Lee Min Ho is a name synonymous with the Hallyu Wave. The Korean heartthrob achieved global success when he starred in classic K-dramas such as Boys Over Flowers and The Heirs. Min Ho gradually abandoned his chaebol heir personas to explore his acting range in depth, as seen in his role in Pachinko.
As for his upcoming projects, the 36-year-old Baeksang-winning actor will soon star in Ask the Stars, a sci-fi romantic comedy series, alongside Gong Hyo Jin, star of When the Camellia Blooms. Additionally, Lee Min Ho is also currently attached to the apocalyptic fantasy film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, based on Sing Shong’s web novel of the same name, alongside A Time Called You star Ahn Hyo Seop, Mask star Nana Girl, and BLACKPINK member Jisoo.
Here are the 7 best K-dramas starring Lee Min Ho that prove he’s the Hallyu star:
1- The King: Eternal Monarch – Netflix
“The King: Eternal Monarch,” a Korean romantic fantasy drama, takes place in two parallel worlds. Emperor Lee Gon (Lee Min Ho) of the Kingdom of Corea enters an alternate reality, the Republic of Korea, after passing through a mythical portal. In this mysterious new world, he meets a characterful police detective, Jeong Tae Eul (Kim Go Eun) and love eventually blossoms, just like the Kdrama.
Lee Ji Hun (also Lee Min Ho) is Lee Gon’s counterpart in the Republic of Korea, while Luna (also Kim Go Eun) is Jeong Tae Eul’s counterpart in the Kingdom of Korea. The electrifying chemistry between Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun is the highlight of “The King: Eternal Monarch.”
2- Pachinko – Apple TV+
Adapted from Min Jin Lee’s best-seller, the Critics’ Choice Award-winning series, Pachinko, reveals Lee Min Ho in a new role. Set in Korea, Japan and the United States, this moving saga traces the story of a four-generation Korean immigrant family and their struggles to survive. Lee Min Ho plays Koh Hansu, an influential Korean-zainichi businessman who begins a forbidden romance with Sun Ja (also played by Kim Min Ha, Youn Yuh Jung and Yu Na at different ages). The brief but intense chemistry between Lee Min Ho and Kim Min Ha in the series has been widely commented on. Note that the talented cast of Pachinko, including Lee Min Ho, won Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series at the Independent Spirit Awards. Pachinko will return for a second season.
3- Boys Over Flowers – Netflix
Boys Over Flowers is often cited among those key K-dramas that helped strengthen the Korean Wave. Additionally, this beloved comedy K-drama, based on the Japanese manga series of the same name by Yoko Kamio, catapulted Lee Min Ho’s career to superstardom. Geum Jan Di (Koo Hye Sun), a rebellious middle-class girl studying at the prestigious Shinhwa High School, finds herself embroiled in the notorious F4, a popular ultra-elite clique. Jan Di gets in the bad books of Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho), the flamboyant leader of F4. As expected, the essential trope of rich heir falls in love with poor girl follows and the youthful chemistry between Lee Min Ho and Koo Hye Sun was adored by fans.
The rest of F4 includes Yoon Ji Hu (Kim Hyun Joong), So Yi Jung (Kim Bum), and Song Woo Bin (Kim Joon). Lee Min Ho won the Baeksang Award for Best New TV Actor for his flying performance in Boys Over Flowers.
4- The Heirs – Netflix and Play6
In “The Heirs” (also known as “The Inheritors”), Lee Min Ho once again plays a rich and charismatic heir as well as a high school student, Kim Tan. In this teen K-drama, written by Daesang (Grand Prix) Baeksang award-winning screenwriter Kim Eun Sook (she also wrote “The King: Eternal Monarch”), Park Shin Hye plays the role of Cha Eun Sang, a poor young girl whose mother is a live-in housekeeper at Kim Tan’s house. After a memorable encounter in Los Angeles, Kim Tan and Eun Sang reunite as classmates at Jeguk High School, an elite school attended by Korea’s elite.
What makes “The Heirs” memorable is the love triangle between Kim Tan, Eun Sang and Choi Young Do (Kim Woo Bin), Kim Tan’s former best friend who falls in love with Eun Sang. For his captivating performance in “The Heirs,” Lee Min Ho was nominated for a Baeksang Award for Best Popular Actor.
5- The Legend Of The Blue Sea – Netflix
The Legend of the Blue Sea is another Lee Min Ho K-drama that can be rewatched over and over again. Inspired by a classic Joseon legend, this romantic comedy-fantasy K-drama tells the love story between Heo Joon Jae (Lee Min Ho), a witty conman, and Shim Cheong aka Se Hwa (played by Jun Ji Hyun), an eccentric mermaid from the Joseon era who finds herself in present-day Seoul. Joon Jae is the reincarnation of Se Hwa’s past love Kim Dam Ryeong (also Lee Min Ho), a nobleman from the Joseon era. The undeniable chemistry between Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun has been the reason for The Legend of the Blue Sea’s local and international popularity.
6- City Hunter – YouTube
If you enjoyed Lee Min Ho’s action side in Gangnam Blues, then you should definitely check out City Hunter. In this K-drama mixing action, suspense and romance, inspired by the eponymous Japanese manga by Tsukasa Hojo, Lee Min Ho plays Lee Yoon Sung (nicknamed City Hunter), who poses as an IT expert at the Blue House to avenge the death of his father, Park Moo Yeol (played by Park Sang Min). Kim Na Na (played by Park Min Young), bodyguard of the Presidential Security Service, joins Yoon Sung in his quest for revenge by sharing the same goal. The two end up falling in love. Kim Sang Joong plays Lee Jin Pyo, Moo Yeol’s best friend and former bodyguard for the Presidential Security Service, who methodically drags Yoon Sung into his revenge plan.
For his captivating performance in City Hunter, Lee Min Ho was nominated for the Baeksang Awards in the Most Popular Television Actor category. Interestingly, Lee Min Ho and Park Min Young, whose passionate chemistry was enjoyed in City Hunter, started dating in real life while filming the Korean series but later broke up.
7- Personal Taste – Viki
Our best and latest K-drama starring Lee Min Ho is Personal Taste. This romantic-comedy K-drama, based on the novel of the same name by Lee Se In, explores the eccentric love story between Park Kae In (Son Ye Jin), an overlooked and aspiring furniture designer, and Jeon Jin Ho ( Lee Min Ho), an organized architect. Kae In begins living with Jin Ho, mistakenly thinking he is gay. However, over time, the two develop feelings for each other, further complicating things. Fans absolutely loved the cute chemistry between Lee Min Ho and Son Ye Jin throughout Personal Taste