The World Goes Spherical And Spherical However Lee MinHo Stays Unbeatable As THE Prime Hallyu Star – How Did He Do It?

The 2024 Abroad Hallyu Survey outcomes are out, and it’s no shock that after once more, for the eleventh yr in a row, Lee MinHo has been picked as probably the most favored Hallyu star on this planet! Discover out extra.

In case you did not know, the Abroad Hallyu Survey is performed by the Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism to find out the consumption and impression of Hallyu worldwide. The pattern dimension of the survey is 25,000 individuals from 26 nations accustomed to Okay-Content material.

In response to the report printed by the Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism, Lee MinHo was picked as the highest Hallyu star by 6.4% of respondents. He additionally ranked 1st in all 5 areas that had been surveyed, that’s, Asia/Pacific, the Americas, Europe, Center East, and Africa. Lee MinHo’s reputation was recorded to be the very best within the Center East, adopted by Asia/Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

After all it’s an unbelievable feat to take care of the highest spot for 11 consecutive years however why precisely is the Lee MinHo craze so robust? Let’s get into it!

 

Lee MinHo’s Legacy

Earlier than Hallyu ever grew to become a mainstream cultural phenomenon, there was “Boys Over Flowers”, paving the way in which. A big majority of worldwide Okay-Drama followers began their Hallyu journey with “Boys Over Flowers”, and it continues to be one of many very first Okay-Dramas the current generations of followers watch or return to for his or her each day dose of Lee MinHo.

Because of this, during the last 5 years, world curiosity in “Boys Over Flowers” has spiked not less than as soon as nearly each single yr, largely equivalent to one in every of Lee MinHo’s works that had been both airing on the time or had been talked about within the information.

As an example, when “The King: Everlasting Monarch” was airing in 2020 (April 17 – June 12), searches for “Boys Over Flowers” skyrocketed round Might 17 to 23. Older followers may have been rewatching the basic and new followers might have seeked it out as a result of they simply could not get sufficient of Lee MinHo.

Equally, across the time when Lee MinHo’s look in “Pachinko” was all the excitement, alongside the Thai remake of “Boys Over Flowers” referred to as “F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers”, the Okay-Drama “Boys Over Flowers” began trending on Google searches as soon as extra (December 26, 2021 – Jan 1, 2022).

Unsurprisingly, as information about “Ask The Stars” began to unfold, with speculations in regards to the airing date, and so forth, world curiosity in “Boys Over Flowers” spiked but once more (April 16 – 22, 2023)!

In different phrases, every time Lee MinHo is within the highlight, “Boys Over Flowers” attracts consideration, too, proving its timeless standing and Lee MinHo’s enduring impression. It’s nothing however a fallacy to disclaim or undermine the affect of “Boys Over Flowers” on Hallyu, which continues to show itself even at the moment.

Now, the “Hallyu Star” class within the Abroad Hallyu Survey was created in 2014, when Lee MinHo had already began making a spot for himself in world followers’ hearts. Nonetheless, this time, his reputation obtained new impetus from the worldwide success of the Okay-Drama “The Heirs”—one other blockbuster hit with record-breaking highs on the time of its launch. As Hallyu had already crash-landed on the world, “The Heirs” was the right launching pad for Lee MinHo to shoot to world fame on a bigger scale than ever earlier than.

By topping up the success of “Boys Over Flowers” with Okay-Dramas like “Private Style”, “Metropolis Hunter”, “Religion” and “The Heirs”, Lee MinHo confirmed the world that he wasn’t a one-hit-wonder. He was destined to be a world star and he was solely getting began. This consistency additionally translated to a stronger fan base and better world curiosity on this new famous person from Korea.

Precisely one yr after the conclusion of “The Heirs”, in December 2014, Lee MinHo reached the very best peak in his profession on the time. It was additionally in 2014 that the “Hallyu Star” class was established, and as soon as he grabbed the highest spot, there was no trying again. In response to Google Developments, within the final 7 days, world curiosity in Lee MinHo reached an analogous peak as again in 2014. This occurred on April 13 (it has reached the identical peak many occasions in earlier years, too). So, the numbers recommend that Lee MinHo is at the moment at his peak as soon as once more. It’s no shock, due to this fact, that Lee MinHo is ruling the highest spot within the Abroad Hallyu Survey’s “Hallyu Star” class.

