K-drama stars Song Hye-kyo and Lee Min-ho are the world’s top Korean female and male actors, according to a recent survey.
Conducted by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) from Nov. 11, 2022, to Dec. 9, 2022, the “2023 Hallyu [Korean Wave] Survey” involved 25,000 participants between the ages of 15 and 59 from 26 different countries: China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The survey found that Lee, 35, was the respondents’ favorite actor overall, obtaining 9.1% of all votes. This is reportedly his fifth consecutive year in first place.
Meanwhile, Song, 41, was the respondents’ favorite female actor and fourth favorite actor overall, obtaining 2% of all votes. Korean actors Gong Yoo (“Squid Game,” “Train to Busan,” “The Silent Sea“) and Hyun Bin (“Crash Landing on You,” “Memories of the Alhambra,” “My Name is Kim Sam-soon”) preceded her with 2.7% and 2.4% of all votes, respectively.
Both Lee and Song have been busy with several upcoming projects.
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Lee, who first rose to fame after starring in 2009’s “Boys Over Flowers,” is reportedly filming the second season of the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko.” He recently finished filming for the K-drama “Ask the Stars,” which also stars Gong Hyo-jin.
Meanwhile, Song, who stars in Netflix‘s hit K-drama “The Glory,” already has another project in the works. The “Descendants of the Sun” actor is currently working with Han So-hee (“The World of the Married,” “Nevertheless,” “My Name”) on “Price of Confession.” Directed by Shim Na-yeon, Song and Han will play two women who are plunged into a harrowing murder case.
Other notable names placed first in other categories of the KOFICE survey.
BTS was voted favorite singer/group, receiving 31.3% of all votes and beating BLACKPINK, who placed second with 10.8% of all votes.
“Squid Game” was the respondents’ favorite K-drama, obtaining 11.3% of all votes and besting “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” which received 2.8% of all votes.
Lastly, “Parasite” was the No. 1 Korean movie with 9.1% of all votes, beating “Train to Busan,” which received 6.9% of all votes.
