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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Yearender: Park Bogum, IU top survey of TV drama actors in 2025 in Korea

Yearender: Park Bogum, IU top survey of TV drama actors in 2025 in Korea

Published Dec 19, 2025 10:41 am  |  Updated Dec 19, 2025 04:09 pm
(Clockwise from top right) Park Bogum, Kim Ji-won, Yoona and IU (Instagram, Netflix)
(Clockwise from top right) Park Bogum, Kim Ji-won, Yoona and IU (Instagram, Netflix)

Park Bogum and IU, stars of “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” topped the list of TV drama actors who shined in 2025 in South Korea. 

Gallup Korea released its year-end surveys for Person of the Year, honoring those who excelled in Korean dramas, movies and entertainment. 

For TV actors, Gallup Korea held a survey from Nov. 11 to 28 among 1,700 respondents aged 13 and above nationwide (except Jeju Island) in South Korea. 

The respondents were asked, “Which actor do you think was the most active in 2025?”

Park Bogum took first place with 13.3 percent. This year, he starred in two dramas: Netflix and tvN’s “When Life Gives You Tangerines” and Prime Video and JTBC’s “Good Boy.” 

This is the second time that Park Bogum ranked No. 1 in the survey. He topped it in 2016 following his appearance in the hit drama “Reply 1988.” 

Park Bogum in
Park Bogum in "Good Boy" (Prime Video)
IU in “When Life Gives You Tangerines
IU in “When Life Gives You Tangerines" (Netflix)
Park Bogum in “When Life Gives You Tangerines
Park Bogum in “When Life Gives You Tangerines" (Netflix)

IU, who co-starred with Park Bogum in “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” took second place with 11.3 percent. 

Actress Kim Ji-won, who starred in the 2024 hit drama “Queen of Tears,” ranked third with 4.4 percent. 

Yoona, who headlined the drama “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” this year, placed fourth, getting 3.9 percent. 

Actor Choo Young-woo, who starred in Prime Video’s “Head over Heels,” grabbed fifth place with 3.3 percent. 

Actor Lee Jung-jae, the star of “Squid Game,” placed sixth with 3.1 percent. 

Tied for seventh place with 2.9 percent are actor Namkoong Min (“Our Movie”), Han Ji-min, Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Tae-ri (who ranked No. 1 in 2024). 

Yoona, Choo Young-woo, and Han Jimin entered the top 10 for the first time this year.

(Clockwise from top left) Kim Ji-won, Yoona, Choo Young-woo, Lee Jung-jae, Namkoong Min, Han Ji-min, Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Tae-ri (Instagram, Netflix)
(Clockwise from top left) Kim Ji-won, Yoona, Choo Young-woo, Lee Jung-jae, Namkoong Min, Han Ji-min, Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Tae-ri (Instagram, Netflix)
IU and Park Bogum in “When Life Gives You Tangerines
IU and Park Bogum in “When Life Gives You Tangerines" (Netflix)

Actors who received responses of more than one percent outside the top 10 are Han Suk-kyu, Ju Ji-hoon (2.8 percent), Kim Woo-bin, Lee Jun-ho (2.7 percent), Song Hye-kyo, Cha Eun-woo, Kim Hye-soo (2.6 percent), Song Joong-ki (2.3 percent), Lee Je-hoon (2.1 percent), Suzy, Jang Na-ra (2 percent), Kim Go-eun, Jo Jung-suk, Park Eun-bin (1.9 percent), Ryu Seung-ryong (1.8  percent), Hyun Bin (1.7 percent), Jung Il-woo (1.6 percent), Park Seo-jun, Lee Byung-hun, Kim Hee-sun (1.5 percent), Lee Soon-jae (1.4 percent), Kang Ha-neul, Ji Chang-wook, Yeom Hye-ran, Son Ye-jin (1.3 percent), Choi Woo-shik, Shin Min-a, Park Bo-young, Kim Hye-ja (1.2 percent), and Chun Ho-jin, Lee Young-ae (1 percent). 

Gallup Korea explained that as channels have diversified from terrestrial to non-terrestrial and OTT channels, and as subject matter and genres have diversified, attention on actors has become more fragmented. Compared to the previously revealed sports and entertainment categories, the gap in popularity within the top 10 is small, and the number of actors with a one  percent or higher rating reflects the diverse tastes of viewers.

Top 10 TV Actors (Talents) Who Shined in 2025 in South Korea (Source: Gallup Korea) 

1st Place - Park Bo-gum ("When Life Gives You Tangerines”/Netflix, "Good Boy" (JTBC/PrimeVideo) - 13.3% 

2nd Place - IU ("When Life Gives You Tangerines”/Netflix) - 11.3% 

3rd Place - Kim Ji-won ("Queen of Tears"/tvN, 2024) - 4.4% 

4th Place - Yoona (“Bon Appétit, Your Majesty”/tvN/Netflix) - 3.9%

5th Place - Choo Young-woo ("The Tale of Lady Ok"/JTBC, “The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call” and “Mercy for None”/Netflix, and “Head over Heels”/tvN/Prime Video) - 3.3% 

6th Place - Lee Jung-jae ("Squid Game” Seasons 2 and 3/Netflix) - 3.1% 

7th Place - Namkoong Min ("Our Movie"/SBS) - 2.9% 

- Han Ji-min ("Love Scout"/SBS), "Heavenly Ever After”/JTBC) - 2.9% 

- Byeon Woo-seok (“Lovely Runner” and "No Gain No Love"/tvN, 2024) - 2.9% 

- Kim Tae-ri (“Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born”/tvN) - 2.9% 

The top 10 TV drama actors in 2025 in South Korea (Jonathan Hicap / background photo: Netflix)
The top 10 TV drama actors in 2025 in South Korea (Jonathan Hicap / background photo: Netflix)

Top 10 TV Actors (Talents) Who Shined in 2024 in South Korea (Source: Gallup Korea) 

1st Place - Kim Tae-ri (“Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born,” tvN) - 11.9%

2nd Place - Kim Soo-hyun (“Queen of Tears,” tvN) - 11.7% ]

3rd Place - Kim Ji-won (“Queen of Tears,” tvN) - 8.9 

4th Place - Byeon Woo-seok (“Lovely Runner,” tvN) - 5.5%

5th Place - Nam Koong-min (“Lovers,” MBC) - 4.9%

6th Place - Han Suk-kyu (“Doubt,” MBC) - 4%

7th Place - Park Shin-hye (“The Judge from Hell,” SBS / “Doctor Slump,” JTBC) - 3.7% 

8th Place - Cha Eun-woo (“Wonderful World” and “A Good Day to Be a Dog,” MBC) - 3.5% 

- Kim Soo-mi (“Country Diaries,” MBC) - 3.5%

10th Place - Jang Na-ra (“Good Partner,” SBS) - 3.4%

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