Notably, between 2014 to 2024, Lee MinHo has launched 2 Okay-Dramas (“The Legend of the Blue Sea”, “The King: Everlasting Monarch”), 2 movies (“Gangnam Blues”, “Bounty Hunters”), 1 documentary (“DMZ, The Wild”), two promotional internet collection (“Summer time Love” & “7 First Kisses”), and the Hollywood collection “Pachinko”.

As is clear, Lee MinHo selected high quality over amount, and clearly, the actor has a watch for impactful tasks. He outdid himself with every work, and Lee MinHo’s success stored scaling unbelievable heights. In response to an interview with “Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore”, Lee MinHo consistently makes an attempt to convey out the “true id” of his character in his works, which not solely comes by way of to the viewers as spectacular but additionally amplifies the immersion of his works, making a “fad” each time Lee MinHo is on display. He embodies his characters with such attraction and conviction that it’s inconceivable to not fall in love!

Furthermore, the actor’s versatility is past comparability, and he by no means permits himself to be put in a field. Simply if you suppose you’ve got understood and might predict Lee MinHo’s spectrum, he throws us a curveball we would least anticipate. For lots of followers, “Pachinko” was this curveball that began a brand new chapter in Lee MinHo’s profession.

 

Lee MinHo In His 30s

Lee MinHo entered his 30s because the King of the world. Everybody knew him and cherished him, even worshipped him as their function mannequin, an inspiration. Nonetheless, Lee MinHo took his 30s as a time to experiment, increase and evolve.

Very like his title of “the King”, Lee MinHo’s first Okay-Drama in his 30s was “The King: Everlasting Monarch”, the place he performed Emperor Lee Gon. Really, a royal function for a royal man. With this Okay-Drama, Lee MinHo reunited with “The Heirs” scriptwriter, the esteemed Kim EunSook, hoping to duplicate their earlier collaborative success, and for sure, the outcome spoke for itself. “The King: Everlasting Monarch” was one of the vital common TV reveals on Netflix on the time of its airing and topped the chart in a number of nations around the globe.

If we think about the present Okay-Drama panorama, up to now 90 days, “The King: Everlasting Monarch” has surpassed “The Heirs” in world curiosity, that means that extra persons are looking for “The King: Everlasting Monarch” now than “The Heirs”. “The King: Everlasting Monarch” exceeded “The Heirs” and launched an entire new technology of followers to this heartthrob, however little did they know that the star had much more up his sleeve.

For the primary time in 10 years, Lee MinHo auditioned for a task, and that function was none apart from Koh HanSu in “Pachinko”. Debatably, Lee MinHo as Koh HanSu in “Pachinko” is the very best efficiency of his appearing profession to this point and probably the greatest from modern Korean actors proper now, which says all that that you must find out about his excellent expertise.

Notably, one thing had shifted in Lee MinHo when he entered his mid-30s. The actor felt a pure inclination to painting the “actual” and with “Pachinko”, he proved that he was simply as a lot an actor for the true as he was for the fairytale.

As soon as I hit my mid-thirties, it appears like I am now striving for what’s ‘actual’. In any other case, I can not agree, and that is why issues are getting harder. Whether or not it is the factors for selecting scripts, the ensuing movies, and even what I am doing inside them. If it is not real now, it is tough. So, amidst a number of contemplation, I used to be supplied an audition for “Pachinko”, and once I learn the script, I felt sure. If it is this venture, I can genuinely give it a attempt. I need to attempt it as soon as.
Lee MinHo to “Esquire Korea”

The identical actor who introduced us probably the most heart-fluttering Prince Charming characters may additionally give us a heart-wrenchingly real looking, nuanced, and tragic anti-hero failed by historical past and burdened by survival and that’s the reason he’s the individuals’s most beloved Korean actor of the last decade.

I dig deeper into Koh HanSu and significantly, Lee MinHo’s portrayal of the character in my “Character Sketch” article you can learn here.

 

What’s Subsequent?

I need to go away as many roles as I can in my 30s. My purpose for this yr is to work as a lot as I can.
Lee MinHo to “Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore”

It is no shock that the actor is booked and busy! With a brand new outlook on appearing and a extra mature perspective on the artwork he desires to create on-screen, Lee MinHo is gearing up for a grand 2024 with three upcoming works.

