Top 50 Most Popular South Korean Actresses Of All Time

Youn Yuh-jung has been working in the South Korean entertainment industry for over five decades now. She has been an accomplished performer both in the movies and on television.

Even though she has mostly been seen playing critical supporting roles, one cannot deny the fact that her performances are often the ones that end up stealing the show.

It is not surprising then that the Minari star has been a recipient of a Screen Actors Guild Award, a British Academy Film Award, and an Independent Spirit Award, respectively.

April 2021 saw Film at Lincoln Centre hosting five of the finest motion pictures of her career. Later that year, the actress was recognised by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Furthermore, she has also gone on to receive the Order of Cultural Merit for her contribution to cinema.

Not only that but she has also won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Minari at the Oscars.

Known for her determination and range as a performer, Jeon Do-yeon grabbed the attention of the world after winning the Best Actress Award at the 60th Cannes Film Festival.

This made her the first mainstream Korean actress to win an award for acting at a prestigious international film festival.

Her amazing body of work has gone on to prove that Jeon Do-yeon is, indeed, among the finest actresses working in the South Korean film industry today.

She has acted in movies like The HouseMaid, Secret Sunshine, Emergency Declaration, Neoneun nae unmyeong, and many more.

In 2023, she was seen sharing the screen with Jung Kyung-ho in the tVn-broadcast Netflix-distributed romantic comedy series Crash Course in Romance.

The series was helmed by Yoo Je-won and marked her return to the romance genre after 17 long years. She also appeared in the Netflix crime action flick Kill Boksoon in the same year.

Even though she is not as widely popular as some of South Korea's biggest pop sensations, a lot many newcomers have quoted Jeon Do-yeon to be their role model.

Moon So-ri made her silver screen debut in the feature film Peppermint Candy in the late '90s. She is also a film director and screenwriter.

Best known for her leading role in motion pictures such as A Good Lawyer's Wife and Oasis, she is the first Korean actress to get invited as a jury member of the Locarno International Film Festival.

Moon So-ri, who had a strict upbringing, has been a recipient of several accolades.

She has been seen in full-length features such as The President's Barber, Venus Talk, The Handmaiden, The Mayor, and Ode to the Goose.

Son Ye-jin became known worldwide after having played a part in the hit Netflix Korean drama Crash Landing on You.

However, she first made a name for herself after featuring in shows and movies such as Summer Scent and The Classic.

She is known to be one of the finest actresses working both in the movies and on television in South Korea.

Included in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 for three consecutive years between 2019 and 2021, Son Ye-jin has been a recipient of a number of prestigious awards throughout her career so far.

Furthermore, many of the feature films that she has been a part of have gone on to become massive hits at the box office.

Her marriage to Hyun-Bin, a popular South Korean actor, was called the wedding of the century in the South Korean industry.

It's been reported that the actress was all set to make her big Hollywood debut in 2022. She was supposed to star with Sam Worthington in director Andrew Niccol's The Cross.

However, her agency was forced to request the makers to push the filming due to the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Park So-dam may not be very experienced, but her adroit performances in critically and commercially acclaimed motion pictures like Parasite may force you to think otherwise.

She came into the limelight after having been a part of films and shows such as The Priests and Cinderella with Four Knights. 

However, it is Bong Joon-ho's international blockbuster Parasite that is credited with bringing her a tremendous amount of appreciation.

Previously, her performance in the 2015 feature film The Silenced helped her win an award for the Best Supporting Actress from the Busan Film Critics Awards.

Lee Ji-eun is a singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress who is known in her professional space as IU.

By keeping her stage name as IU, she basically meant to send out a message that she (I) and her listeners (you) become one through her compositions.

She can be seen playing a decent role in television shows such as Dream High, You're the Best!, Hotel del Luna, Pretty Man, Persona, and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.

Kim Hye-ja is a veteran actress who first made a name for herself by appearing in television shows. Soon after, she started making her undeniable presence felt in the movies as well.

She has been a recipient of four Baeksang Arts Awards in her career so far.

In fact, we wouldn't be surprised to see a few film buffs quoting Kim Hye-ja to be at the top position in our list.

Often seen playing a mother both in her television roles and in feature films, she truly hit the ball out of the park with her outstanding portrayal of the same in the 2009 movie Mother.

