In terms of K-Drama, several top honors found their way to the Land of the Morning Calm. The 2021 series “Squid Game” made history this year with 14 Emmy nominations and 6 wins - “Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series - 2022” - Lee YouMi, “Outstanding Special Visual Effects In A Single Episode - 2022”, “Outstanding Stunt Performance - 2022”, “Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour Or More) - 2022”, “Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series - 2022” and “Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series - 2022” - Lee JungJae. Park EunBin and SF9 RoWoon’s “The King’s Affection” (based on the webtoon “Yeonmo” by Lee SoYoung) from last year also took home an Emmy for the “Best Telenovela” category. K-Drama stocks and shares of Korean companies in relation to the production of Korean content saw unprecedented surge, directly reflecting the increased demand for the same. At the same time, the increase of webtoon-based K-Dramas propelled the Korean comic industry, with platforms like Tappytoon achieving 200% average annual sales growth and over 7 million registered users - 78.6% of which have come from the US. In the film industry, legendary director Park ChanWook marked his return with one of the most stunning, meditative, and sublime masterpieces of our age - “Decision To Leave”, which was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, earning Park ChanWook the Best Director award. “Decision To Leave” brings us to the first esteemed actor on our list - Park HaeIl. One of the most critically acclaimed, versatile, and beloved actors in South Korea, Park HaeIl is lauded as a legend for good reason. In 2022, Park HaeIl brought us two excellent works of art - the aforementioned “Decision To Leave” and the historical film “Hansan: Rising Dragon”. “Decision To Leave” is a romance-thriller that plays with the idea of the singularity of truth. It is a postmodern exploration of the most inherent human desires and a study of inhibitions. On the surface, it tells the story of an overworked police detective HaeJoon (Park HaeIl), who finds himself strangely and inexplicably drawn to the primary suspect of a murder case he’s working on. However, the only way for them to keep their unlikely love alive is for one to leave the other. Park HaeIl delivers a poignant and haunting performance as HaeJoon, pulling apart the nuances of longing, regret, and grief in the most heart-wrenching way possible. On the other end of the character spectrum, we have Yi SunShin in “Hansan: Rising Dragon” - a film about the titular Admiral who brought victory to Korea in the Battle of Hansando against Japanese forces during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. From Park HaeIl’s commanding presence to the extraordinary production value of the film, “Hansan: Rising Dragon” is a marvel of Korean art and a must-watch for anyone with an interest in Korean history. Given the outstanding influence Park HaeIl had on the film industry this year, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to crown him the most impactful actor of the year. Another Korean actor who undoubtedly emerged as one of the defining talents of the year is Park HaeSoo. Following the success of “Squid Game”, Park HaeSoo was booked and busy with some of the most highly-anticipated projects of the year. First, we had “Yaksha: Ruthless Operations”. where Park HaeSoo played the upright and diligent Han JiHoon. Han JiHoon served as a stand-in for the audience in this intense crime thriller, guiding our cognition through the dark alleyways of Shenyang, China. At the same time, he did an incredible job of misguiding our sympathies, only to steer them back in the right direction. “Yaksha: Ruthless Operations” is a game of binaries, and it would have been painfully incomplete without Park HaeSoo’s “Nike”. Next, Netflix Korea dropped the biggest remake in recent television history - “Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area - Part 1” which was later followed by Part 2. “Money Heist: Korea” received quite a polarising reaction from audiences all over the world, with some appreciating its competent and original retelling and others questioning its pacing. Regardless of the reviews, Park HaeSoo’s character Berlin garnered high praise for lending grit, purpose, and vengeance to the otherwise K-Drama-fied version of the original. If there was anyone who could singlehandedly send shivers down our spines with a glare, it was Berlin, and Park HaeSoo deserves all the ovations for his chilling portrayal of one of the most famed