I’m always amazed that no matter how many dramas I watch, there is always someone new to discover. And I’m the completist type so once I find an actor/actress I like, I will seeek out all of their other offerings.

My favorite discoveries so far this year are:
Kim Nam Gil in The Fiery Priest
Lee Do Hyun in The Good Bad Mother
Kim Young Kwang in D Day (a problematic show yes, but he shined)
Im Soo Hyang in When I Was the Most Beautiful (I’ve seen her in other things, but she stunned me here)

And for Cdramas
Xu Kai in Arsenal Military Academy (his may be one of my favorite male character portrayals in a long time!)

Ha Soo-Jin, she's a writer and she wrote Sell Your Haunted House and The Matchmakers. I'm very impatient to watch her next drama because both dramas were well written. It became rare to be happy with a drama from the beginning to the end.

I'll try not to say the same names than last year, but as I have not re-read my comment in that discussion, maybe I'll repeat some actors.

_ Jung Il Woo. Since Bossam, which I have seen this year (but I have not seen other dramas starred by him yet).
_ Lee Jae Wook. Since Do Do sol sol la la sol.
_ Ahn Bo Hyun. Since Yumi's cells.
_ Choi Hyun Wook. Since 25-21.
_ Kang Hoon. Since Meow.
_ Seo In Guk. Since Shopping King Louis.
_ Han Hyo Joo. Since W: Two Worlds.
_ Nam Goongming. Since Chief Kim.
_ Jong Won. Since Knight Flower.

In C-dramas:

_ Zhang Xincheng. Since Go Ahead.
_ Liu Yuning. Since A Journey to Love.
_ Zhang Ruo Yun. Since Joy of Life.
_ Li Xian. Since Meet Yourself.
_ Zhou Yi Ran. Since When I fly towards you.
_ Bai Jing Ting. Since Reset.
_ Qu Chuxiao. Since Shining for one thing.
_ Elvis Han. Since Fake it till you make it.
_ Greg Hsu. Since Taiwanese Someday or One Day.

Actors:
Jung Jongseo in the first few episodes of Wedding Impossible I loved the way she brought that character to life.

Song Geonhee his portrayal of Taesung in Lovely runner turned a second lead/minor character in a memorable role.

Chae Jonghyeop since Love all play I loved how he played the lead role and followed him to Unlock the boss and even stayed with Eye love you which had some ridiculous elements but I could not stay for the sad role he had in Castaway Diva.

Kim Hye-yoon and Song Geon-hee since Lovely Runner
Shin Hye-sun since Mr Queen
Byeon Woo-seok since Moonshine
Lee Joon-ki since Moon Lovers
Uhm Tae-goo Han Sun-hwa since My Sweet Mobster
Jang Nara since Sell Your Haunted House
Jang Hyuk since Red Heart

I somehow missed this whole conversation last year (whoops!) and it’s sort of a tricky topic because there are lots of actors I really enjoy in dramaland. No matter how much I’m a fan of someone though, and think that I would watch anything that they are in, more often than not if they pick something I’m not interested in for their next project I’ll skip it. I’m also slow to go back and watch an actor’s whole body of work because there are so many new things popping up all the time. So for this prompt, I tried to think of people that I would watch, no matter how tragically bad the drama turned out to be.

First up is my fav, Park Hyung-sik, surprising no one. Happily he has been in plenty of things that I love, but I also know that at some point I will watch Heirs with my finger on the FF button just to see his scenes. I’ve loved him since the first drama I saw him in, Our Blooming Youth, and since then I’ve watched many others of his and enjoyed at least his part in all of them. Excited to watch Happiness in the community watch soon!

Also on the list is Kim Nam-gil, who I actually know I would follow into nonsense because I’ve watched Island and Song of the Bandits (both of which had moments that I loved, but didn’t live up to their potential). I’ve loved him since Live Up to Your Name in which he was totally incredible, and which is still one of the dramas that made me cry with laughter and heartbreak the most.

And then maybe Lee Je-hoon, one of my early drama obsessions. I know his acting isn’t for everyone, but there were times in Signal when he was not really the most attractive person in the room, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. There is something about his earnestness in roles that I find hopelessly endearing, and I’m excited that I still have lots more of his dramas to watch.

