Koreans Vote For Most Notable Film Actors Of 2020

Dec 15, 2020

Gallup Korea has unveiled the results of its annual poll on the most notable film stars of the year.

Since 2007, Gallup Korea has held annual polls in which people in South Korea vote for the most notable characters of the year. For the 2020 poll, 1700 people over the age of 13 were surveyed between November 5 and 29 from all over mainland South Korea. The poll results for variety stars/comedians and sports athletes have already been released.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film industries in South Korea and all over the world suffered serious setbacks, with limited theater engagement, delayed release dates, and difficulties filming on location.

According to the Korean Film Commission, there were five films in 2019 that surpassed 10 million moviegoers at the domestic box office, and about 50 films that surpassed 1 million moviegoers. In 2020, that number fell to 17 films that surpassed 1 million moviegoers, and the highest attendance recorded in the whole year was “The Man Standing Next,” at 4.75 million moviegoers. On the other hand, there was a marked increase in the use of streaming services.

For the second year in a row, Song Kang Ho was voted the most notable film actor of the year with a score of 27.8 percent. Although his critical and box office hit “Parasite” was released in 2019, the film made headlines all over the world when it won four Oscars at the Academy Awards, which were held in February 2020. As he released no new films in 2020, Song Kang Ho topping the polls is also a testament to his big presence in the Korean film world.

In second place was Lee Byung Hun, who starred in “The Man Standing Next,” previously mentioned as the film with the highest attendance in 2020. He has also consistently starred in high-profile hit films over his career and has ranked first in the Gallup polls before.

In third place was Ma Dong Seok, a charismatic actor known for taking on films with diverse genres. He appeared in the disaster film “Ashfall” at the end of 2019, but also made headlines last year when he was cast in the Marvel film “The Eternals” alongside Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie. That film has now been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The top 10 continues to be dominated by male actors, with Kim Hye Soo (No. 9) and Lee Jung Eun (No. 10) the only actresses to make it in. Gallup Korea notes that the highest that a female actor has ranked in the poll was in 2007, when Jeon Do Yeon ranked first. In 2008, Son Ye Jin, Kim Hye Soo, and Jeon Do Yeon ranked No. 2-4.

Check out the top 10 below!