It's official! The Hallyu wave isn't just taking over our TV screens, but our Instagram feeds as well. And honestly, who can blame K-culture fanatics when a 16-episode series just isn't enough to fawn over our favorite Korean heartthrobs? That said, some actors have garnered more IG followers than most. From K-pop idols who've tried their hand at the silver screen, to award-winning thespians, we list down the top 10 most followed Korean actors on Instagram below.
(Editor's note: List updated as of November 26, 2020)
1. Lee Min Ho (@actorleeminho)
21.1M followers
Topping the list is Lee Min Ho with 21 million followers. He's most known for playing the lead role in Boys Over Flowers, City Hunter, The Legend of the Blue Sea, and most recently, in The King: Eternal Monarch for his 2020 K-drama comeback after military enlistment.
2. Lee Jong Suk (@jongsuk0206)
16.7M followers
Lee Jong Suk takes second place with over 16.7 million followers. The actor debuted into the entertainment industry as a model and eventually transitioned as an actor starring in Princess Prosecutor in 2010, before his breakout role in the drama School 2013. As we await his release from the military this January 2021, you might want to binge on our favorite Lee Jong Suk dramas: I Can Hear Your Voice, Pinocchio, W: Two Worlds Apart, While You Were Sleeping, and Romance Is a Bonus Book.
3. Park Seo Joon (@bn_sj2013)
16.1M followers
Snatching the third spot is our favorite Smart and BYS endorser, Park Seo Joon! He is best known for his roles in She Was Pretty, Hwarang, Fight for My Way, and What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim. Winning our hearts all over again with his killer smile and "chestnut" haircut in Itaewon Class, Seo Joon is expected to surprise us with his character as a professional soccer player in his upcoming film, Dream, premiering in 2021.
4. Ji Chang Wook (@jichangwook)
14.7M followers
Next up is the handsome and talented Ji Chang Wook with 14.7 million followers. Since his debut in 2008, Chang Wook has never failed to make us swoon over his charming and amusing roles in shows like Empress Ki, Healer, and Suspicious Partner. Up next after the release of Backstreet Rookie, the actor is set to make a comeback in City Couple’s Way of Love, a romance drama scheduled to be released on Netflix this December.
5. Nam Joo Hyuk (@skawngur)
13.2M followers
The dashing Nam Joo Hyuk holds the fifth spot with 13.2 million followers. Best known for starring as a talented swimmer in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, the model-turned-actor is now making headlines as Nam Do-san in the hit series, Start-Up.
6. Kai (@@zkdlin)
9.9M followers
Garnering over 8.8 million followers, the multi-talented Kai stepped into the entertainment industry as EXO’s main dancer and debuted as a solo artist this April 2020. The idol-actor has also starred in television dramas like Andante, Choco Bank, Haru ga Kita, and Miracle That We Met.
7. Cha Eun Woo (@eunwo.o_c)
9.5M followers
In seventh place comes Cha Eun Woo, best known as ASTRO’s main visual, with 9.5 million followers. As a recognized top idol, he has also showcased his superb acting prowess as when he starred in dramas like Sweet Revenge, My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, and Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung. Watch out for Eun Woo’s well-awaited webtoon adaptation of True Beauty, which premieres this coming December.
8. SuHo (@kimjuncotton)
8.5M followers
SuHo takes the eight spot with 8.5 million followers. Though most known as EXO’s leader and main vocalist, he's also played the main role in dramas like Star of the Universe, Rich Man, and How Are You Bread. SuHo was sent off to the military last May 2020 and is expected to be discharged in February 2022.
9. Kim Soo Hyun (@soohyun_k216)
8.5M followers
Sought-after K-drama leading man Kim Soo Hyun, who just recently created an Instagram account, has already soared to the ninth place with 8.5 million flowers. The actor's breakout role was Dream High in 2011, and his career skyrocketed since. He's even been hailed the highest-paid Korean actor in 2020 earning $85,000 per episode! He has captivated fans worldwide with his exceptional talent and charms in dramas like My Love from the Star, The Moon Embracing the Sun, and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
10. Choi Si Won (@siwonchoi)
7.9M followers
Taking the 10th spot is Super Junior’s Si Won. Although he initially gained popularity as a member of Super Junior, he's since become known for his roles in dramas like She Was Pretty, Oh! My Lady, Poseidon, Revolutionary Love, and My Fellow Citizens. Since the launch of his YouTube channel last May, Si Won has gained 349,000 subscribers and continues to provide fans with sneak peeks into his day-to-day life.
Learn more about some of the most followed Korean actors on Instagram in the video below!
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