In 2014, she played a well-off widow in How to Steal a Dog. But, the acclaimed cine star was primarily appreciated for her character projection in 2019's The Light in Your Eyes.

Not many people are aware of the fact that Kim has been a goodwill ambassador for the nonprofit Christian relief organisation World Vision Korea since the early 1990s.

She was also acknowledged for donating 100 million to help the victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake. 

Na Moon-hee was first seen on the television show Girls' High School Days. She has been working in the industry for over four long decades now.

Considered to be one of the most prolific actors in the country, she managed to make her presence felt both on television and in the movies.

A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, she can be seen in films such as Love+Sling, I Can Speak, and Miss Granny, among others.

Kim Go-eun made her feature film debut in 2012's A Muse. She has since been seen playing a role in television shows such as Cheese in the Trap, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, The King: Eternal Monarch, and Yumi's Cells.

Her maiden screen performance was so good that she ended up winning several Best New Actress awards.

Kim Go-eun was chosen among around 300 actresses who auditioned for the same part in A Muse. She had no prior acting experience and, yet, managed to win appreciation for her debut performance.

Kim Ha-neul is yet another competent screen performer who initially started her career as a fashion model.

She first rose to prominence after having been a part of films such as My Tutor Friend, Too Beautiful to Lie, and My Girlfriend Is an Agent.

Her outstanding performance in the serial killer thriller Blind won her an award for the Best Actress at the 48th Grand Bell Awards and the 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Park Bo-young is an actress who is best known for playing a role in box office hits such as Scandal Makers, A Werewolf Boy, and On Your Wedding Day.

The actress began her screen career in 2006 and can been seen in television shows such as Oh My Ghost, Strong Girl Bong-soon, Doom at Your Service, and Abyss.

She also went on to impress many by playing a tough role in Hot Young Bloods.

Moon Geun-young was seen in television shows such as Burnt Rice Teacher and Seven Potatoes and Autumn in My Heart in her very first year as an actor.

After having made a name for herself by featuring in the aforementioned shows, she gained further recognition for her character play in the cult horror film A Tale of Two Sisters.

Often referred to as the "Nation's Little Sister", she became the youngest recipient of a Grand Prize ("Daesang"); a trophy that she won at SBS Drama Awards for her role on the television series Painter of the Wind.

She has also been a part of box office hits such as Innocent Steps and My Little Bride.

Uhm Jung-hwa made her television debut with Sarang and feature film debut with Marriage Story.

She is considered to be one of the most influential women working in the South Korean entertainment industry.

Quoted to be a role model to several newcomers, Uhm Jung-hwa can also sing and dance.

Her solid performance in Marriage Is a Crazy Thing won her an award for the Best Actress at the 39th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Kim Tae-hee is considered to be one of South Korea's most beautiful women. She made her feature film debut in Last Present in 2001.

Since then, she has made a name for herself by playing a part in shows such as Stairway to Heaven, Iris, Love Story in Harvard, My Princess, Hi Bye, Mama!, and Yong-pal.

Her character projection in Love Story in Harvard won her the Most Popular Actress award in the TV category at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

Park Soo-ae, who is also known as Soo Ae, is better known for playing a role in motion pictures such as The Flu and High Society.

She was originally seen in television shows, but her splendid performance in The Family paved the way for her to star in a few more flicks. 

Her performance in titles such as Sunny and Midnight FM were also appreciated. She has been active as a performer since the late 1990s.

Ha Ji-won was first seen making an appearance on the television show New Generation Report: Adults Don't Understand Us.

She apparently played the minor role of a student in it.

However, the actress gained recognition after having been a part of dramas such as Secret Garden, Damo, Hwang Jini, and Something Happened in Bali.

Some of her film credits include Life Risking Romance, Pawn, and Manhunt.

Yum Jung-ah has been making her presence felt on television and in the movies for three decades now.

The talented actress has been a part of some notable motion pictures such as A Tale of Two Sisters, The Big Swindle, The Old Garden, and Cart.

She can also be seen in television shows such as Royal Family and Sky Castle.

The first runner-up of the Miss Korea Pageant in 1991, she got married in 2006.

Park Shin-hye is an admired South Korean actress and singer who first made an impact after having appeared on the television series Stairway to Heaven.

Her performance in other television dramas such as You're Beautiful, The Heirs, Tree of Heaven, and Memories of the Alhambra, Pinocchio brought her further recognition.

