Cover From high-stakes medical thrillers to time-bending romances, these five K-drama actors are proving that versatility and narrative depth are the new baseline for screen presence (Photo: Choi Hyun-wook as Lee Kang in Notes from the Last Row by Yu Ara/Netflix © 2026)
From high-stakes medical thrillers to time-bending romances, these five K-drama actors are proving that versatility and narrative depth are the new baseline for screen presence (Photo: Choi Hyun-wook as Lee Kang in Notes from the Last Row by Yu Ara/Netflix © 2026)
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Meet the K-drama heartthrobs redefining leading men, one heart-wrenching role at a time
A new generation of leading men is taking over, and they’re not just here to look good in a rain-soaked confession scene (though, don’t worry, they can still do that too). As streaming has turned Seoul’s TV output into must-watch content around the world, what makes a heartthrob has quietly changed. It’s less about a chiselled jawline carrying the whole show and more about range: can this guy make you cry in one episode and then convince you he’s a genuine threat in the next? These days, that’s the real test.
Many of this new crop cut their teeth in supporting roles, web dramas or modelling gigs before graduating to full leading man status, and it shows in how comfortably they move between genres. Romantic comedies, historical fantasy, hospital dramas and gritty thrillers all seem fair game now. Here are five names currently running the K-drama internet.
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Byeon Woo-seok: The late bloomer who broke the internet
Byeon Woo-seok spent years building up supporting roles before Lovely Runner turned him into a global obsession in 2024. As Ryu Sun-jae, the singer and swimmer every fan wished they could time-travel for, he did not just get famous, he became a certified internet boyfriend. It was the kind of breakout that looked sudden from the outside but was clearly years in the making.
He followed that phenomenon by starring opposite IU in the alternate-history romance Perfect Crown, taking on the role of a Grand Prince navigating a 21st-century constitutional monarchy. Anchoring one of the year’s most anticipated titles proved that his leap to top-tier leading man status was anything but a fleeting moment.
Lee Do-hyun: The one who makes you feel everything
If you want proof that Lee Do-hyun can do it all, just look at his résumé: the coming-of-age charm of 18 Again, the horror-tinged chaos of Sweet Home and the emotional weight of The Glory. He has become the actor you trust to handle heavy material without it ever feeling heavy-handed. Dark, tender or complicated, he has done it, and done it well.
He reinforced that magnetic gravity as a complex prosecutor in The Good Bad Mother before making a high-impact film debut in the occult thriller Exhuma. Set to headline the fantasy romance Grand Galaxy Hotel, he continues to prove that his dramatic instincts and command of the screen translate seamlessly across genres.
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Lee Jae-wook: Equally convincing with a sword or a boardroom
Lee Jae-wook has this rare gift of looking completely believable whether he is wielding a blade in Alchemy of Souls or scheming in modern-day corporate intrigue in The Impossible Heir. Fantasy epic one year, contemporary drama the next, he refuses to be boxed into one type, which is exactly why he keeps landing bigger roles.
He doubles down on that fearless genre-hopping by anchoring Netflix's mystery period drama Dear Hongrang alongside the dark fantasy-horror comedy Dead-End Job. Slipping effortless flair into everything from historical period pieces to spine-tingling thrillers, he continues to prove why he belongs in the top tier of his generation.
Choi Hyun-wook: Your favourite chaotic best friend energy
Above Choi Hyun-wook as Lee Kang in Notes from the Last Row (Photo: Yu Ara/Netflix © 2026)
Choi Hyun-wook as Lee Kang in Notes from the Last Row (Photo: Yu Ara/Netflix © 2026)
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There is a reason Choi Hyun-wook established a strong early reputation with stories that evoke nostalgia for turbulent teenage years. Works such as Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Weak Hero Class 1 and Twinkling Watermelon positioned him as a focal point for youthful, high-energy storytelling that balanced charisma with emotional grounding within ensemble casts.
Since then, his filmography has expanded beyond coming-of-age projects into broader narrative territories. He took on romantic comedy in My Dearest Nemesis before taking a starring role in Netflix’s psychological thriller Notes from the Last Row, acting opposite veteran performer Choi Min-sik. These roles demonstrate his shift from high-school archetypes towards complex, multi-layered lead performances across diverse television genres.
Choo Young-woo: The genre-hopper to watch
Choo Young-woo might be the busiest name on this list, and honestly, that adaptability is the whole appeal. He went from the gentle small-town romance of Once Upon a Small Town straight into medical-drama chaos with The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, then kept going with the noir thrills of Mercy for None and the time-slip romance of Head Over Heels.
Moving into 2026 projects such as the romantic comedy Love Doctor and the supernatural Netflix series Long Vacation, his steady work across distinct genres highlights an ability to build a sustained presence across diverse broadcasting formats. If anyone’s building a career that can survive the industry’s short attention span, it’s him.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