Firstly, we’ve got “Ask The Stars”, also referred to as “When The Stars Gossip”, an area rom-com in regards to the love story of area vacationer Gong Ryong (Lee MinHo) and astronaut Eve Kim (Kong HyoJin), set in an area station. Then, we’re getting the extremely anticipated live-action adaptation movie of the immensely common internet novel/webtoon “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint”, the place Lee MinHo might be taking part in Yoo JungHyuk, one of many foremost protagonists of the story.

Each tasks are reportedly unprecedented in scale and are undoubtedly two of probably the most extremely talked about upcoming Korean productions proper now, with regularly rising curiosity from world followers. As a matter of reality, searches for “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint” in relation to Lee MinHo have gone up a whopping 350%! Discuss impression!

That is not all! Lee MinHo might be returning as Koh HanSu for “Pachinko – Season 2”, a lot to the enjoyment of followers worldwide.

We can’t wait to see what the world’s favourite Hallyu star, Lee MinHo, has in retailer for us subsequent!

 

A Fandom As Noble As The Artist

Lastly, we come to one of the vital essential parts that contributed to Lee MinHo’s overwhelming reputation throughout a decade – his relationship along with his followers, MINOZ. It’s not simply the actor’s expertise, beautiful visuals, towering physique, and impeccable model that has garnered him thousands and thousands of followers from around the globe. It’s the person who he’s, the human behind the artist, his kindness, humility, ardour, resilience, and sincerity which have made us fall in love. Nonetheless, what makes the Lee MinHo X MINOZ dynamic so particular is how Lee MinHo attracts inspiration and power from his followers too. He loves them with all his coronary heart and actually so. He cares for them and their tales as he shares his personal, and so they develop collectively. The person even made an entire singing profession only for his followers!

Even now, every time I make eye contact with my followers, I get good power from them, am moved by them, and get a lump in my throat. Each time I meet my followers for the primary time, I hear the the explanation why they grew to become my followers, and listening to their tales is all the time wonderful. For instance, a fan from Japan advised me how she grew to become despondent after shedding her husband. However she was comforted by watching my dramas and regained the need to stay. So tales like these encourage me to change into a greater actor.
Lee MinHo to “Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore”

To at the present time, the connection between Lee MinHo and MINOZ must be one of the vital admirable artist-fan equations we have ever seen. It is a fandom that celebrates their actor’s milestones by contributing to charity and donating to significant causes, echoing the values upheld by Lee MinHo himself.

Over time, Lee MinHo has remained unshakably loyal to his dedication to philanthropy. From founding the award-winning donation platform “PROMIZ” in 2014 to provide again to youngsters, animals, and the setting, to executing quite a few campaigns beneath the identical, such because the “PROMIZ Present Set Challenge”, “Milk Mustache Challenge”, “Protected Umbrella Challenge” and so forth, Lee MinHo’s dedication to creating a greater tomorrow for all is unwavering.

Along with contributing to PROMIZ and its numerous campaigns, there have been innumerable donation campaigns run independently by MINOZ worldwide, be that in honor of Lee MinHo’s birthday, a brand new venture, debut anniversaries, and so forth and so forth.

After all, the fandom showers the actor with their items and praises, too, however most significantly, they work collectively to make this world a greater place for everybody to stay in and love Lee MinHo. If that is not probably the most noble of intentions, we do not know what’s!

Because the fandom continues to develop, we hope increasingly more individuals will open up their hearts to heal and shield the world, bringing pleasure by way of sharing, very like their favourite star does.

Now, if we’re speaking numbers, we analyzed posts from throughout the web and located that the hashtag for Lee MinHo’s fandom – #MINOZ recorded a excessive of 3M in attain on March 21, 2024, which is a good measure of the excitement surrounding Lee MinHo’s comeback.

Apparently, once we performed a sentiment evaluation of the posts, the outcomes returned a 100% constructive sentiment, that means netizens worldwide don’t have anything however a constructive response to #MINOZ.

Now, that is what a healthful fandom seems like!

Equally, Lee MinHo’s Instagram follower depend retains growing, and the actor has gained 77,730 new followers within the final 30 days alone! With 35.1M followers on his Instagram (@actorleeminho) on the time of writing, Lee MinHo is the 2nd most adopted Korean actor on Instagram. We’re anticipating this quantity to skyrocket once more when the actor makes his much-awaited comeback.

Are you excited for Lee MinHo’s comeback? Inform us on X!