As someone who has been a fan of best K-dramas of all time, improving their filmographies with every new release. Their commitment to their roles brings a vibrant addition to each new project, and I'm always excited to see what new characters these actors will take on next.

Netflix K-dramas such as Squid Game and The Glory have helped the K-drama genre to rise in popularity. I believe that actors have played a big part in this, as their delivery can often make or break a show. The K-drama genre is also incredibly diverse, and actors often have to stay on top of their game and push themselves to deliver the next best thing. While there are many who do this with great success, there are a select few actors that I always find myself coming back to.

10 Park Hyung-sik

His Performances Are Full of Charisma And Charm

Ever since watching Strong Girl Bong-soon, I've been a fan of Park Hyung-sik. The K-pop idol turned K-drama actor has an infectious charisma and is a joy to watch on screen. Park Hyung-sik is an excellent comedian with impeccable comedic timing that makes him the perfect rom-com male lead, with his performance as Ahn Min-hyuk in Strong Girl Bong-soon rightfully being his most memorable work to date. This was why I was so excited about his rom-com return in Doctor Slump, as he revived the chaotic energy that had made me a fan in the first place.

Despite being such a great comedian, I was taken aback by just how well Park Hyung-sik can deliver on restrained and introspective roles. Happiness' Jung Yi-hyun could not be more different from Ahn Min-hyuk, yet Park Hyung-sik tackled the role with ease. Plus, Park Hyung-sik's exceptional chemistry with his co-stars has led him to portray some of the best K-drama romances. For these reasons, I’m always anticipating what Park Hyung-sik does next.

9 Lee Sung-kyung

She Never Fails To Take On New Challenges

Lee Sung-kyung is an actress who knows how to make a strong impression. Since her debut in It's Okay, That's Love, Lee Sung-kyung's constant pursuit of new challenges has seen great success. She first caught my attention in Cheese in the Trap, where her over-the-top performance as the spoiled Baek In-ha stole the show. Yet, in my opinion, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo is still her best K-drama to date. Despite being her first-ever leading role, Lee Sung-kyung's endearing and committed performance as the younger weightlifter is hard to forget.

What excites me the most about Lee Sung-kyung is how much her acting has improved. Her addition to the cast of Dr. Romantic in season 2 created a great new dynamic for the medical K-drama. There are multiple scenes in Dr. Romantic where Lee Sung-kyung's performance had me in awe of her acting ability, particularly in the show’s third season. Lee Sung-kyung’s growth was even more evident in Call It Love, which took her career in a direction I am thrilled about.

8 Seo In-guk

He Wholly Embodies Each New Character

Seo In-guk is another K-drama star I always watch out for. Despite initially debuting as a singer, Seo In-guk has cultivated an impressive filmography that proves that he is a master of both the stage and screen. In his most recent K-drama, Death's Game, Seo In-guk's limited screen time didn't stop him from making a lasting impression. He, alongside co-star Park So-dam, provided a dramatic anchor for the series that gave it a unique edge as one of 2024's best K-dramas.

Seo In-guk has sung several OST's for the K-dramas he has starred in, including Doom At Your Service, Death's Game and Reply 1997.

From his breakout role in the slice-of-life K-drama Reply 1997 to the fantasy romance series Doom At Your Service, Seo In-guk has a commanding aura that makes him a captivating figure to watch. One of my favorite roles of his has to be Kim Moo-young in The Smile Has Left Your Eyes. Seo In-guk's playful approach to Moo-young gave him a terrifying edge, leaving constant questions as to what his intentions truly were. Though no matter who he plays, Seo In-guk's ability to embody a character makes him a presence I always enjoy seeing on screen.

7 Kim Tae-ri

Her Commitment to Her Roles Is Unrivaled

While my introduction to Kim Tae-ri came through her historical movie The Handmaiden, I soon found her work on the small screen to be just as impressive. Kim Tae-ri has only starred in three K-dramas to date, with one more airing later this year. Yet, each has proved why she is such a powerhouse actress. Her commitment to her characters is unrivaled, and her rich and dynamic performances always keep me engaged from start to finish.

Kim Tae-ri's K-drama, Jeong-nyeon: A Star is Born, will premiere on October 12, 2024, on TVN. It will also be available to stream on Disney+.

No matter what, Kim Tae-ri never fails to show something new. Her character in Mr. Sunshine is a badass female K-drama lead who breaks stereotypes. Similarly, Revenant is one of 2023's best K-dramas thanks to the chilling duality Kim Tae-ri displayed. Though for me, Twenty-Five Twenty-One is her standout K-drama. The youthful energy she gives to Na Hee-do is infectious, making delving into the highs and lows of Hee-do's fencing career all the more engrossing. This is why Kim Tae-ri’s K-dramas are always ones I actively search for.

6 Lee Do-hyun

He Is A Dynamic Performer With A Bright Future

Lee Do-hyun's career has continued to grow from strength to strength, and I'm so glad I've been able to watch it happen in real-time. Ever since Lee Do-hyun landed his breakout role opposite IU (Lee Ji-eun) in Hotel del Luna, he has continued to prove his worth as a leading figure in K-dramas through a vast range of exciting performances. Lee Do-hyun's best K-dramas include The Glory, 18 Again and Youth of May, where his dynamic performances thrive on-screen.

Lee Do-hyun's continued success as one of Netflix's biggest K-drama stars has seen him take on even more compelling roles. I was thrilled to see him return to Sweet Home, particularly as Lee Eun-hyuk was one of the most interesting characters in season 1. Similarly, Lee Do-hyun's performance as Choi Kang-ho in The Good Bad Mother was astonishing. He made Kang-ho's development throughout the K-drama one of its most endearing features. Although Lee Do-hyun currently has no projects due to his mandatory military service, I cannot wait to see what roles await him when he returns.