Honorable mentions: Lee Jae-wook, who I thought was on this list until Impossible Heir came out and I just couldn’t quite bring myself to press play. Chae Jong-hyeop, who may very well be on this list but I haven’t watched anything purely for him yet. And Seo In-guk, who I loved despite the first drama I saw him in.

Ahn Pan Seok since Secret Love Affair.

Park Hyung-Sik since Happiness. I really didnt have much of an opinion about him before even though I had watched his dramas.

Ahn Bo-hyun since Flex Cop. Didnt care for him before that.

Han Ji Min since Behind your touch. I didn't mind her, but saw her in a new light since.

Honey Lee in Knight Flower (have a whole list to catch up)

Recent discoveries:
Lee Jong Won (Knight Flower)
Song Geun Hee (Lovely Runner)
Park So Yi (19th Life, The Atypical Family)
Kim Hye Yoon (Lovely Runner)

These are actors I would give a look at any project they are in now (unless they are in something with a lot of violence, which I just can't watch) because they moved me with their acting or their something something just hits me right.

Jang Dong Yoon (Like Flowers in Sand)
Choi Moon Sung (Like Flowers in Sand)
Son Suk Gu (My Liberation Notes and Matrimonial Chaos)
Um Tae Gu (My Sweet Mobster)
Yoon Eun Hae (Goong, Coffee Prince)
Roh Yoon Seo (Our Blues, Crash Course in Romance)
Yoo Seon Seok (Mr. Sunshine, The Interest of Love)
Ji Chang Wook (Healer, Lovestruck in the City, but could not finish Welcome to Samdalri as my love was rapidly declining during that show)
Kim Hye Yoon (Lovely Runner)

Jasper Liu and Puff Go (Before We Get Married)
Takeru Sato (Incurable Case of Love)

I am not sure what I wrote last year, but if I had to guess it would be that Park Hyung Sik has my eternal devotion and beyond. The man struck me with lightning bolt in Hwarang, showered me with surprise with Soundtrack #1 (it took me a while to connect the two) and then walked away with my fangirl soul with Our Blooming Youth and so far has refused to relinquish it. Suits pretty much cemented my faith in him. What I love about him is that no matter what role he plays, you walk away thinking that's how he must be in his real life.

I have never really had the urge to sweep any other actor's bibliography the way I have PHS's, but very recently, Ji Sung has perked my interest. I never saw his work before Connection, so I can't say 'since', but I want to go back and catch up on his more popular works. I love the fact that despite being so average looking, he eats the screen alive with his presence.

Grateful for the opportunity Dramabeans writers grants me knowing how much I like to sing the praises of the same dramas all the time basically:
As mentioned above, Kim Nam Gil since Fiery Priest
The first was probably Yoon Eun-Hye in Coffee Prince. Her sincerity, the way she poured everything into her role makes it unforgettable. This is the drama that made Gong Yoo famous but really the one that stays with you is Yoon Eun-Hye.
Lee Jun-Hyuk since Dark Hole
Lee Min-Jung since Smile, You
Choi Jin-Hyuk since Tunnel and Zombie Detective
Lee Jin-Uk since Voice 2 & 3
Jung Woo since Mad for Each Other
Kim Nam Joo since Queen of Housewives
Kim Sun-A since My Name is Kim Sam Soon
Han Ji-Min since Rooftop Prince
Lee Soo-Kyung since Let's Eat

And the number one most egregiously under the radar actress is Shin Go-Eun in Gangnam Scandal. Friends, she is so worthy and capable of carrying a drama.

Jang Na-Ra and Jang Hyuk. I was smitten with the Jangs ever since Fated to Love You. Whether separately or together, I was fated to love them both.

So Ji-Sub - Loved him from my very first encounter (The Master's Sun), and have only grown to love him more as I've seen his versatility in a wide range of dramas.

Yoo Ah-In. Ever since I watched him burn up the screen in Secret Love Affair. I pray for his release from Hallyu purgatory ASAP.