characters in the franchise. Between Parts 1 and 2 of “Money Heist: Korea”, fans were thrilled to see Park HaeSoo in another Netflix original - “Narco-Saints”. This time around, Park HaeSoo plays Choi ChangHo, a strait-laced NIS agent in charge of bringing down Korea’s most wanted drug lord. To this end, he employs Kang InGu (Ha JungWoo), with whom he must go undercover, putting several lives at stake. Park HaeSoo’s transformation in the series is stellar, to say the least, and truly stands testimony to his remarkable versatility. Maintaining his status as a Hallyu hero, Lee MinHo proved his mettle as an unchanging icon with “Pachinko” where he played Koh HanSu - a formidable, unyielding man of power who changes the course of our heroine SunJa’s (Kim MinHa) life and those of generations to come. In turn, HanSu’s own character is molded by the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake, of which he is a fictional survivor, and the merciless massacre of innocent Koreans at the hands of Japanese vigilantes that followed. History fails HanSu at a young age, and he learns what it means to survive the hard way. As such, he naturally projects this insecurity onto SunJa. You can read our detailed Character Sketch of Koh HanSu here. With “Pachinko”, Lee MinHo delivers the finest performance of his illustrious career and cements his position as a marvelous actor, not just in South Korea but all over the world. The magic of Lee MinHo is all-encompassing and it shone at its brightest in 2022. 2022 also saw the return of two incomparable megastars - Song KangHo and Lee ByungHun. The former scored back-to-back hits with “Cobweb”, “Broker” and “Emergency Declaration”, where he was joined by Lee ByungHun. Lee ByungHun also made his small screen comeback with “Our Blues”, giving an exceptionally heart-rending performance as Lee DongSeok and continued his winning streak in cinema with “The Match”. “Broker”, in particular, written and directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, won the “Ecumenical Jury Award” at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and earned Song KangHo the “Best Actor Award” for playing Ha SangHyeon - the eponymous broker who is equal parts opportunistic and selfless, idealistic and cynical, warm and unaffected. It is no surprise that the actor expresses this dichotomy with masterful subtlety, and it is one among several of his crowning achievements. “Emergency Declaration”, on the other hand, led by both Song KangHo and Lee ByungHun, was screened at the 74th Cannes Film Festival. When a deadly virus spreads on an airplane and emergency landing requests are rejected, Gu InHo (Song KangHo), a determined detective on land, must risk his life to protect his wife, who is on the plane. At the same time, former pilot Park JaeHyuk (Lee ByungHun) must overcome his trauma of flying to prevent the plane from crashing when the pilots on board are infected. The film is a riveting watch that will keep you at the edge of your seat until the very end, and before you know it, there will be tears flowing down your eyes. Both Song KangHo and Lee ByungHun are unrivaled in this film, bringing out its moving essence with the utmost refinement. “Emergency Landing” also starred idol actor Yim SiWan as the primary antagonist Ryu JinSeok - a psychopath responsible for developing the virus in question and spreading it on the plane. Words are not enough to describe just how blood-curdling his character was - evoking fear, hatred, and disgust - all at the same time. Yim SiWan has always been known for his commendable acting range, and “Emergency Landing” only solidified his footing as a legend in the making, especially since he followed it up with the most wholesome slice-of-life romance “Summer Strike”. If Song KangHo and Lee ByungHun represent the golden legacy of Korean film and television, Lee JaeWook stands for the future. Undoubtedly one of the most impactful, talked-about, and popular K-Drama actors of 2022, Lee JaeWook changed the landscape of Korean fantasy with “Alchemy Of Souls” and its second installment - “Alchemy Of Souls: Light And Shadow”. The centre of action in both parts, Lee JaeWook plays Jang Uk in the drama’s own interpretation of the “chosen one” trope. Yet, Lee JaeWook imbues such novelty and freshness into his character, that it is impossible not to get attached. This ability to make the audience identify with his character is one of Lee JaeWook’s biggest strengths and it definitely makes us even more excited about the actor’s future. In addition to Lee JaeWook, two actors who surpassed the title