K-pop idols and K-drama actresses have long been ruling social media platforms with a massive fan following. However, Korean actors, too, have garnered a lot of attention and love from ardent fans, making them some of the most influential faces on Instagram. From My Demon fame Song Kang to the Gyeongseong Creature star Park Seo-joon, know the top 10 most-followed South Korean actors on Instagram.
However, some famous Korean actors such as Gong Yoo and Hyun Bin have managed to resist the Instagram fever, with their agencies sharing regular updates for the actors’ massive fanbase. But many others, like Cha Eun-woo and Lee Dong-wook, have made it a go-to platform to promote their work, announce major life events, and share milestones and glimpses of their day-to-day lives.
Ruling the Gram with his charming personality is K-pop boy group Astro’s member Cha Eun-woo, who is known for his roles in Sweet Revenge (2017) and Soul Plate (2019). In December 2023, he became the only Korean celebrity after BTS and BLACKPINK members to reach the 40 million followers milestone on the photo-sharing app. As of May 2024, Cha is the most-followed Korean actor on Instagram.
Another Korean actor winning fans over with his minimalistic Instagram aesthetic is Lee Jong-suk, whose behind-the-scenes posts are the most popular among K-drama lovers.
10 most-followed South Korean actors on Instagram now:
Cha Eun-woo (44.9 million followers)
Leaving fans ‘breathless’ with his Instagram updates is Lee Dong-min, aka Cha Eun-woo, who rightfully tops the list of the most-followed actors on the platform. His Instagram feed offers a good mix of professional and personal updates — with posts ranging from brand endorsements, fashion moments, behind-the-scenes from shoots and food and travel snippets.
A member of the South Korean group Astro, Cha has also established himself as a phenomenal actor and has to his credit an array of critically acclaimed movies and dramas.
The multi-hyphenate made his acting debut in 2014 with a minor role in the Korean film My Brilliant Life. Since then, Cha has become a household name in Asia. Some of the noteworthy titles from his portfolio besides Sweet Revenge are My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018), True Beauty (2020), Island (2022), A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023) and Island 2 (2023).
Lee Min-ho (35.1 million followers)
South Korean actor Lee Min-ho owes his massive Instagram following to his undeniably charming posts. The rom-com king not only entertains viewers with an array of characters but also keeps them updated with sneak peeks from his personal life on the social media platform.
Along with posting about his hobbies like cycling and travelling, Lee also updates his fans on his upcoming projects. Not to forget, his beautiful pet dog Choco, who dominates most of his Instagram feed.
The actor who became the nation’s heartthrob back in 2009, with his role Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers, is now winning hearts with his versatility. Standouts from his portfolio include hits like The Heirs (2013), Gangnam Blues (2015), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), Pachinko (2022-) and Ask the Stars (2024).
Lee Jong-suk (26.7 million followers)
This Korean model-turned-actor is well known for his performances in K-dramas like Doctor Stranger (2014), Pinocchio (2014), While You Were Sleeping (2017), Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019) and Big Mouth (2022).
Starting early in the industry, Lee debuted as a 15-year-old and successfully created his own legacy as one of the most popular Korean television stars. Not just that, he is also one of the most-followed Korean actors on Instagram, thanks to his huge fandom.
Though Lee Jong-suk keeps a low profile, he makes sure to update his fans about his professional life through multiple Instagram posts. His feed layout is consistent and has a minimalist aesthetic. One can also find a lot of fashion inspiration on his Gram.
Ji Chang-wook (27.1 million followers)
The Welcome to Samdal-ri star Ji Chang-wook is another South Korean actor who is ruling Instagram. Renowned for noteworthy Korean dramas like Healer (2014), Melting Me Softly (2019), Lovestruck in the City (2020) and The Worst of Evil (2023), Ji has built a remarkable career in the Korean entertainment industry.
Ji is consistent in his updates about his professional life, but his Instagram feed is dominated by snippets from his bike expeditions, which are mostly around Jeju Island and South Sea in Korea.
The Calvin Klein ambassador also owns a YouTube channel. On 17 May 2023, Ji celebrated his 1 million subscribers by releasing a gold button unboxing video on YouTube.
Park Seo-joon (26 million followers)
Another most-followed Korean actor, Gyeongseong Creature fame Park Seo-joon has been stealing the global limelight for quite some time now.
From the 2019 Oscar-winning black comedy Parasite to the 2023 commercial hit The Marvels, his portfolio boasts multiple noteworthy releases. Some other K-dramas of Park are Chronicles of Evil (2015), Fight for My Way (2017), Itaewon Class (2020) and Gyeongseong Creature (2023).