The award-winning actress was also seen in motion pictures such as Miracle in Cell No. 7, Evil Twin, and Cyrano Agency.

Lee Young-ae is one of the most talented South Korean actresses working today.

Known for her diligent character play in the historical television drama Dae Jang Geum, she gained recognition after having played the daredevil character of a revenge-seeking mother in Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.

Her performance in the aforementioned motion picture helped her grab the Best Actress awards at the 38th Sitges Film Festival, 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards, and 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards, respectively.

Often referred to as the "Nation's First Love" because of her promising screen debut, Bae Suzy is a talented actress and singer.

The actress has been seen in well-known television shows such as Gu Family Book, Uncontrollably Fond, While You Were Sleeping, Vagabond, Start-Up, and Big.

She holds a 2nd degree (Dan) in taekwondo black belt and made her big-screen debut in the film Architecture 101.

Her performance in her debut feature won her the Best New Actress award at the 48th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Yun Jeong-hie started appearing on the screen in 1967 and has been a part of over 200 projects.

One of the most experienced and respected actors of Korean cinema, she is remembered as one of the "Troika" (three) of the 1960s, along with actresses like Nam Jeong-im and Moon Hee.

She had come out of retirement after years to feature in the motion picture Poetry.

Her performance in the same ended up fetching her the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress and the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress.

Bae Doona, aside from being a mainstream screen performer, is one of the few celebrities on our list who is also a photographer.

The actress shot to fame after playing a key role in superbly popular and acclaimed motion pictures such as Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, The Host, and Air Doll.

She is also seen in popular South Korean shows such as Kingdom and The Silent Sea on Netflix.

In addition, Doona has been seen making an appearance in English movies and shows such as Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending, and Sense8.

Seo Young-hee is an outstanding actress who has proved her acting talent in more films than one.

While she is known for having played an important supporting role in the popular motion picture The Chaser, it was her award-winning lead role in the mind-boggling thriller Bedevilled that truly showcased what she is capable of.

A winner of numerous accolades, Seo Young-hee has been seen in feature films such as Jealousy Is My Middle Name, To Sir, With Love, Shadows in the Palace, and The Accidental Detective franchise.

Jun Ji-hyun, who is also sometimes referred to by her English name Gianna Jun, is an actress and model.

She is a recipient of two Grand Bell Awards for Best Actress and a Daesang (Grand Prize) for Television at the Baeksang Art Awards. 

She has been seen playing crucial roles in feature films such as My Sassy Girl, The Berlin File, Windstruck, Il Mare, and The Thieves.

Jun has even managed to impress the small screen audience by appearing in shows such as The Legend of the Blue Sea, My Love from the Star, and Kingdom: Ashin of the North.

Han Hyo-joo is a well-known South Korean actress who has managed to charm the audience with her performances both on the big and the small screen.

Also a model and singer, she has been seen in television shows such as Heaven & Earth, Happiness, W, Iljimae, Brilliant Legacy, and Dong Yi.

One can find her playing a part in motion pictures such as Love 911, Masquerade, Cold Eyes, The Beauty Inside, and The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure.

Han Hyo-joo's performance in Cold Eyes fetched her an award for the Best Actress at the 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Song Hye-kyo was first seen playing a bit part on the television show New Generation Report: Adults Don't Know.

She gained international popularity after having starred in shows such as Autumn in My Heart, All In, That Winter, the Wind Blows, Descendants of the Sun, Now, We Are Breaking Up, and Encounter.

One of the top Hallyu stars, Song Hye-kyo was given the 7th position in Forbes magazine's Korea Power Celebrity list in 2017 and the 6th position in 2018.

Kim Hae-sook made her screen debut after having appeared on the television show Chief Inspector in 1974. She has been a part of over 30 mainstream projects.

The acclaimed screen performer has reportedly won more than ten awards. You can find her acting as a mother in some of the popular Korean dramas for she looks very natural playing the part.

Seen in motion pictures such as My Sassy Girl, The Legend of Gingko, Herstory, and RV: Resurrected Victims, she has even authored a book called "Mother of Hallyu Stars: Kim Hae-sook's Story."

Park Min-young's ticket to fame was her role play in the coming of age historical drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal. So far, she's been in well-known television shows such as Glory Jane, City Hunter, Healer, Dr. Jin, and A New Leaf, Remember.

