nam Joo-hyuk, 26
Nam Joo-hyuk, who started out as a fashion model, has a built of an athlete (he used to be a professional basketball player back in middle school). Later, when he ventured into acting, he proved to be a perfect fit for athlete roles, too, such as in “Who Are You: School 2015” and “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo” wherein he portrayed the role of a swimmer in both projects. In “The Bride of Habaek,” where his role is the God of water, we got glimpses of this 6'1" tall actor's hot body, too!
Photo Credit: YG Stage
Nam Joo-hyuk, 26
Since his role in "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" is a swimmer, there was a serious amount of training involved. He told Soompi, “I think any drama that requires exercise is difficult. It was so hard that if other actors were to take my spot, they would have a hard time, too. I naturally started losing weight. My body’s the type to lose weight if I don’t exercise on a regular basis. Since I didn’t have time to eat while filming and swam, too, my weight began to decrease. I think it’s because I value sleep over food.”
Photo Credit: YG Stage and MBC
Gong Yoo, 40
One of the original oppas we’ve loved in K-Dramas is still hot even now that he’s 40 years old. Best known for his roles in K-Dramas “Coffee Prince” and “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” and movie “Train to Busan,” this A-list actor has a lot of experience in modeling too (he’s been dressed up by top fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, and looks fabulous in almost anything he wears). But let’s admit it, we definitely love seeing a shirtless Gong Yoo, too (such as in this scene in K-Drama "Big")!
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
Gong Yoo, 40
His well defined muscles, washboard abs, and chiseled upper body can be credited to his discipline when it comes to taking care of himself. In an interview with The Straits Times, the 6 ft. tall actor said, “I go on a diet because of the demands of the film. When I wake up in the morning, I always wash my face, then go straight to the fitness center… After exercising, I continue to practice acting. All this time I lived for films. After acting, I return to the gym.” He also shared that he avoids eating food with lots of salt and fat.
Photo Credit: Monster magazine via Koreaboo
Kim Woo-bin, 30
We definitely miss watching Kim Woo-bin, who was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer (a rare type of cancer that affects the head and neck areas) in May 2017. He has undergone chemotherapy sessions and radiation treatments, and seems to be on his way to recovery. Last November, he attended the 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards as a presenter; it was his first public appearance after a two-year hiatus. According to Soompi, his agency has talked to Director Choi Dong-hoon for a possible comeback movie project.
Photo Credit: KBS
Kim Woo-bin, 30
But before he went on a hiatus, he gifted K-Drama fans with one memorable project: “Uncontrollably Fond,” wherein he showcased his bulky physique. In a 2016 article on KPop Herald, it was revealed that Kim Woo-bin used to have a slender frame but the 6’2” tall actor worked on bulking up by working out 2 to 5 hours a day, a routine that includes 200 push-ups.
Photo Credit: Hellokpop
Lead photos from Lotte Entertainment, tvN, and Hellokpop
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