of “rising star” this year to become highly sought-after leading men are Kim YoungDae and Hwang InYoup. To fill up the position of the hot new rising star, came Choi HyunWook, ready to make the K-Drama fandom swoon left and right. Kim YoungDae took on his first major leading role this year and bagged his second soon after. First, with “Sh**ting Stars”, where Kim YoungDae played Gong TaeSeong - fans were able to get a deeper look into his comedic timing as well as romantic charisma. With “The Forbidden Marriage”, a historical drama, his acting spectrum is on full display, especially in the way he contrasts despair and anguish with heart-fluttering infatuation and tinges of jealousy. Hwang InYoup, who got his big break in 2021 with “True Beauty” confirmed his place in fans’ hearts with two incredibly complex and layered characters in 2022: Na IlDeung in “The Sound Of Magic” and Gong Chan in “Why Her?”. In both of these cases, there’s much more to his characters than meets the eye and Hwang InYoup has perfectly mastered the delicate nuances that enhance the multiple dimensions of each. In “The Sound Of Magic”, Na IlDeung serves as the antithesis to AhYi (Choi SungEun). He comes from a family of affluence, unlike AhYi, but the financial abundance AhYi can only dream of is nothing but a puppeteer’s string, controlling IlDeung and holding him back from chasing his own dreams. The brilliance with which Hwang InYoup brings out the varied shades of Na IlDeung deserves high praise, to say the least. Read our review of “The Sound Of Magic” here. “Why Her?” posits Hwang InYoup as the troubled young man Gong Chan, who, despite his endless struggles, remains firm in his morals and worldview. He possesses a childlike wonder, the very kind IlDeung must discover in himself in “The Sound Of Magic” and thus, it is especially refreshing to see Hwang InYoup wonderfully paint both of these character portraits with ease. Now, Choi HyunWook, as we mentioned earlier, is the ultimate rising star of 2022. It’s been a hot minute since he debuted in the acting industry but it was only in 2021 that the actor achieved due attention for his striking talent. This year, after “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” and more recently, “Weak Hero Class 1”, Choi HyunWook can safely be called the next big thing in K-Dramaland. From the “pretty boy of Class 7” to the bully-breaker of Class 1, Choi HyunWook’s range is impressing fans worldwide, and he is only getting started. Speaking of actors who gained immense popularity in 2022, we cannot possibly forget about the internet’s latest heartthrobs Son SukKu, Kang TaeOh, and Wi HaJun. 2022 was an amazing year for these actors, who enjoyed rapid growth in popularity and appreciation after their appearance in the hit K-Dramas “My Liberation Notes”, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and “Little Women”. Son SukKu played the mysterious and alluring Mr. Gu in “My Liberation Notes”, a character that forms the core of the drama. An unmoving agent of change, Mr. Gu undergoes a life-altering experience himself - noble and trivial at the same time, which gives new direction to his life. The pathos Son SukKu expressed in his role as Mr. Gu was diametrically opposed to the apathy he brought out in “The Roundup” - an action film where he played the gruesome villain Gang HaeSang. Similarly, Kang TaeOh as Lee JunHo in “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and Wi HaJun as Choi DoIl in “Little Women” drew much-deserved attention to both actors’ phenomenal skills, shining the spotlight on their older works and amplifying viewers’ interest in their future projects. Lee JunHo became the blueprint for a walking green flag in romantic relationships, whereas Choi DoIl’s aloof and unreadable personality boasted of an otherworldly magnetism. Either way, fans were hooked on their charms and cannot wait for more where that came from. Our predictions for new icons who will dominate the entertainment scene in 2023 based on their anticipated works include (but are not limited to) Park JiHoon (“Weak Hero 2”), EXO’s D.O. (“Secret: Untold Melody”), Lee DoHyun (“The Glory”), Na InWoo (“I’ve Been Waiting For You For A Long Time”), Ahn BoHyun (“See You In My 19th Life”), GOT7’s JinYoung (“The Witch”), Hwang MinHyun (“Useless Lies”), Chae JongHyeop (“Is It A Coincidence?”), SF9’s RoWoon (in talks for “This Relationship Is Force Majeure”) and of course, ASTRO’s Cha EunWoo (“A Good Day To Be A Dog”). In the midst of rising actors attaining newfound fame, established Hallyu top stars continued to enjoy overwhelming success