We often ask each other questions like "Who's your favorite singer?, " "Who is your favorite rapper?" These are actually difficult questions to answer. But I think I can easily name Lee Byung-hun(이병헌) as my favorite Korean actor.
Lee Byung-hun first came on the acting scene in 1995 by starring in a TV drama, "Asphalt Man." Since then, he has been in popular Korean movies and dramas like "Iris," " Mr.Sunshine, " "All In," "The Good, the Bad, the Weird, "Inside Men," and more.
Many Koreans say that he is one of the best Korean actors. I agree. There are a couple of reasons.
First, he is a versatile actor, who can bring out the most of each role he plays. In "Inside Men," he is a silly, rowdy gang who makes jokes the entire time. In "The Man Standing Next, " he is a serious, distressed military agent who assassinates a president at the end. And then, he is a naive, romantic guy in "Once In a Summer."
The amazing thing about him is that his interpretation of each different character is so good that you forget about the other characters he has played. He is really different from so many other actors who just play a similar role over and over.
Second, he has an eye for good movies and dramas. Admittedly, there are many other great Korean actors. But the problem with them is that they fail to pick the "right one." Viewers are not just there to spend time and money to see how actors act. They want "entertainment." And Lee's taste satisfies them.
For example, his 2012 film, "Masquerade, " has amassed more than 12 million Korean audiences, which is the 13th highest record in Korean movie history. And many of his other works have seen nearly similar commercial successes as well.
Last but not least, he is a really good looking man, whom I see as a role model. Of course, many ladies find him attractive too. (Who can believe that he is almost 50 now?)
If you're interested in Lee Byung-hun now, I definitely recommend checking out his filmography. You will fall for him.
