This year, viewers have been drawn to stories where corrupt powerful figures, abusive chaebol heirs and ruthless criminals get what they deserve. Ordinary people taking down powerful villains have given viewers a satisfying sense of justice. This trend has helped dramas such as the currently airing Doctor X, along with Agent Kim Reactivated, A Bona Fide Killer and Teach You a Lesson, win over audiences.
Industry insiders also recognized this trend, voting So Ji Sub of SBS’s Agent Kim Reactivated as “Best Drama Actor of the Year.” He topped the poll with 30 votes, nearly twice as many as the runner-up.
So Ji Sub – ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’
Agent Kim Reactivated is a revenge-action drama about an ordinary family man who returns to his former life as the world’s most dangerous man to rescue his only daughter. Putting his familiar “So Ganji” image aside, So Ji Sub takes on the role of a devoted father in a series that has been described as a Korean version of Taken. The drama reached a peak rating of 23.1%. It also topped weekly buzz rankings for three consecutive weeks, from its premiere in late June through the second week of July, before reclaiming first place the following week.
So Ji Sub delivered a powerful performance, convincingly portraying two sides of the same man: an ordinary bank employee and a former intel agent. The series features intense action scenes throughout, which So Ji Sub himself described as highly demanding. He balanced the action with a moving portrayal of a father’s love, leaving a strong impression on viewers. “I wanted the desperation and longing he feels for his daughter to come through in the action,” he said.
Following his performance, So Ji Sub recently received a Presidential Commendation at the 17th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards. He is also among the actors being considered for the grand prize at the year-end SBS Drama Awards.
Lee Jun Young – ‘Four Hands, Two Sonatas’
Lee Jun Young came in second with 17 votes. He impressed viewers with JTBC’s Reborn Rookie and tvN’s Four Hands, Two Sonatas this year. He enlisted in July and is currently serving in the military.
In Reborn Rookie, which reached a peak rating of 13.6%, Lee Jun Young took on a challenging dual role. The story follows Kang Yong Ho (played by Son Hyun Joo), a powerful business tycoon whose soul enters the body of a young soccer player after an accident destroys the athlete’s dreams. Viewers praised Lee for capturing Son Hyun Joo’s performance, with some saying he had practically “swallowed” the veteran actor. He smoothly switched between comedy and drama, helping drive the series.
In Four Hands, Two Sonatas, which premiered after his enlistment, Lee played Choi Jeong Yo, a rival to Kang Bi Oh (played by Song Kang). His character changes from a carefree 17-year-old piano prodigy into a 27-year-old conductor driven by revenge. Lee convincingly portrayed the character’s transformation over a decade, once again showing his versatility as an actor.
Kim Go Eun – ‘Yumi’s Cells 3’, Kim Ji Won -‘Doctor X: Mafia in White’
Kim Go Eun and Kim Ji Won tied for third place with eight votes each.
Kim Go Eun wrapped up the Yumi’s Cells series with Season 3. She brought Yumi’s life as a bestselling author to life, along with her new romance with Soon Rok (played by Kim Jae Won). Her natural performance made the character feel so real that viewers praised her as “Yumi herself.” After winning audiences over with her relatable portrayal of Yumi across all three seasons, Kim Go Eun took home the Grand Prize at this year’s Blue Dragon Series Awards.
Kim Ji Won showed a completely different side of herself in SBS’s Doctor X: Mafia in White. She plays Gye Su Jeong, known as the “mad dog of the operating room,” a brilliant surgeon who takes on powerful hospital figures and fights deep-rooted corruption. The series has reached a peak rating of 19.5%. Previously known for her romantic roles in The Heirs, Descendants of the Sun, My Liberation Notes and Queen of Tears, Kim Ji Won has made a striking transformation. With her short haircut, fearless attitude and confident catchphrase, “I don’t fail,” she delivers the kind of bold performance that keeps viewers cheering her on.
Fifth place went to Shin Hae Sun, for The Art of Sarah and Filing for Love and Kim Moo Yul, for Teach You a Lesson, with seven votes each. Heo Nam Jun, for My Royal Nemesis, ranked seventh with six votes, followed by Hyun Bin, for Made in Korea 2, with five.
Kim Seon Ho from Can This Love Be Translated?, Park Ji Hoon from The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, Lim Ji Yeon from My Royal Nemesis and Kim Yoo Jung from 100 Days of Deception each received four votes. Lee Jun Hyuk from The Art of Sarah and The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, Koo Kyo Hwan from We Are All Trying Here and Go Youn Jung from We Are All Trying Here and Can This Love Be Translated? each received three.
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