Arzen Rose Dulzura

Check out 7 of Lee Min-Ho’s iconic K-drama roles

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">From a chaebol heir to a crown prince to an OB-GYN on a space tour, South Korean star Lee Min-Ho has captured the hearts of Filipino viewers with his charismatic looks and swoon-worthy acting skills. </font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">As he prepares to meet his Filipino fans at the MINHOVERSE fan meeting on April 26, take a trip down memory lane and relive some of his most memorable roles:</font></font></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Gu Jun Pyo - Boys Over Flowers (2009)</strong></div><p>Lee Min-Ho skyrocketed to fame as Gu Jun Pyo, the arrogant yet lovable leader of F4, in the hit South Korean adaptation of the Japanese manga <em>Hana Yori Dango.</em> His portrayal of the iconic F4 leader made fans overlook some of his character’s &quot;red flag&quot; traits and root for him, just like Geum Jan-di (played by Ku Hye-sun).</p><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">With this breakthrough performance, Min-Ho won the Best New Actor award at the 2009 KBS Drama Awards.</font></font></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/2/9/lee-min-ho-is-coming-to-manila-this-april-26-1437" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><u><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">READ: Lee Min Ho is coming to Manila this April 26</font></font></u></strong></a></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">A little trivia about his Jun Pyo portrayal is that his iconic permed hairstyle became a major trend in South Korea, and the series helped fuel the Korean Wave throughout Asia, cementing Min=Ho&#x27;s status as a Hallyu star.</font></font></div><div><iframe width="1265" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ATuwUJsD8yI" title="Lee Min Ho Festival : Boys Over Flowers" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Lee Yoon-sung, Poochai – City Hunter (2011)</strong></div><div><strong></strong><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Min-Ho showcased a different side of himself as Lee Yoon-sung, also known as Poochai, a secret agent seeking revenge for his father’s murder. His character is a tech-savvy, action-packed vigilante who fights corruption at the highest levels.</font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Starring alongside actress Park Min-young, who played Presidential Security Service bodyguard Kim Nana, Min-Ho delivered an action-packed performance that won him the Best Actor award at the 4th Korea Drama Awards.</font></font></div><div><iframe width="1265" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jZL3qebrG0o" title="In the last week of City Hunter" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Kim Tan – The Heirs (2013)</font></font></strong></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Returning to the role of a chaebol heir, Min=Ho played Kim Tan, a hot-headed and sometimes immature young man exiled by his half-brother to prevent him from taking control of the family business.</font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">This drama featured a star-studded cast, including Park Shin-hye (his love interest), Kim Woo-bin, Kim Ji-won, Kang Min-hyuk, Krystal Jung, Kang Ha-neul, and Park Hyung-sik. </font></font></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/events/2025/3/11/korean-star-lee-min-ho-is-excited-to-meet-his-filipino-fans-i-want-to-meet-everyone-quickly-0932"><strong><u><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">READ: Korean star Lee Min Ho is excited to meet his Filipino fans: ‘I want to meet everyone quickly’</font></font></u></strong></a></div><div><strong><u></u></strong><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Min-Ho also performed one of the official soundtracks of the series, adding to his multi-talented appeal.</font></font></div><div><iframe width="1280" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_2elSY5DWew" title="Dino and Ryan fight again" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Heo Joon-jae – The Legend of the Blue Sea (2017)</font></font></strong></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Min-Ho charmed audiences as Heo Joon-jae, a cunning con artist in</font></font><em><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"> The Legend of the Blue Sea</font></font></em><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">, a fantasy-romance drama inspired by a classic Joseon legend. His character, who uses his intelligence and good looks to scam the wealthy elite, unexpectedly crosses paths with a mermaid named Shim Cheong (played by Jun Ji-hyun), leading to a tale of fate and reincarnation.</font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">This series was particularly special as it marked Min-Ho’s last drama before enlisting for his mandatory military service.</font></font></div><div><iframe width="1280" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G_jt3EwBMwU" title="The Legend of the Blue Sea - Trailer 2 | Lee Min Ho &amp; Jun Ji Hyun 2016 Korean Drama" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Emperor Lee Gon – The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)</font></font></strong></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Min-Ho showcased his regal charm as Emperor Lee Gon, a ruler from a parallel universe who crosses dimensions to stop a dangerous conspiracy while falling in love with a detective (played by Kim Go-eun).</font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">To prepare for this role, Min-Ho learned horseback riding and developed a strong bond with his horse, Maximus. The series also marked his comeback after military service and a reunion with </font></font><em><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">The Heirs</font></font></em><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"> writer Kim Eun-sook.</font></font></div><div><iframe width="1280" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jJwuFjmfjRY" title="The King : Eternal Monarch Season 1 | Official Trailer | Netflix" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Koh Hansu - Pachinko (2022)</font></font></strong></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">In a more mature and intense role, Min-Ho played Koh Hansu, a wealthy yet mysterious Korean businessman in Pachinko, a drama series based on Min Jin Lee’s 2017 novel of the same name.</font></font></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">To authentically portray the role, Min-Ho had to learn Japanese, as the story is set in Japan. His compelling performance in this critically acclaimed series demonstrated his depth as an actor.</font></font></div><div><iframe width="1265" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O1r5XXJOYNA" title="Pachinko — Official Trailer | Apple TV+" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Gong Ryong - When the Stars Gossip (2025) </font></font></strong></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">Taking viewers beyond Earth, Min-Ho stars in Netflix’s sci-fi romantic comedy </font></font><em><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">When the Stars Gossip</font></font></em><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit"> alongside actress Gong Hyo-jin. </font></font></div><div><iframe width="1265" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OkYT-T500AE" title="When the Stars Gossip | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB]" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><font style="vertical-align:inherit"><font style="vertical-align:inherit">He plays Gong Ryong, an obstetrician-gynecologist whose ties to a powerful conglomerate family lead him to embark on a journey to a space station, while harboring a hidden agenda.</font></font></div>