The K-drama actresses who defined every generation of Hallyu, from Choi Ji-woo to Go Youn-jung

Definitive K-drama: Jewel in the Palace (2003)

If Choi Ji-woo introduced audiences to the emotional power of Korean melodramas, Lee Young-ae showed that historical K-dramas could achieve the same global appeal. Her portrayal of Jang Geum in Jewel in the Palace made the series one of the landmark successes of the first Hallyu Wave. It drew audiences across the region while introducing millions to Korean royal cuisine, traditional medicine and history. More than a ratings hit, the drama became a cultural phenomenon that helped expand global interest in Korean culture years before the rise of K-pop and streaming platforms. Jewel in the Palace remains one of the most influential K-dramas ever produced, and Lee Young-ae’s portrayal of Jang Geum continues to define her legacy as one of Hallyu’s original leading ladies.

See more: Jin Ki-joo K-dramas: a complete guide to her best roles in romance, mystery and thriller

Definitive K-dramas: Autumn in My Heart (2000), Full House (2004)

With recent hit K-dramas such as The Glory and Descendants of the Sun, it is easy to forget that Song Hye-kyo is one of the OGs of the first Korean Wave. She rose to prominence in Autumn in My Heart, starring opposite Song Seung-heon and Won Bin in the landmark melodrama that helped launch Hallyu throughout the region, before showcasing her knack for romantic comedy in the hugely popular Full House alongside Rain. These early hits proved Song Hye-kyo could excel in both emotionally charged melodramas and light-hearted romances. Her continued success has only served to reinforce her range and makes her one of the rare actresses to remain at the forefront of every era of Hallyu.

Definitive films and K-drama: The Classic (2003), A Moment to Remember (2004), Summer Scent (2003)

Long before Crash Landing on You became a worldwide hit, Son Ye-jin had already captivated audiences in the 2003 nostalgic romance film The Classic and won viewers in the K-drama Summer Scent, the third instalment of director Yoon Seok-ho’s Endless Love series. In 2004, she delivered one of Korean cinema’s most unforgettable romances opposite Jung Woo-sung in the box-office hit A Moment to Remember. Son Ye-jin’s emotionally resonant performances earned her the nickname “Melodrama Queen”, while her reputation as one of the era’s most beloved romantic heroines made her the “Nation’s First Love”. Since then, her career has flourished, culminating in another global phenomenon with Crash Landing on You.

Definitive films and K-dramas: Il Mare (2000), My Sassy Girl (2001), My Love from the Star (2013), Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)

Jun Ji-hyun’s poignant turn as the wistful heroine in Il Mare and her scene-stealing comedic performance as the unconventional female lead in My Sassy Girl made her a first Hallyu Wave superstar both at home and abroad. Later, her portrayal of Cheon Song-yi in the massive K-drama hit My Love from the Star helped reignite Hallyu while influencing fashion, beauty and pop culture. With Legend of the Blue Sea, the popular K-drama where she starred opposite fellow OG Hallyu A-lister Lee Min-ho, she reportedly became South Korea’s highest-paid television actress at the time. More than 25 years after Il Mare, Jun Ji-hyun remains one of the few Hallyu stars whose reach spans both eras of the wave.

Definitive K-dramas: ‘Princess Hours’ (2006), ‘Coffee Prince’ (2007)

After a successful career as a member of Baby VOX, she transitioned into acting with Princess Hours, starring opposite Ju Ji-hoon in the royal romance that became one of the era’s biggest romantic comedies. With Coffee Prince, her easy rapport with Gong Yoo and celebrated performance as Go Eun-chan helped popularise the gender-swap romantic comedy for a new generation of K-drama viewers. Thanks to two back-to-back hits, Yoon Eun-hye became the second Hallyu Wave’s definitive leading lady, ushering Korean dramas beyond the tragic melodramas of the early 2000s and into an era of youthful, modern romances whose influence can still be felt today.

Definitive K-dramas: You’re Beautiful (2009), The Heirs (2013)

Few actresses embodied the rise of youth-oriented K-dramas during the second-generation Hallyu Wave quite like Park Shin-hye. After beginning her career as a child actress, she became a household name with You’re Beautiful, starring opposite Jang Keun-suk in the hit gender-disguise romantic comedy that found a devoted fanbase. She reached even greater heights with The Heirs, where her dynamic with Lee Min-ho and Kim Woo-bin helped turn the high school romance into one of the defining K-dramas—and their love triangle into one of the most iconic—of the 2010s.

Definitive K-dramas: My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), Oh My Venus (2015)

With her effortless charm and warm screen presence, Shin Min-a has become one of the defining actresses of the second Hallyu Wave. She first captivated audiences in the fantasy romantic comedy My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, where her lovable portrayal of the mythical nine-tailed fox made the drama an enduring fan favourite. She later reaffirmed her status as a rom-com powerhouse with Oh My Venus, where her rapport with So Ji-sub and charismatic performance reinforced her reputation as one of Korea’s premier romantic comedy leading ladies. Shin Min-a’s ability to balance humour and emotional depth makes her one of the standout faces of second-wave Hallyu. Recent K-drama hits such as Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha have only strengthened her enduring appeal.

Definitive K-dramas: Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), My Mister (2018), Hotel Del Luna (2019)

Already one of South Korea’s most successful solo artists, IU proved she was equally compelling on screen during the third Hallyu Wave. Her emotionally layered performance in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, and even more so in the critically acclaimed My Mister, introduced viewers to her dramatic range, while Hotel Del Luna became a beloved fantasy K-drama thanks to its striking visuals, memorable soundtrack and IU’s magnetic portrayal of the enigmatic hotel owner Jang Man-wol. Her recent K-dramas—Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines and Disney+'s Perfect Crown—have only strengthened her reputation as one of Korea’s most versatile actresses and one of the industry’s most reliable ratings draws.

