Here are the 10 most popular K-drama and movie male stars on Google Korea in early 2022.
The first 3 months of 2022 have treated viewers to plenty of good productions on both the big and small screens. Without a doubt, the success of a product also boosts the popularity of its cast members. Making it into the top of the most searched actors on Google Korea in this year’s first quarter, the following names have certainly proved their domestic popularity.
Top 10: Park Bo Gum
Park Bo Gum started serving in the army in August 2020 and will be discharged by the end of this month. Despite taking a break from acting over the past one and a half years, Park Bo Gum still receives much interest from the Korean public. Every piece of news related to Park Bo Gum becomes a trending topic. Once he finishes his military service and announces his comeback to the screen, Park Bo Gum’s rank will probably be even higher.
Top 9: Lee Junho
Thanks to the great success of The Red Sleeve, Lee Junho became one of the most talked-about actors in the last two months of 2021 and the first months of 2022 as well. Starting out as a member of 2PM, Junho successfully shut down the stereotype against idol actors as he awesomely portrayed King Lee San of The Red Sleeve, a role that is believed to be the most memorable one of his acting career so far. Junho also recently confirmed his appearance alongside Girls’ Generation’s Yoona in an upcoming rom-com titled King The Land. With his overflowing charm and talent, Junho is expected to gain more popularity in the rest of 2022.
Top 8: Lee Jong Suk
Lee Jong Suk has yet to make an official acting comeback after completing his military service but his popularity does not show any sign of decline. This July, Lee Jong Suk is set to meet viewers again through the new drama Big Mouth, where he is paired up with Yoona. With Korean audiences having anticipated Lee Jong Suk’s comeback drama for a long time, his Google search ranking will undoubtedly increase in the second half of 2022.
Top 7: Nam Joo Hyuk
Nam Joo Hyuk is hands down one of the most buzzworthy actors in the first quarter of 2022 thanks to his role in the hit drama Twenty Five, Twenty One. Stealing viewers’ hearts and becoming the center of multiple hot topics by playing a handsome, caring, and heart-fluttering first love character, it comes as no surprise that Nam Joo Hyuk’s name is found in this ranking.
Top 6: Ahn Hyo Seop
Not only Google, but Ahn Hyo Seop also took various SNS platforms by storm when starred as the male lead in Business Proposal. Playing the handsome, rich, arrogant, and charismatic CEO Kang Tae Moo, Ahn Hyo Seop got his name mentioned everywhere during the broadcast of Business Proposal.
Top 5: Song Kang
Although Forecasting Love and Weather is not considered a huge hit among Korean dramas released in the first quarter of 2022, Song Kang managed to outrank both Ahn Hyo Seop and Nam Joo Hyuk among the most searched actors on Google Korea. Although Song Kang still faced mixed reviews in terms of acting in every work he’s in, with his handsome looks and irresistible charm, Song Kang’s popularity is undeniable.
Top 4: Park Seo Joon
Continuously having good works released, Park Seo Joon has become one of the most famous actors in the Korean entertainment industry today. In 2021 and the first months of 2022, Park Seo Joon has no new dramas, but his reputation has not decreased at all. We just have to wait for Park Seo Joon to return in the near future with new epic projects.
Top 3: Cha Eun Woo
Not only is Cha Eun Woo stunningly handsome, but also actively working as a singer and actor. That’s why his reputation skyrocketed. Especially after the resounding success of True Beauty in early 2021, his reputation is even more famous. The proof is that it has been more than a year without new works, but Cha Eun Woo’s name still occupies the top 3 of Google Korea.
Top 2: Lee Min Ho
Perhaps there’s no need to say much about the influence of “Hallyu King” Lee Min Ho. In most popularity rankings for Korean actors, he always appears at the top. In 2022, he appeared for the first time in an antagonistic role and drew much praise from not only the audience but also industry professionals for his acting transformation in Pachinko.
Top 1: Hyun Bin
Topping Google Korea’s most searched actors in the first quarter of 2022 is Hyun Bin, who recently became a married man in a fairytale wedding with Son Ye Jin. The beautiful couple’s “Wedding of the century” made headlines and stirred up social media both in and outside of Korea, making Hyun Bin outrank all his juniors on this list despite not appearing in any new acting project in the last 3 months.