Yoon Kye-Sang. Saw him a couple of years ago in Chocolate and thought he was kinda hot but not especially memorable. It wasn't until The Kidnapping Day (in a decidedly non-sexy role) that he really rang my bell.

Kim Mi-Kyung. I always admired her work, but it was with her performance as the mom in Go Back Couple that she became a bright star firmly fixed in my drama firmament.

Ra Mi-Ran. The first time I can recall seeing her was in Laurel Tree Tailors, as one of those horrible wives who are constantly hitting and scolding their husbands. I can't pinpoint one particular performance that turned me around, but she's lately become one of my "will watch anything she's in" actors. Her brief cameo in The Beauty Inside was a highlight of the show for me. I especially savor her in kickass roles like the ones in Avengers Social Club and Citizen of a Kind.

Conversely, there are actors I loved at first sight, but who lost their luster after I'd seen some of their other work. A prime example would be Hyun Bin, whom I first encountered in Crash Landing on You. I eagerly sought out some of his other films and dramas and was deeply disappointed. Now I wouldn't automatically avoid anything he's in, but it wouldn't be an automatic watch, either.

I think part of what made Happiness so good was the gorgeous cinematography by PD Ahn Gil Ho. That guy really has a good eye. I realized what I remember most about Rooftop Prince was the gorgeous interiors of the rooftop apartment. Yep, he helmed that drama too. As well as Stranger. And the otherworldly Memories of the Alhambra. I reallly dig his style and aesthetics, and didn't know it until a year or two ago that he was behind so many great dramas.

Lee Jun Ki is my Number One, loved him since Flower of Evil (which I mention on here every chance I get LOL sorrynotsorry). I loosely keep up with him on IG and he's... dancing? Singing? While I think he can do both well, his forte is kicking ass, which I hope he gets back to soon!!! I miss seing him on screen.

Choi Jin Hyuk from Zombie Detective. Which led me to watch Mr Queen (one of my faves), Tunnel, and now Rugal and Miss Night & Day.

Park Eun Bin & Rowoon since King's Affection, which got me started for good on Kdramaland <3

Moon Chae Won since Flower of Evil, and sadly, haven`t seen her in anything since :(

Yeom Hye Ran since Lawless Lawyer. LOVE. HER. such a badass!!!

That'll be Jo Jung-seok in Captivating the King. I had only seen him in Hospital Playlist but I was too focused on Jung Kyung-ho and Kim Dae-myung to let him in my face. The main reason actually was that he was excess sugar and too bubbly for a doctor. Who the hell gets to do all the things he does and still excel as a doctor. My jealousy blinded me to him. But in Sejak, there is this restraint that he pulled, the threads were so thin it could cut through anything. This man can spark chemistry with a pot or a flower and he'll sell the chemistry.

To prevent this a comment break, I'll just list them.

Screenwriter Lee Seo-yeon : Forest of Secrets 2.
Cho Seung-woo: Life
Go Hyun-jung: Queen Seondeok.
Shin Sung-ruk : The Face Reader/You From Another Star.
Kim Dae-myung: Hospital Playlist
Choi Young-joon: Hospital Playlist
Jung Kyungho: Hospital Playlist
Ahn Eun-jin: Hospital Playlist
Kim Hae-sook: Start Up
Kim Hyesoo: Under The Queen's Umbrella.
Bae In-hyuk: Under the Queen's Umbrella.
Kim Seon-ho: Start Up
Lee Tae-gon : Gwanggaeto, the Great Conqueror.
Kim Seok-hoon: Ruby Ring.
PD Kim Hee-won: Little Women.
Lee Kyu-hyung: Life
Yoo Jae-myung: Vincenzo
Chu Ja-hyun: Arthdal Chronicles 1.
Lee Min-ki: Because This Life Is My First.
Kim Ji-suk: 20th Century Boy and Girl.
Han Ye-ri: Six Flying Dragons.
Jang Nara: Go Back Couple
Sohn Ho-jun: Go Back Couple.
Jung Woo-sung: Tell Me That You Love Me.
Kang Mal-guem: Thirty Nine.
Kim Ji-hyun: Thirty Nine.
Lee Mi-sook: Perfect Marriage Revenge.
Park Joo-mi: The Flower in Prison.
Kim Nam-gil: Queen Seondeok.
Shin Hye-sun: Mr. Queen.
Im Jung-han: The Spies Who Loved Me
Yoo Inna: The Spies Who Loved Me
Honey Lee: One The Woman.
Im Jung-eun: Ruby Ring.
Jung Moon-sung: Haechi.