Park is a regular Instagram user and loves treating fans with glimpses of his personal and professional life. Three include behind-the-scenes of his acting projects, photoshoots and candid moments with his pet and friend group Wooga Squad. His relatable posts make him a favourite among the younger generation.
Song Kang (21.9 million followers)
K-drama sensation Song Kang is not just capturing widespread attention for playing the brave Cha Hyun-soo in the Netflix thriller Sweet Home but also for his ever-growing Instagram followers.
Though Song is not a regular Instagram user, he has still managed to keep a close bond with his fans. The Love Alarm actor is often seen sharing moments from his photoshoots on the platform.
Song, who is popularly addressed by K-media and fans as the ‘son of Netflix’, has landed leading roles in multiple Netflix original K-dramas. These include Love Alarm (2019), Nevertheless (2021), Forecasting Love and Weather (2022), Sweet Home 2 (2023) and My Demon (2023).
Nam Joo-hyuk (19 million followers)
An established Korean actor, Nam Joo-hyuk enjoys a loyal following on Instagram. On his feed, the actor shares snippets from his busy schedule, his passion for fitness and memorable moments spent with family and friends.
In his decade-long career, Nam has stepped into the shoes of a swimming champion, sports reporter and vigilante. The highest-rated K-dramas from his filmography are Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016), Start-Up (2020), Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) and Vigilante (2023).
On 5 October 2023, the Disney Plus action thriller Vigilante premiered at the On Screen section of the 28th Busan International Film Festival. It is a K-drama adaptation of the webtoon of the same name by acclaimed Korean artist Kim Gyu-sam.
Lee Dong-wook (18.4 million followers)
It’s barely surprising to see the smug and charming grim reaper from Goblin, Lee Dong-wook, become one of the most-followed Korean actors on Instagram. His posts are mostly professional and offer fans a look into his career.
Since his debut with the MBC single-episode drama in 1999, Lee has played numerous memorable roles. The Perfect Couple (2007), La Dolce Vita (2008), Scent of a Woman (2011), Goblin (2016), The Tale of the Nine-tailed (2020) and Single in Seoul (2023) are amongst his best K-dramas and movies.
The Goblin actor is, of late, grabbing headlines for his much-awaited 2024 spy action film Harbin, alongside OG Korean stars Hyun Bin and Jeon Yeo-been.
Kim Soo-hyun (18.8 million followers)
After almost two decades in showbiz, Kim Soo-hyun has led hit Korean movies and shows, collaborated with multiple high-end brands and been listed as one of the highest-paid Korean actors in the world — his Instagram following is a testament to his popularity.
His feed is a great source of inspiration for fitness enthusiasts as the actor loves hiking and cycling and often uploads posts about the same. Additionally, it was through his Instagram posts that fans learned about Kim’s love for photography. He never leaves his camera behind during his travel escapades.
Kim, who has been included in Forbes Korea‘s Power Celebrity 40 list for six years, from 2012 to 2016 and 2021, has delivered some of the best movies and TV shows in the last few years. Fan-favourite K-dramas from Kim’s portfolio include Dream High (2011), My Love from the Star (2013), The Producers (2015), It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) and Queen of Tears (2024).
Ahn Hyo-seop (13.7 million followers)
This versatile Canadian-Korean actor’s Instagram following is as impressive as his filmography. Besides sharing updates about his acting projects and cat Ba-ul, Ahn loves treating fans with clips of indulging in singing and travelling.
Ahn became a global household name after playing the suave CEO Kang Tae-moo in the 2022 Netflix romance Business Proposal. Other popular TV shows featuring Ahn are Splash Splash Love (2015), Abyss (2019), Dr Romantic 2 (2020) and A Time Called You (2023).
The Abyss actor, who initially found it hard to survive in Korea and moved back to Canada, shared his love for his craft in an interview with Soompi, “After about three days in Canada though, I regretted giving it all up. I moved back to Korea afterwards.”
(Hero and featured image: Courtesy Cha Eun-woo/Song Kang/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-Do Korean actors have Instagram accounts?
Yes, Korean actors have Instagram accounts and are quite popular on the social media platform.
-Who is famous on Instagram from Korea?
Some of the most famous Korean celebrities on Instagram are BTS member V, BLACKPINK member Jisoo, supermodel Jung Ho-yeon, singer Bae Suzy and actor Park Seo-joon.
-Who is the most-followed male Korean celebrity on Instagram?
With over 63.2 million followers, V of BTS is the most-followed male Korean celebrity on Instagram, as of January 2024.
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
