Cover Lee Min-ho in ‘The King: Eternal Monarch‘ (Photo: Netflix)
Lee Min-ho in ‘The King: Eternal Monarch‘ (Photo: Netflix)
1 / 1
With his iconic role in the global hit, ‘Boys Over Flowers’, Lee Min-ho is recognised as the actor who originally brought forth the Hallyu wave beyond Korean shores. He is also one of the biggest endorsers and highest-paid actors in the business. Which of his shows are your favourites?
Hallyu superstar Lee Min-ho has the face of a charming prince ready to brave all sorts of storms for the love of his life—that’s what his fans think, at least. Born on 22 June 1987, Min-ho gained widespread fame through his role as Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers (2009), a series based on the Japanese shōjo manga Hana Yori Dango. The show’s high viewership ratings across South Korea landed Min-ho several modelling and acting stints that made his career flourish until the present time.
Read more: Learn About Lee Min-ho’s Military Journey
Min-ho’s talent was eventually recognised when he was given the Best New Actor title at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards. He is the first Korean actor to get a waxed figure at the Madame Tussauds Museum and even made it to the list of the highest-paid K-Drama actors of 2021.
Tatler lists some of Min-ho’s most notable movies and series in this article.
See Also: Which K Darama Shows Have The Highest Ratings This 2021? Some May Surprise You
1. The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
Above Lee Min Ho, filming The King: Eternal Monarch, 2019 | Photo: Suwiti Pai on Pinterest
Lee Min Ho, filming The King: Eternal Monarch, 2019 | Photo: Suwiti Pai on Pinterest
1 / 1
A handsome man riding a white horse is a picture you can only see in every girl’s fairytale fantasy. Luckily, the producers of The King: Eternal Monarch have brought this dream to life with Min-ho.
Released in 2020, the series follows the mind-boggling time adventure of Emperor Lee Gon (Min-ho), the king who rules the fabled country of Corea. In his journey, he meets and falls in love with detective Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun), whom he recognises from an identification card he obtained as a child during his father’s assassination.
2. Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)
Above Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho in Legend Of The Blue Sea | Photo: Yibada
Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho in Legend Of The Blue Sea | Photo: Yibada
1 / 1
Min-ho and Jun Ji-hyun are Korea’s biggest Hallyu stars, and if you’re wondering how they’ll do as on-screen lovers, you should watch Legend of the Blue Sea. The show circles around the bitter-sweet love story of Shim Cheong (Jun Ji-hyun), a mermaid, and Heo Joon-jae (Min-ho), a con artist.
3. The Heirs (2013)
Above Lee Min-ho in The Heirs (Photo: Yibada)
Lee Min-ho in The Heirs (Photo: Yibada)
1 / 1
The Heirs follows a group of rich, privileged high school students who are preparing themselves to take over their respective family businesses. In this series, Min-ho plays the role of Kim Tan, an heir to Jeguk Group, a large Korean conglomerate.
Kim Tan was exiled to America by his brother Kim Won (Choi Jin-hyuk), who tries to take over the family business. During his stay in the US, Kim Tan meets and falls in love with Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye).
Read also: Kim Seon-ho, K Drama Star From 'Start Up', Is Globe's Newest Ambassador
4. Personal Taste (2010)
Above Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ho in Personal Taste
Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ho in Personal Taste
1 / 1
Perhaps one of Min-ho’s most underrated shows is Personal Taste, a 2010 South Korean series that follows the story of Park Kae-in (Crash Landing on You's Son Ye-jin), a furniture designer who lives together with Min-ho's character, Jeon-Jin-ho, an architect who she assumes is gay.
See Also: Here’s a peek inside Lee Min-ho’s US$4.3 million exclusive villas
5. City Hunter (2011)
Above Lee Min-ho in City Hunter
Lee Min-ho in City Hunter
1 / 1
Okay, we get it. Min-ho’s hairstyle in his hit series City Hunter did not age well. But the 2011 action-packed show is still worthy of a rewatch. It follows Lee Yoon-sung (Min-ho), who goes by the codename “City Hunter”.
Yoon-sung seeks to avenge his father’s death by using the identity of a Korean-American teenager who is later revealed to have died several years ago.
More from Tatler: Most stylish stars at New York Fashion Week: Lee Min-ho, Song Hye-kyo, and more
6. Gangnam Blues (2015)
Above Lee Min-ho stars in Gangnam Blues
Lee Min-ho stars in Gangnam Blues
1 / 1
Written and directed by South Korean director, screenwriter, and contemporary poet Yoo Ha, Gangnam Blues is a movie that Min-ho fans wouldn’t want to miss. The film is set in the early Seventies when socio-political turmoil and terrorism were rampant in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
Childhood friends Jong Dae (Min-ho) and Yong-ki (Kim Rae-won) struggle to get by until their homes are demolished by local thugs. The two get tested as they find themselves involved in serious political clashes.
Related: Want youthful skin like K-star Lee Min-ho? Hear from the actor himself
7. Pachinko (2022)
Above Lee Min-ho in Pachinko (2022)
In 2022, Min-ho stepped into the shoes of Koh Hansu, a wealthy fishbroker who wants to pursue the sixteen-year-old Sunja, the protagonist of Pachinko.
The TV adaptation of Pachinko was based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Harlem-based author and journalist Min Jin-lee. It is a coming-of-age story that looks at pressing problems such as racism, racial profiling, and stereotyping. Pachinko was a 2017 finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction.
The show was released in March 2022 through Apple TV+, Apple Inc’s official streaming service.
In case you missed it: Lee Min-ho and more: These Dazzling Asian Stars Stole the Show at the ‘Pachinko’ Premiere Red Carpet
8. Get Up (2008)
Above Photo: Seuwiti Pie on Pinterest
Photo: Seuwiti Pie on Pinterest
1 / 1
It will be quite nostalgic for fans to see Min-ho in a role a little similar to Goo Jun-pyo. In Get Up (2008), he plays the role of a teenager who traverses the life of a regular schoolboy.
The movie was written by Ko Eun-nim, who is also known for Bungee Jumping of Their Own (2001) and R U Ready (2002).
NOW READ
Topics
Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
