From Famine to Feast! Top 5 "Hexagonal" Rising Male Actors Who Conquered 2025 (feat. 2026 Lineup)
Did you enjoy our previous post on the "Monster Rookie Actresses"? Today, we bring you Part 2! Let's introduce the protagonists who turned the male actor market of 2025 from a "famine" into a "harvest."
2025 was a battlefield for so-called "Hexagonal Rookies"—actors who possess overwhelming physiques, and the ability to pull off everything from romance to genre dramas. Beyond being someone's child counterpart or a supporting role, we analyze the 5 Rising Leading Men who proudly grew into "top billing" stars.
1. Chu Young-woo: Turn It On, He's There! 2025's Ultimate "Prolific King"
The Chameleon Who Changes Genres: He was the "#1 Casting Choice" picked by industry insiders. From the sorrowful historical romance in JTBC's 'The Tale of Lady Ok' to the comical doctor in Netflix's 'Trauma Center,' and the film 'Even If This Love Disappears Tonight.' He mastered romance, medical, and noir genres, truly making 2025 his year.
2026 Next Step: No time to rest! He stars in the ENA drama 'Love Doctor' alongside Kim So-hyun. Transforming into a Ph.D. student who was a former high school swimmer, he is set to solidify his title as "Rom-Com King."
2. Lee Chae-min: The Perfect Trinity of Visuals, Acting, and Star Power
Next-Gen Hallyu Star with 189cm Physique: He captivated the 10-20s generation as the campus god in MBC's 'Bunny and Her Boys' and won over the older generation as the king with absolute taste in tvN's 'The Tyrant's Chef.' Despite it being his first historical lead role, he flaunted stable projection and charisma, emerging as a blue chip in the advertising world.
2026 Next Step: Shedding the romance lead image. In Netflix's 'Cashero,' released on the 26th, he plays 'Jonathan,' the youngest son of the villain group's chairman hunting superhumans, showcasing a chilling mystery performance.
3. Kim Gun-woo: Erasing the 'Villain' Shadow, Wearing 'Pure Love'
Forget Son Myeong-o, Here is the Melodrama Artisan: He completely laundered the intense villain image from 'The Glory.' He received praise as the warm man between Kim Go-eun and Park Ji-hyun in Netflix's 'Eunjung and Sangyeon' and proved his explosive stage command through the musical 'Almond.'
2026 Next Step: He will expand his activity radius by juggling musicals and media acting. Already discussed as the #1 candidate for upcoming melodrama leads, his "Pure Love Mode" is expected to continue.
4. Roh Jae-won: A 'Thousand Faces' Where Good and Evil Coexist
The Monster Actor Directors Love: He was present in every global OTT hit. From the strange atmosphere in 'Squid Game Season 3' to the KCIA agent in Disney+'s 'Made in Korea.' With a Janus-like mask that turns from benevolent to terrifying in an instant, he has become the next-generation protagonist of Chungmuro.
2026 Next Step: Finally standing tall as a screen protagonist. He takes a co-lead role with Byun Yo-han in the film 'Tazza: Song of Beelzebub,' portraying a high-stakes gambling battle. The release of Netflix's 'All of Us Are Dead Season 2' is also ahead.
5. Kim Do-hoon: The Coexistence of Boyishness and Masculinity
From Class President to Secretary, to Architect... Icon of Growth: Forget Kang Hoon from 'Moving.' He successfully debuted as a terrestrial lead in SBS's 'My Perfect Secretary,' stealing the hearts of older sister fans, and flaunted a dark, fatal charm as Kim Yoo-jung's mysterious helper in TVING's 'Dear X.'
2026 Next Step: 2026 is the year of the leap. With a boyish face but weighty emotional lines, he is a strong candidate for a sole lead in an authentic thriller or action noir genre.
[Editor's View] The rising male leads of 2025 were "prepared stars" based on solid skills honed in independent films and theater stages. Please watch the brilliant flight of these "5 Rookies" equipped with not only visuals but also solid acting skills, as they lead Korean content in 2026.
Who is the best male lead of 2025 who has officially moved into your heart?
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