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.
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.