Definitive K-dramas: Goblin (2016), The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)

Capturing the global expansion of the third-generation Hallyu wave, Kim Go-eun reached new heights of international fame as Ji Eun-tak in Goblin, the sweeping fantasy romance K-drama that became a certified cultural phenomenon. Her richly drawn performance and undeniable chemistry with co-star Gong Yoo were keys to its unprecedented success. She followed it with The King: Eternal Monarch, another high-profile K-drama. Starring opposite Lee Min-ho as the fearless detective Jeong Tae-eul, she solidified her place among her Hallyu A-list peers and reputation as a charismatic and dependable leading lady.

Definitive K-dramas: Oh My Ghost (2015), Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (2017)

Thanks to Park Bo-young’s easy charm and natural comedic timing, she became one of the most beloved faces of the third-generation Hallyu Wave. She captured the hearts of audiences in the supernatural romantic comedy Oh My Ghost before starring in the hugely popular K-drama Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, where her stellar portrayal of the superhuman heroine and the romantic spark she shared with co-star Park Hyung-sik earned the actress lifelong fans at home and abroad. Park Bo-young has since expanded her repertoire beyond rom-coms, with award-winning turns in Netflix’s Daily Dose of Sunshine and Our Unwritten Seoul.

Definitive K-dramas: Descendants of the Sun (2016), Fight for My Way (2017)

Although Kim Ji-won first caught viewers’ attention as the sharp-tongued Rachel Yoo in The Heirs and later impressed as military doctor Yoon Myung-ju in Descendants of the Sun, it was her starring role as Choi Ae-ra opposite Park Seo-joon in Fight for My Way that made Kim Ji-won one of the most beloved actresses of the third Hallyu Wave. Her unforgettable “aegyo” scenes from the drama remain among the most quoted and recreated moments in K-drama fandom. With her ability to bring emotional depth to every role, it is little surprise that Queen of Tears became one of the biggest K-drama successes of the streaming era, earning widespread acclaim for her portrayal of chaebol heiress Hong Hae-in. Across romance, slice-of-life and melodrama, Kim Ji-won has built one of the strongest filmographies of her generation.

Definitive K-dramas: Alchemy of Souls (2022), Moving (2023), Can This Love Be Translated? (2026)

After her noteworthy turn in Alchemy of Souls, Go Youn-jung reached another level of global recognition with Disney+’s blockbuster action-fantasy K-drama Moving, which blended a coming-of-age story with superpowered action. In Resident Playbook, she effortlessly took centre stage as obstetrics and gynaecology resident Oh Yi-young, capturing the uncertainty and growing pains of a young doctor finding her footing. It’s her dual role as the timid Cha Mu-hee and her more abrasive alter-ego Do Ra-mi in Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated?, however, that pushed her furthest yet, oscillating between vulnerability and volatility within a single character.

Definitive K-dramas: Our Blues (2022), Crash Course in Romance (2023)

With fewer than ten titles to her name, Roh Yoon-seo has already emerged as one of the brightest stars of the fourth Hallyu Wave. She made her K-drama debut in the acclaimed ensemble series Our Blues, holding her own alongside a veteran cast, before winning over audiences and critics as the thoughtful and academically gifted Nam Hae-yi in Crash Course in Romance. Her natural screen presence, emotional authenticity and consistently assured performances mark Roh Yoon-seo as an exciting new K-drama talent and a future Hallyu legend in the making. Fans can catch her in her first major lead role in the upcoming supernatural period K-drama The East Palace.

Definitive K-dramas: My Demon (2023), Dear X (2025)

Having spent much of her childhood in front of the camera, Kim You-jung's rise to Hallyu stardom has been years in the making. While the hit sageuk Love in the Moonlight established her as a leading lady during the third generation of the Korean Wave, it is her recent work that has secured her spot among the biggest rising stars of the fourth-generation Hallyu wave. In My Demon, her on-screen chemistry with Song Kang helped make the fantasy romance a global streaming hit, while Dear X saw her deliver perhaps the most daring performance of her career as the calculating yet deeply complex Baek Ah-jin. As she continues to transition into more mature roles, Kim You-jung proves she possesses the star power to lead the next chapter of the Hallyu Wave.

Definitive K-dramas: The Glory (2022), Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024)

Although Shin Ye-eun starred in earlier K-dramas, it is her more recent work that has marked her as one of the standout actresses of the fourth-generation Hallyu Wave. Her chilling portrayal of the teenage Park Yeon-jin in The Glory showcased a darker, more formidable side to her acting, earning widespread praise for embodying the younger version of the drama’s iconic antagonist. Meanwhile, another acclaimed performance, this time in Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, saw her holding her own alongside Kim Tae-ri as the gifted yet fiercely ambitious Heo Yeong-seo. Currently leading Doctor on the Edge alongside Lee Jae-wook, Shin Ye-eun continues to expand her filmography, moving between romance, psychological drama and historical storytelling with confidence and ease.

As the Hallyu Wave continues to evolve, so too do the actresses leading it. While pioneers like Choi Ji-woo and Lee Young-ae laid the foundation for Korean dramas to flourish beyond South Korea’s borders, today’s stars—from Go Youn-jung to Shin Ye-eun—are introducing K-dramas to an even wider global audience through streaming platforms. One thing remains unchanged, though: every generation has produced actresses whose performances have shaped the past, present and future of Hallyu.

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