The latest addition to this list is Song Kangho: Uncle Samsik.

Park Eun Bin since Hello my Twenties,
Kim Soo-hyun is my favourite ever since It’s Okay,
Jang Hyuk since Wok of love …. So much! I love
Park Hyun-sik since Bong-soon … but more so after having watched more and having more to compare with. Especially I loved him after missing him and his energy so much in Nam-soon;
Jae-wook … I am not sure when it happened. I was bored by the Soul Alchemy but loved his bitter smile more and more.
Chae Jong-Hyeop right away, just for his boyish smile,
Siwan since Run-on,
Kang Tae- Oh just a little more all the time … probably especially Run-on, too, but also Doom,
Seo in-Guk since … hmmm Doom? Or already at Café something something?
Dongha since Chief Kim.
Min Nam-koong since … I loved him very much in the first episodes of beautiful Hong-shim (or something) but consolidated, that was probably Chief Kim, too.
Shin Hye-Sun from Mr. Queen.
Cha Eun Woo from Rookie Historian … I love him in that one more than in other shows I have seen with him.
Rowoon from Destined with You (Thanks to Seon-ha’s introduction) And then he was so funny and beautiful!
Park Bo Gum since Reply 1988.
Shin Se-kyung since I recognized her in Run-on, but also because “Hey, she’s the Rookie Historian””…
Gong Hyo-jin at some point, but by then it was the number X drama I saw with her. Pasta, maybe?
Byeon Woo-seok especially since Nam-soon, because he was the only good thing in the last half of that show. Oh, and FL’s father and brother, but they were small roles.
But actually, seeing
Lee Seung-joon playing the kindest father and the most nightmarish father (Castaway) almost at the same time consolidated my liking for him.
Some of the more grown-up actors have grown on me, too, bit by bit and I am not sure when I started feeling happy when I saw them. Like that
Kim Mi-kyung …. Everybody’s mum, and everybody’s fierce neighbour woman, what’s her name … Kim Sun-young
Lee Seung-joon since 19th life
Many of these names I have to look up, admittedly.
Lee Jong Eun I love since her present FL role in Night and Day. and the omnipresent
Kim Won-hae who played Mr. Oh … There are a lot that I liked but only slowly started to recognize.
Oh Jung-se … autistic older brother in Okay, but so many things in this and that other drama …
The young Moon is mentioned here above, and yes indeed, few can look as sincere as him. Which reminds me: Park So-yi since 19th life … she charmed me so much and I gushed a good deal over her, I think, and giffed her just for being able to say extra: “This Little Girl … All the Best!”

I think last year I listed:

Wookie after Healer (happened in 2020).
Junho, Chief Kim piqued my interest and Confession cemented my love for him (2021).
Woo Dohwan after Mad dog (2022).
Seo Kangjoon after Are you human too (2022).
Lee Jehoon, Signal made me interested in him, and Taxi Driver cemented my love for him (2023).

This year, there are three more to be added to the above list:

Park Hyungsik after Our blooming youth (2023). I started to care about him after Suits, but I had never listed him as my most favourite before OBY.

Ahn Bohyun after See you in my 19th life, although Flex X cop was where I found him and became interested in him (2024).

And most recently, Jang Kiyongafter Atypical family (2024). Before that, I would never have given him a second look, and he couldn't blame me given what he delivered in Search:WWW.

Even if this harks back to 2-23: Me too. I have liked JDY’s acting since the “The Tale of Nokdu” but my affection for his acting deepened and reached its probable zenith with “Like Flowers in Sand”.
The actor whose acting I discovered this year through “Wedding Impossible” is Jeon Jongseo. I think she is an acting force of nature even though I don’t enjoy listening to actors with nasal voices at all. I will put up with it when they’re as good as Jeon Jongseo is. And, last but not least, Uhm Taegoo’s brooding and thoughtful acting (but not the overtly silly aegyo filled bits).