She is often seen acting in dramas that have the premise of office romance, like Her Private Life, What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, Forecasting Love and Weather.

Before making her much-awaited screen debut in the sitcom High Kick!, Park Min-young was seen in an SK Telecom commercial.

Kim Yoo-jung made her debut as a model for a confectionery brand at the age of four. Soon after, she established herself as one of South Korea's most sought-after child actresses.

She shot to fame after having been a part of television shows such as Moon Embracing the Sun, Golden Rainbow, May Queen, Angry Mom, and Secret Door.

Kim Yoo-jung also managed to deliver in feature films such as Circle of Atonement and Commitment.

For her performance in Thread of Lies, she received a nomination for the Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Kang Soo-youn made her screen debut in the feature film 3 Stars.

She soon gained prominence within the South Korean film industry and turned out to be one of their sought-after stars during the 1980s and 1990s.

However, she had also made her screen debut playing minor roles.

It was her character projection in the 1986 film The Surrogate Woman that brought her critical acclaim.

For her role in the same, she won the Volpi Cup Best Actress award at the 1987 Venice International Film Festival and Best Actress Award at the Nantes International Film Festival.

Lee Mi-sook is one of the most popular South Korean actresses from the 1980s. Some of her finest projects from that period are Whale Hunting, The Winter That Year Was Warm, Mulberry, Eunuch, and Wanderer in Winter.

Even though she retired from acting following her marriage in 1987, she was still seen on the television drama How's Your Husband?.

However, she did make a spectacular comeback more than a decade later with the film An Affair. Since then, she has continued to play roles both on television and in the movies.

Shim Eun-ha is known to have featured in some of the best-rated South Korean dramas of all time. However, she has now retired from acting.

She managed to gain fame during the 1990s after her performance in shows such as The Last Match, M, and Trap of Youth.

However, it was her remarkable character play in the romantic drama Christmas in August that ended up fetching her several Best Actress awards in 1998.

Yunjin Kim is a popular South Korean actress who has been making her presence felt both in the movies and on television for over two decades now.

Known for having narrated the award-winning documentary Behind Forgotten Eyes, she has even been seen in the American thriller series Lost.

The actress, who has been seen in well-known television shows such as Mistresses, first shot to fame after playing a role in the blockbuster feature film Shiri.

Lee Sung-kyung has been appearing on television since 2008. She is an actress, popular model, and singer.

She was seen in a number of television programs before making her acting debut by playing a supporting role on the show It's Okay, That's Love.

Since then, she has been seen playing a part in television shows such as Dr. Romantic 2, Cheese in the Trap, The Doctors, and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.

The young and talented Kim Sae-ron had given her career kick-start at the tender age of 9.

She became a familiar face to the South Korean audience after having starred in feature films such as A Brand New Life and The Man From Nowhere.

As she continued to age, one could find her playing crucial roles in movies and television shows such as A Girl at My Door, Can You Hear My Heart, The Queen's Classroom, Hi! School-Love On, and Secret Healer.

Kim Hyun-joo was first seen playing a role on the television show Reason I Live For. She is known today for having appeared in quite a few television dramas.

One can find her playing a part in shows such as Glass Slippers, Toji, the Land, Twinkle Twinkle, What Happens to My Family?, and I Have a Lover.

The actress had initially started her career as a fashion model. She has also been a  part of a handful of music videos.

Go Ah-sung was seen playing a part in a couple of television shows before she made her big-screen debut.

Her first feature film was renowned filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's monster drama The Host. It was the biggest box office blockbuster of 2006.

Go Ah-sung has also been seen in feature films and television shows such as Snowpiercer, Samjin Company English Class, Master of Study, and Heard It Through the Grapevine.

Cheon Soo-yeon, who's known in her professional space as Song Ji-hyo, first made an appearance on the television series Age of Innocence.

Since she was a consistent member of the South Korean variety show Running Man, it helped bring her fame from outside her nation as well.

She can be seen in feature films and television shows such as Wishing Stairs, A Frozen Flower, New World, Whispering Corridors film series, and Princess Hours.

It is imperative to mention that Jung Ryeo-won originally started her career as a singer.

However, her performance in the well-received television show My Name Is Kim Sam-soon brought her fame.

So, after her band got disbanded, she decided to pursue acting as a full-time career.