5 Kim Go-eun

She Is Incredible At Portraying Emotional Depth

In my opinion, there are few actors who can commit to a character quite like Kim Go-eun can. She's bold and not afraid to take risks, which often means that there is no knowing what she will do next with her career. As a fan, I find this incredibly exciting. Kim Go-eun has already proven that she is very capable when it comes to playing characters from a vast number of genres, so whenever I watch one of her projects, I know I'm in for a treat.

Along with this, Kim Go-eun is exceptional at portraying emotion. I don't think I've ever seen an actor cry as well as Kim Go-eun did in The King: Eternal Monarch. Plus, her ability to portray awkward characters like Kim Yu-mi in Yu-mi's Cells and those of boundless energy like Ji Eun-tak in Goblin constantly has me in awe. Yet, there is no performance of hers greater than that of Oh In-joo in Little Women. Kim Go-eun's best K-drama combines the greatest parts of her previous works to deliver a breathtaking performance that I am still mesmerized by.

4 Ji Chang-wook

The Diversity Of His Filmography Is Very Impressive

While many K-dramas actors star in several genres throughout their careers, none have quite the same versatility as Ji Chang-wook. In 2024 alone, the actor appeared in two very different K-dramas, with his next drama also following this trend. Welcome to Samdal-ri saw Ji Chang-wook thrive in a rom-com environment as the endearing Cho Yong-pil. In the historical K-drama Queen Woo, he portrayed Gu Nam-mu, the sharp-minded King of Goryeo. Alternatively, Gangnam B-side will see Ji make a drastic transformation as a mysterious broker who controls one of Seoul's wealthiest districts, Gangnam.

Gangnam B-side is reported to be released in November 2024 on Disney+ and Hulu.

The way Ji Chang-wook always changes up the roles he plays has made me a big irer of his career. He never allows fans to remain comfortable and always pushes to deliver something new and interesting. Even if he does return to similar roles, I always love to watch them as Ji Chang-wook revive things I have loved about his past performances. Yet, no two of Ji Chang-wook's characters are ever the same, and his consistent efforts towards variety in his projects makes him an actor I'm always excited to watch.

3 Park Bo-young

She Has A Great Command Of The Scenes She's In

Park Bo-young is largely responsible for my obsession with K-dramas. Strong Girl Bong-soon was one of the very first K-dramas I ever watched, and Park Bo-young's performance as the cheeky and obscenely strong Bong-soon captivated me from the very first episode. Since then, I've constantly appreciated how well Park Bo-young can command a scene, especially in comedic roles. Her performances in Abyss and Oh My Ghost are hysterical and ones I revisit often.

The first of Park Bo-young's K-dramas, Light Shop, is scheduled to be released on Disney+ in late 2024. Her next project, Melo Movie, will be released in 2025.

Like many other K-drama actors, Park Bo-young's duality as an actress makes each new show incredibly exciting to watch. In Doom At Your Service, her on-screen chemistry with Seo In-guk was electric, making Tak Dong-kyung's harsh reality all the more devastating. However, in Daily Dose of Sunshine, her portrayal of Jung Da-eun's depression was astonishing. So, I'm glad she won the Blue Dragon Award for Best Actress for this performance, as it's one of her best. It makes me even more eager to delve into her two K-dramas.

2 Kim Soo-hyun

He's A Highly Sought-After Actor For All The Right Reasons

There's a reason why Kim Soo-hyun is one of the most sought out K-drama actors. Since his on-screen debut in 2008, Kim Soo-hyun has amassed an impressive 23 awards and 16 nominations for his acting abilities, and I'm not surprised why. He is an incredibly reliable actor who always brings the best out of each project he is a part of. Kim Soo-hyun also fully embodies each character he portrays. As a result, there is never a dull moment in Kim Soo-hyun's best K-dramas.

Most recently, Kim Soo-hyun's performance in Queen of Tears constantly had me in shock. His approach to Baek Hyun-woo could not have been better, resulting in one of the best acting performances of his career. Kim Soo-hyun's on-screen chemistry with Kim Ji-won was also exceptional and consistently had me on the edge of my seat. This was similarly echoed in It's Okay to Not Be Okay. Kim Soo-hyun's sensitive yet ionate performance continues to be incredibly memorable years after the show's release. No matter his role, Kim Soo-hyun always ensures his K-dramas are the ones to watch.

1 Kim Ji-won

She Is A Master At Delivering Subtlety & Comedy

As a long-time fan of Kim Ji-won, I'm so happy Queen of Tears has seen her rise into super-stardom. Though I’m disappointed that Kim Ji-won hasn't gotten award recognition for her Queen of Tears role, I'm sure there will be more to come. One thing that always amazes me about Kim Ji-won's talents is how easily she can express her character's subtle emotions. Whether it be the frustrations of the lovelorn Yoon Myeong-ju in Descendants of the Sun or the quiet ferocity of My Liberation Notes' Yeom Mi-jung, Kim Ji-won makes her characters come alive with just a glance.

Though many of her roles have been quiet and introspective, one of Kim Ji-won's best K-drama roles was a one-of-a-kind in her career. Her performance as the boisterous wannabe newscaster Choi Ae-ra showed a whole new side to Kim Ji-won's acting abilities, proving that she is an exceptional comedian. To date, Fight For My Way is one of my most rewatched K-dramas and has me constantly wishing for her return to comedy. Regardless of if she does, I'm sure I'll never get tired of watching her K-dramas.