Polling firm Gallup Korea revealed the results of its yearly Person of the Year survey to pick the favorite drama stars, movie stars, sports players and entertainment broadcasters who shined in 2023 in South Korea.
Gallup Korea conducted a survey among 1,769 Koreans aged 13 and above nationwide (excluding Jeju Island) from Nov. 2 to Dec. 4.
The top 10 Korean drama stars in 2023 are (top) Nam Koongmin, (clockwise from top left) Park Eun-bin, Song Hye-kyo, Ahn Eun-jin Ahn, Song Joong-ki, Choi Soo-jong, Kim Hae-sook, Han Suk-kyu, Go Doo-shim and Kim Hye-soo (Photos: Instagram, MBC, Netflix, tvN)
The survey asked respondents, “Who do you think was the most active talent (drama actor) in 2023?” The respondents were allowed to name up to two people.
Placing first as the Korean drama star who shined in 2023 with 20.2 percent is actor Nam Koongmin, who starred in the 21-episode drama “My Dearest,” which ran from August to November this year.
Actress Park Eun-bin, who topped the same poll last year, grabbed second place with 6.4 percent. She starred in the Netflix-tvN drama “Castaway Diva.”
“The Glory” star Song Hye-kyo is in third place with 6.3 percent, followed by actress Ahn Eun-jin of “My Dearest” and “Bad Mom,” who placed fourth with 5.6 percent.
Actor Song Joong-ki placed fifth in the survey with 3.2 percent. He starred in the drama “Reborn Rich.”
In sixth place with 3 percent is actor Choi Soo-jong who is currently starring in the drama “Korea–Khitan War.”
Veteran actress Kim Hae-sook of the drama “Strong Girl Nam-soon” bagged seventh place with 2.4 percent.
Three stars tied for eighth place with 2.2 percent. They are actor Han Suk-kyu of “Dr. Romantic” season 3, actress Go Doo-shim of “Twinkling Watermelon” and actress Kim Hye-soo of “Under the Queen’s Umbrella.”
Other stars who got more than 1 percent in the survey were Cha Eun-woo, Lee Jun-ho (over 2.1 percent), Um Ki-joon (1.9 percent), Uee, Park Seo-jun (over 1.8 percent), Jeon Do-yeon (over 1.7 percent), Yoona, Hwang Jung-eum (over 1.6%), Han Ji-min, Lee Byung-hun, Lee Jung-jae (over 1.5 percent), Park Bo-young, Kim So-yeon, Kim Soo-mi (over 1.4 percent), Han So-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Lim Ji-yeon (over 1.3 percent), Choi Bul-am (over 1.2 percent), Kim Jung-eun, Han Hyo-joo, Park Won-sook, Lee Joon, Kim Hye-ja ( over 1.1 percent), Lee Yoo-mi, Ra Mi-ran, Lee Bo-young, Youn Yuh-jung, and Suzy (1.0%).
Here are the top 10 drama stars in South Korea who shined in 2023, according to the Gallup Korea survey:
1st place - Nam Koongmin - 20.2%, “My Dearest” (MBC)
2nd place - Park Eun-bin - 6.4%, “Castaway Diva” (tvN)
3rd place - Song Hye-kyo - 6.3%, “The Glory” (Netflix)
4th place - Ahn Eun-jin Ahn - 5.6%, “My Dearest” (MBC), “Bad Mom” (JTBC)
5th place - Song Joong-ki - 3.2%, “Reborn Rich” (JTBC, 2022)
6th place - Choi Soo-jong - 3.0%, “Korea–Khitan War” (KBS2)
7th place - Kim Hae-sook - 2.4%, “Strong Girl Nam-soon” (JTBC), “Revenant” (SBS)
8th place - Han Suk-kyu - 2.2%, “Dr. Romantic” season 3,
- Go Doo-shim - 2.2%, “Twinkling Watermelon” (tvN)
- Kim Hye-soo - 2.2%, “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” (tvN, 2022)