The year 2025 has arrived, offering a chance to reflect on the actors who made a significant impact in 2024. Instead of focusing solely on ratings or box office numbers, this analysis examines actors’ rankings based on ‘brand reputation’ (compiled by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute) and ‘FunDex’ (compiled by Good Data Corporation), which measure buzzworthiness through big data. The analysis draws from the monthly brand reputation rankings and the results of the 2024 FunDex Awards.
Dramas Took the Spotlight in 2024
When looking at the brand reputation rankings, which combine monthly buzz rankings for TV dramas, movies, and general categories, it’s clear that dramas captured more attention than movies this year. The top-ranked drama actor held the #1 overall spot 6 times, while movie actors reached #1 overall 4 times. Even when the rankings didn’t perfectly align, most of the actors who ranked first overall were those who had generated significant buzz from their roles in dramas.
The Unstoppable Movie Star, Ma Dong Seok
While the film industry hasn’t garnered as much attention as K-dramas this year, movie stars are far from fading away. In September, Lee Je Hoon, the lead actor of Escape, topped both the movie and overall rankings. In Escape, he plays Kyu Nam, a North Korean soldier trying to defect to South Korea.
Ma Dong Seok dominated the rankings in February, May, and June, securing the top spots in both the movie and overall categories. His success in February was largely due to Badland Hunters, which was released on Netflix on January 26. Ma Dong Seok not only played the lead role of Namsan but also contributed to the adaptation and production of the film. The movie topped Netflix’s global charts for three consecutive weeks, drawing significant attention.
In May and June, The Roundup: Punishment kept Ma Dong Seok at the top. The film follows Ma Seok Do as he pursues Baek Chang Gi (played by Kim Mu Yeol) and Jang Dong Cheol (Lee Dong Hwi), who are running an illegal online gambling ring in the Philippines. As teased in the post-credit scene of the third movie, Ma Seok Do’s rival and close partner, Jang Yi Su (played by Park Ji Hwan), returns in the fourth installment, and their incredible on-screen chemistry adds excitement to the film. As a result, the movie surpassed 10 million viewers, following in the footsteps of its predecessors. All films in The Outlaws series have reached the 10 million mark except the first one.
Jung Hae In Makes History With Two Consecutive No. 1 Rankings
In 2024, Kim Soo Hyun from Queen of Tears (April-May) and Jung Hae In from Mom’s Friend’s Son (September-October) were the only ones to hold the top spot in the drama category for two consecutive months. Jung Hae In even achieved back-to-back number-one rankings in the overall category. His success was not only due to Mom’s Friend’s Son but also due to the release of I, the Executioner on September 13th. While the Veteran sequel didn’t perform as well as the original, it still hit 7.5 million viewers, which likely helped secure his top position in the overall rankings.
Top Drama and Overall Rankings Achievers: Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Tae Ri and Kim Nam Gil
It’s impossible to talk about 2024 without mentioning Kim Soo Hyun. Queen of Tears not only achieved a record-breaking 24% viewership in its final episode but also confirmed his star power by ranking in the global top 10 on streaming platforms.
At the end of the year, Kim Tae Ri (November) and Kim Nam Gil (December) also topped both the drama and overall rankings. Kim Tae Ri, who was the top pick for the role when the original webtoon was serialized, perfectly brought the character to life, especially with her emotional singing performance that created amazing chemistry with the cast. This led to the full version of the national opera being released on a streaming platform.
December’s star was Kim Nam Gil, who made his long-awaited return after five years as priest Kim Hae Il in Hot Blood Priest 2. The drama was highly anticipated not only because it was a sequel to the SBS award-winning Hot Blood Priest but also because it marked Kim Nam Gil’s return to television after five years. While the drama had mixed reviews, it achieved the highest viewership for a mini-series premiere in 2024 and kept strong ratings throughout its run.
Star of the Year: Byun Woo Seok
Byun Woo Seok is without a doubt the star of 2024. At the 2024 FunDex Awards, he proudly took home the FunDex Performer of the Year award. He was both the key player and the main beneficiary of Lovely Runner this year. Looking at his ‘star brand reputation,’ Byun Woo Seok ranked in the top spots four times: 1st in June, 3rd in July, 2nd in November, and 2nd in December. These are the highest rankings and the most mentions among actors.
While Lovely Runner didn’t achieve huge numbers, it gained strong word-of-mouth and built a dedicated fanbase, creating a buzz. After the drama, Byun Woo Seok expanded his influence beyond Korea, holding sold-out fan meetings across Asia and cementing his place as a Hallyu star.
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