There are only 5 Korean actors born in the 90s who have won the most prestigious acting awards in Korea.
Korean actors born in the 90s are in their prime time, and are slowly gathering big achievements like their seniors.
Among those achievements are prizes at Korea’s most prestigious acting awards, namely the Baeksang Arts Awards, the Golden Bell Awards, and the Blue Dragon Film Awards. As of 2022, there have only been 5 names from the 90s to win at any of these, and below are these super talented actors and actresses.
Shim Eun Kyung
In 2014, at the young age of 20, Shim Eun Kyung was already named the Best Actress at Baeksang Arts Award for her role in the box office hit “Miss Granny”. The actress was moved to her core at this specific moment, and up till now, she is still the youngest to ever earn such a title. While Shim Eun Kyung hasn’t been able to win in Golden Bell and Blue Dragon, she was still crowned best actress in 4 other ceremonies and is regarded as one of the most talented actresses in Korea.
In addition, Shim Eun Kyung can also be considered the nation’s pride. At the age of 26, she played in “The Journalist” and became the best actress in the 2020 Japan Academy Film Prize – the most prestigious Japanese award ceremony. Her role in “Blue Hour” in the same year also got her the same title at Takasaki Film Festival, proving the actress as a true shining star.
Jeon Jong Seo
Born in 1994, Jeon Jong Seo also earned the title of Best Actress at the 2021 Baeksang Arts Awards via her role in the thriller “The Call”. Despite starring along with star actress Park Shin Hye, Jong Seo delivered spectacularly, and at times even outshined her senior.
The same role also brought Jong Seo the best actress award in two other ceremonies, including the 2021 Buil Film Awards and the 2022 Director’s Cut Awards. She was also nominated for Best Actress at the 2022 Baeksang Arts Award, but lost to a much more seasoned actress. She is truly a talent to look out for.
Kang Ha Neul
In 2020, Kang Ha Neul managed to surpass his seniors, including Nam Goong Min, Joo Ji Hoon, and Hyun Bin, to win Best Actor at Baeksang Arts Awards. Thanks to his role in “When The Camellia Blooms”, Kang Ha Neul was the first actor born in the 90s to win Best Actor at Baeksang, thus further establishing his standing in the acting industry.
From “To The Beautiful You” and “The Heirs” to “When The Camellia Blooms”, Kang Ha Neul’s abilities have truly come a long way. From a supporting actor with little screen time, he now stands at the top of his crop.
Lee Jun Ho
2 years after Kang Ha Neul’s success, Baeksang Arts Awards once again honored a 1990-born actor, and Lee Jun Ho was his name. Despite having debuted as an idol, Lee Jun Ho managed to shake off prejudices, and revived the dwindling broadcasting station MBC with his historical drama “The Red Sleeve”.
Previously, many audiences have expressed their regrets when Jun Ho lost out on the Daesang at MBC Drama Awards. However, now that he has become Baeksang’s Best Actors, they can finally rejoice.
Kim Tae Ri
The 2022 Baeksang Arts Awards was one for the young actors and actresses, as the Best Actress Award of the night went to the 32 years old Kim Tae Ri. Funny enough, both Tae Ri and Jun Ho were born in 1990, so maybe this is a year of talent.
Despite already winning the TikTok Popularity Award, Kim Tae Ri surprised everyone when her role in “Twenty Five, Twenty One” also snagged her the honor of being Baeksang’s Best Actress. This also made Tae Ri the first actress born in the 90s to receive such a pride, and cemented her standing in the acting world.
A strange coincidence is that all of these faces were born either in 1990 or 1994, and so far, it’s this crop of actors that’s the strongest out of the 90s. Actors born in 1995, 1996, and 1999 are also looking extremely promising, so hopefully, we can anticipate other faces to make this list.
