Lee Bo Young, Ji Sung are Top TV Stars in 2013 Gallup Korea Poll

Dec 20, 2013

Gallup Korea interviewed 1702 people of both genders over the age of 13 between November 1 and 18. They asked interviewees to name two actors or actresses who were outstanding in 2013. Gallup Korea released the results of their survey on December 17.

2013’s top two spots were taken by married couple Lee Bo Young and Ji Sung, with 11.0% and 8.1% of votes respectively. Lee Bo Young and Ji Sung have had a great 2013, each starring in well-received dramas and finally getting married after a seven-year romance. They received support across all age groups, but were most popular amongst those in their 30s and 40s.

In first place, Lee Bo Young has had two huge hits this year, with KBS daily drama “My Daughter Seo Young” and SBS drama “I Hear Your Voice.” “My Daughter Seo Young” beat out “Infinity Challenge” to claim top spot in Gallup Korea’s February TV audience survey; “I Hear Your Voice” was in second place in July. She got married to Ji Sung this July after finishing up “I Hear Your Voice.”

Ji Sung, in second place, has done SBS sageuk drama “The Great Seer” and KBS drama “Secret Love.” With a tight plot and good acting, “Secret Love” gained popularity with each episode it aired. Ji Sung’s “Secret Love” co-star Hwang Jung Eum is in 9th spot with 4.5% of votes.

So Ji Sub (7.5%) takes third place for his turn as a prickly chaebol in SBS drama “Master’s Sun,” acting alongside the queen of romantic comedy, Gong Hyo Jin (11th place, 3.5%). Joo Won follows in fourth place (6.6%), for his roles in MBC’s “7th Level Civil Servant” and KBS 2TV drama “Good Doctor,” while super rookie Lee Jong Suk is only 0.2% points behind in fifth (6.4%). Lee Jong Suk appeared in KBS 2TV drama “School 2013” alongside Kim Woo Bin (12th place, 2.8%), and “I Hear Your Voice” alongside Lee Bo Young, and is the top choice of those in their teens.

Taking sixth place is “Grandpas Over Flowers” Lee Soon Jae (5.2%), who continues to appear in dramas, variety shows and movies despite being nearly eighty years old. Not surprisingly, he was the top choice amongst those sixty and over. Kim Tae Hee garnered 4.9% of votes (8th place) for her turn as Jang Hee Bin in sageuk “Jang Ok Jang,” Lee Min Ho was in 9th (4.6%) with “The Heirs” and Kim Soo Hyun rounded out the final spot in the top ten, despite not having done any dramas this year. Kim Soo Hyun’s new SBS drama “You From Another Star” premiered this week.

“I Hear Your Voice” and “Secret Love” turned out to be the most memorable dramas this year, with all four stars from both dramas making it to the top ten.

Gong Hyo Jin (3.5%), Lee Byung Hun (3.1%), Kim Woo Bin (2.8%), Lee Seung Gi (2.8%), Son Hyun Joo (2.6%), Kim Hae Sook (2.4%), Suzy (2.2%), Ha Ji Won (2.1%), Go Doo Shim (2.1%) and Jang Dong Gun (2.1) made up the rest of the top twenty list.