Edited by Hong Hyun Jung
Translated by Hana Lee
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The editors at ZAPZEE have rounded up a list of stars who received the most love and support in 2022.
Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin
Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin garnered much attention as they tied the knot last March after dating for about a year. The couple made headlines every time they gave an update on their relationship, including their marriage, honeymoon, pregnancy and child delivery. The pair also received great love through their acting projects. Son Ye Jin’s Thirty-Nine is one of the few successful JTBC dramas released this year, and Hyun Bin’s Confidential Assignment 2: International is staying at the fourth-most grossed film at the box office to date.
Son Suk Ku
Son Suk Ku rose from obscurity to superstardom through two acting projects this year. He received favorable reviews for his role as mysterious yet charming Mr. Gu in My Liberation Notes, and continued his hot streak with The Roundup to cement his position as the lead actor. It is notable that he is attracting many fans with his masculine charms while bucking the trend where pretty-looking actors are favored.
Kim Tae Ri
Kim Tae Ri received great love this spring for her role as Na Hui Do in Twenty-Five Twenty-One. She perfectly pulled off the bright and energetic teen character even at the age of 30 and received rave reviews for her onscreen romance with Nam Joo Hyuk and bickering friendship with Bona. The role earned her Best TV Actress award at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards, and her next projects — titled The Devil (literal title) and Jeong Nyeon (literal title) — are already garnering a lot of attention.
Ma Dong Seok
The Roundup, the only 2022 movie that attracted over 10 million viewers, is a film that made Ma Dong Seok become a brand in the movie industry. With his powerful punch and sense of humor, the movie gave vicarious satisfaction to viewers and helped the theater industry bounce back from the pandemic. In addition, he proved himself to be a brilliant all-around actor who can produce, direct and write a movie. He recently walked down the aisle with her long-time lover Ye Jung Hwah amid many blessings.
Park Eun Bin
If it weren’t for Park Eun Bin, Extraordinary Attorney Woo would not be so successful. Through Hot Stove League, Do you like Brahms? and The King’s Affection, she successfully transitioned from a child actor to a lead actor and gave a brilliant performance as autistic lawyer Woo Young Woo in her latest series. Her passionate performance in the drama made the story relatable and sparked societal discussions on various spectrum disorders.
Lee Jung Jae
Lee Jung Jae, who rose to global stardom last year through Squid Game, surprised everyone with his directorial debut film named Hunt this year. He showed off his decent directing skills and sent many fans into a frenzy by passionately promoting his film with his longtime friend Jung Woo Sung. Hunt broke even, and he won the Best New Director Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. He is currently filming the Star Wars prequel The Acolyte.
Kim Go Eun
Kim Go Eun continued her lucky streak with Little Women following Yumi’s Cells Season 2. She showed her outstanding performance in Yumi’s Cells 2, contributing to increasing the number of TVING’s paid subscribers, and led Little Women by brilliantly portraying the complex emotions of In Ju. She received the Best Actress Award for her Yumi’s Cells role at the 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards.
Park Hae Il
Well-known as one of the gifted actors, Park Hae Il spent this year with great public popularity. He received much love for creating a heartbreaking romance with Tang Wei in Park Chan Wook’s Decision to Leave, and his other 2022 movie, Hansan: Rising Dragon, went strong at the domestic box office, generating countless memes. The period movie is currently listed as the third most grossed South Korean film released in 2022.
Kim Hye Soo
Who else will there be but Kim Hye Soo who has both talent and star power in her 50s? She is one of the few actors who can make any role or project great. This year, she captivated viewers with her performance in Juvenile Justice and Under the Queen’s Umbrella. Both dramas of decent qualities won many hearts and proved her to be an irreplaceable actress in the film and TV industry.
Song Joong Ki
Nobody seems to be wrapping up the year 2022 in greater success than Song Joong Ki. Creating buzz even before its premiere, Reborn Rich achieved immense success beyond expectations. The recent hit series overtook SKY Castle and became the second highest-rated drama in JTBC history. All eyes are on whether Song Joong Ki will turn his next project into another drama sensation following the success of Vincenzo and Reborn Rich.
Edited Hong Hyun Jung: I am a K-content guide who publishes various articles for people to enjoy Korean movies and dramas deeper and richer. I’ll introduce you to the works that you can laugh, cry and sympathize with.