Lee Re, Castaway Diva, episode 1. Best performance of last year. It hit me in my heart.

In addition to my comment from last year, a few more actors have been added:
SECRET made me watch almost all other dramas (and films) with Ji Sung. I had already seen ADAMAS in 2022, but back then I was apparently still immune to his charm.
Thanks to MY DEAREST, I'm now hooked on Namgoong Min and I think I should try my luck with CHIEF KIM again, as it probably wasn't the right time two years ago.
And most recently Choi Jin-Hyuk. I love his voice. He could read me a phone book and I'd still be glued to his lips.

Cha Seung Won - first got my attention in A Korean Odyssey. Blew me away in City Hall.
Lee Seung Gi - A Korean Odyssey
Kim Nam Gil - The Fiery Priest
Jung Hae-in - One Spring Night
The whole cast of Reply 1988 - so many amazing actors
An Pan-Seok (Director) - Secret Affair

Lee Dong Wook since My Girl
So Ji Sub since Master's Sun
Park Bogum since Hello Monster
Jung Il Woo since Bossam
Bae In Hyuk since Cheer Up
Kim Young Kwang since the pink filtered Call It Love
Lee Junki since Arang and the Magistrate
Ji Sung since Kill Me Heal Me
Kim Won Bin since Alienoid
Lee Soo Hyuk since Scholar of the Night
Kim Nam Gil since Live Up to Your Name
Namgoong Min since Chief Kim
Junho since Chief Kim
Jang Hyuk since Thank You

Liu Yuning since A Journey To Love
Luo Yunxi since Till the End of the Moon

I like a good number of actors so I can't list them all, but here are a few:

Son Suk-ku. I've been a fan of this guy since his brief appearance in Be Melodramatic, which I also love. There's something about him that appeals to me, in both looks and acting

Jung Sung-il, whom I first saw in the awesome Forest of Secrets. The moment I clocked him I was intrigued

Gong Yoo, since I can't even remember when 😂

Bae Doona. Can't remember since when.

Director Ahn Pan-seok since Secret Love Affair

Ra Mi-ran whom I've liked since I don't even remember when

Park Hyung-sik since Happiness

Oh Jung-se. Can't even remember where I saw him first but I've been a fan since then

Jung Hae-in since One Spring Night

Kim Jae-wook since The Guest. Kim Dong-wook as well

Sung Joon since Call It Love. I've always liked him, but it didn't really click proper until that drama.

Yoo Teo since Seoul Searching.

Noh Sang-hyun since Call My Agent

Aaaaaand I think I'll stop here 😅

For me, it is when an actor takes on a very challenging, edgy and often sexy role that manages to really grab my attention. The trouble with the actors that I have really found captivating is that are not as active as I would like and they are a bit older in their 30's 40's and 50's.

JUNG IL WOO: I'm trying to remember if I first saw him in Return of Iljimae (Moon River) or Flower Boy Ramen Shop. Either way, even though they were extremely different dramas he brought an intelligent, edgy sexiness to his roles that is really compelling. He can go from subtle serious acting to over the top comedy. That is a rare quality. His performances never let me down. But, he also has not been that active since Bossam. I'll watch him in anything (almost).

ERIC MOON: I saw him the first time in Another Miss Oh and was blown away. I went on to watch in dramas like Que Sera Sera and Discovery of Love. He hasn't done much lately and I didn't see his most recent drama.

ZO IN SUNG: I first saw him in It's Okay That's Love and was mesmerized. I could watch certain scenes with him over and over again. He even got me to subscribe to another streaming service so I could watch Moving (which really didn't highlight his particular kind of acting since the show was super hero ish.

KIM HEE AE: I first saw her in Secret Love Affair, and wow!!! I've just watched her in World of the Married, and wow again!!! I'll be looking to watch her again! She is challenging, edgy and sexy!

Kim Nam Gil, Son Suk Gu are on my radar, but I have yet to see them in more then one show so jury is out. And of course, Yoo Ah In (what a sad story).