in 2022. Some of the most prominent names in this regard were Lee JongSuk, Ji ChangWook, Seo InGuk, Lee JoonGi, Ahn HyoSeop, Ko KyungPyo, and Song JoongKi. Lee JongSuk’s “Big Mouth” marked his first drama comeback after being discharged from the military, and Lee JoonGi’s “Again My Life” was his first K-Drama in almost 2 years. Both shows achieved great popularity both in and out of South Korea, leaving fans wanting more. Lee JongSuk as Park ChangHo took fans on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and the details of his character were fleshed out with such intricate care that it left a deep impression on viewers. Similarly, Lee JoonGi as Kim HeeWu breathed life into a beloved webtoon character in a way that only he can. Lee JoonGi’s characteristic penchant for making the audience identify and connect with his characters once again worked its magic with Kim HeeWu, and we found ourselves relentlessly rooting for him until the very end. This is precisely why “Again My Life” has such a cathartic effect on viewers. At the same time, Ji ChangWook pleasantly surprised fans with “The Sound Of Magic” first, where he played the magician RiEul and then the somber human drama “If You Wish Upon Me”, expanding the diversity of his filmography even more. In “The Sound Of Magic”, Ji ChangWook is bubbling with conviction as he blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, whereas in “If You Wish Upon Me”, the actor portrays the harshness of reality closing in on him and his ultimate emancipation - both literal and metaphorical. As for Ahn HyoSeop, after starring in one of the most successful K-Dramas of 2022, “Business Proposal”, the actor was widely recognized as a King of romance. Ahn HyoSeop as Kang TaeMoo was a dream come true for fans of the original webtoon, even more so because he looked like he walked right out of it. His portrayal of the misunderstood CEO was a major contributor to the unmatched success of “Business Proposal” and it will most certainly be a drama that goes down in K-Drama history as unforgettable. Among this luminous lineup, two actors served duality on a golden platter - Seo InGuk and Ko KyungPyo. The former returned with “Café Minamdang”, where he played the eccentric shaman/secret detective Nam HanJun, giving the fans what they’ve been craving - some good old Seo InGuk comedy combined with his classic romance. In opposition, we got Park JongDoo in the action film “Project Wolf Hunting” where Seo InGuk exceeded any and all expectations by taking on the role of a heinous criminal mastermind horrifying enough to keep you up at night. The same goes for Ko KyungPyo, who, quite literally, was everywhere this year. From the rom-com “Love In Contract” to the psychological thriller “Connect” among dramas, the short film “Haruki Urakai”, the military comedy film “6/45”, the action-adventure flick “Seoul Vibe” as well as the previously mentioned “Decision To Leave”, Ko KyungPyo was truly the face of K-Entertainment this year, and with each work, we saw new aspects of his boundless talent. Closing out the year on a groundbreaking high note was Song JoongKi, who came in with guns ablaze as Yoon HyunWoo/Jin DoJoon in “Reborn Rich”. Numbers speak louder than words in this instance because “Reborn Rich” is now officially the 2nd highest-rated K-Drama in Korean cable TV history (at the time of writing) with 24.9% viewership on its 14th episode. Now, that’s what we call a blockbuster! Song JoongKi is majestic as always and his screen presence is nonpareil, so it is no surprise that his drama is accomplishing such milestones. Finally, the only valid way to conclude this article is to have a round of applause for the breakout stars of 2022 - Park SeoHam and DKZ’s JaeChan, who popularized the BL genre on a global scale with “Semantic Error”, bringing it to the forefront of the mainstream. “Semantic Error” is not just a K-Drama, it is a phenomenon that defines 2022 and a stepping stone to the normalization of queer visibility on TV sans fetishization. The success of “Semantic Error” is a crucial cultural turning point and Park SeoHam and Park JaeChan made it happen. As we bid adieu to 2022, let’s cheer for the bright future that awaits us. Here’s to even more iconic Korean entertainment in 2023! Note: As this is a poll for readers to vote and share their opinion on whenever they find this article, it will not be closed, and no result article will be published. Which other Korean actor would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments section down below!
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