She has been seen playing a character in motion pictures and television shows such as Two Faces of My Girlfriend, Castaway on the Moon, and History of a Salaryman, among others.

Kim Ji-won has been active in show business since 2008. She gained recognition after having been a part of shows such as The Heirs, Fight for My Way, Descendants of the Sun, Lovestruck in the City, and Arthdal Chronicles.

Her screen presence in the South Korean dramas that she's been a part of established her as a Hallyu star.

Even though the actress had been trained to both sing and act, she decided to pursue the latter as a career.

Kim Ok-vin, who is sometimes also referred to as Kim Ok-bin, made her screen debut in the feature film Voice in 2005.

A year prior to her debut film outing, she debuted in an online beauty contest.

Kim Ok-bin has been seen in television shows and feature films such as Over the Rainbow, Dasepo Naughty Girls, and The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan.

She won an award for the Best Actress at the 2009 Sitges Film Festival for her role in the well-received horror film Thirst.

Shin Min-a is an actor and model who made her screen debut by playing a role on the television show Beautiful Days in 2001.

She initially started her career as a fashion model working for a teen magazine.

However, she soon rose to prominence after playing a part in television dramas such as Oh, My Venus, Tomorrow, With You, A Love to Kill, My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox, Arang and the Magistrate, and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

Lee Eun-ju may sadly not be present among us anymore but she has certainly done enough as a performer to make it to our piece.

Better known for box office hits such as Taegukgi and The Scarlet Letter, she used to take regular piano lessons when she was young.

After having started working as a model, she found work in television dramas such as Start and KAIST.

She was also appreciated for her superb performance in the feature film Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors.

Choi Jin-ri, known professionally as Sulli, was an actress, singer, and model, who, sadly, is not around anymore.

She made her acting debut as a child and was seen playing a role in the historical drama series Ballad of Seodong.

Besides the aforementioned show, she was also seen in shows such as Dream City and Love Needs a Miracle, among others.

One can also find her playing a role in motion pictures such as Vacation, BA:BO, and Punch Lady, to name a few.

Seo Yea-ji has made her acting debut on the television show Potato Star 2013QR3 in 2013.

She gained wider recognition after playing a part in television shows such as Diary of a Night Watchman, Last, and Moorim School: Saga of the Brave.

She has also been seen playing a prominent role in shows such as Lawless Lawyer, Save Me, and It's Okay to Not Be Okay.

You'd be surprised to learn that she didn't originally plan to venture into acting. However, the CEO of her then management company somehow managed to convince her.

The multi-talented Koo Hye-sun is an actor, singer-songwriter, director, and artist - perhaps in that order.

She shot to fame after playing a part in television shows such as Pure in Heart, The King And I, Take Care of Us, Captain, Boys Over Flowers, Angel Eyes, and Blood.

In recent years, the actress is known to have put her vocal talent on display as well.

Kim Soo-hyun, who is also sometimes referred to as Claudia Kim, is a South Korean actress who has been seen in several domestic television shows and international movies.

While she can be seen in shows such as Queen of the Game and Marco Polo, one can also find her making her presence felt in popular feature films such as Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Dark Tower, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Im Soo-jung had signed a number of modeling assignments before making it big in the movies.

Her terrific character projection in the horror film A Tale of Two Sisters brought her well-deserved fame.

The actress gained wider recognition after having appeared on the television drama I'm Sorry, I Love You.

One can find her making her presence felt in motion pictures such as Happiness, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, All About My Wife, and Come Rain, Come Shine, to name a few.

For her noteworthy performance in All About My Wife, Im Soo-jung won an award for the Best Actress at the 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Kim Hye-sun made her screen debut in the feature film Dancing Daughter in 1986. She had taken up modeling while she was in middle school itself.

Best known for playing a significant role on the television drama First Wives' Club, she won an award for the Best Supporting Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for her performance in Love Is Oh Yeah!.

Even though Kim Hye-sun is over 50 now, she is still considered to be among the hottest actresses working in the South Korean film industry.

Kang Hye-jung was first seen playing a role on the television show Jump in 1999. She made her feature film debut with the arthouse film Nabi.

She found fame after having starred in the revenge thriller Oldboy, which was a massive hit.

However, her character projection in motion pictures such as Rules of Dating and the war comedy drama Welcome to Dongmakgol fetched her critical acclaim and accolades.

She can also be seen in titles such as Herb and Kill Me.