Lee Min Ho holds "The Most Popular Representative K-Drama Actor" thru the 2.5 Generation

Lee Min Ho for Esquire Cover Issue 2022

Arguably the most popular generation of K-Drama, the 2.5 Generation began with the arrival of "Boys Over Flowers" and Lee Min Ho. Indeed, this drama was a cultural reset in the history of K-Dramas, and Lee Min Ho's popularity was revolutionary, changing the course of the Korean Wave forever. "Boys Over Flowers" also brought Kim Hyun Joong huge success, who followed it up with another massive hit, "Playful Kiss". Soon after, Lee Min Ho's popularity grew further by leaps and bounds with "The Heirs", which became a cult classic in its own right. This drama also brought us Kim Woo Bin in a whole new light, and fans all over the world just couldn't get enough. K-Dramas now became a global affair on a larger scale than ever before, with viewers from quite literally every corner of the Earth tuning in for that K-Drama goodness. OTT platforms showed increasing interest in Korean content, thus giving rise to streaming worldwide.

Lee Min-ho as Gu Jun Pyo for Boys Over Flowers (2009)

It was also during this time that the number of rising stars who became Hallyu icons with their stellar filmography increased more than ever. Kim Soo Hyun for "Dream High", followed by "Moon Embracing The Sun". Song Joong Ki in "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "The Innocent Man". Song Joong Ki's claim to international fame was his post-military smash hit "Descendants of the Sun". Ji Chang Wook, who came to be known as an irreplaceable and flawless actor, hit a streak of immeasurable success during this time with a host of powerful K-Dramas back to back: "Empress Ki", "Healer", "The K2", "Suspicious".

cr: kpopmap