Lee Min Ho is a renowned Hallyu star who is not only a favorite of Korean watchers but also of fans from all around the world. The South Korean actor, model, creative director, and singer is truly a house of many talents. He was the first ever Korean celebrity who got to get a wax figure made at the highly famous Madame Tussauds, proving yet again how respected and loved Min Ho is in the industry. No one can deny that he is truly filled with talent, but more on that later. Being in this field for over a decade now, the actor has built quite a portfolio; let’s dive into some of Lee Min Ho best performances, ranked.

5 Legend Of The Blue Sea (2016)

Lee Min Ho is celebrated as the Wang (king) of K-Drama, and no one can deny this sheer fact after watching Legends of the Blue Sea, through which he yet again proves that he can seamlessly adapt to any kind of role. Legend Of The Blue Sea revolves around Joon Jae portrayed by Lee Min Ho, who is one of the biggest con artists in Seoul. However, his life takes an interesting turn when he discovers a mermaid played by Jun Ji Hyun. The audience gets a chance to see Min Ho portray a double role. One as a modern con artist and another from the Joseon era, which is always a refreshing change. Not only that, but it also depicts the actor’s versatile acting range.

Through his off-the-charts chemistry with Ji Hyun, and their constant banter, Min Ho gives his fans myriad moments of joy and scenes to ship them over. In the initial scenes, where Joon Jae discovers Ji Hyun’s character for the first time in his closet, that entire cat and mouse chase is absolutely hilarious, one that will leave tears of laughter in the audience’s eyes. From his childish banter to him rolling in bed after recognizing his feelings, Lee Min Ho will leave no gap in making watchers fall for him.

4 City Hunter (2011)

City Hunter is a fast-paced action drama that narrates the revenge story of Lee Yoon Sung vowing to avenge the death of his loved ones. City Hunter is quite a contrast to many other shows on this list as it is more action-packed. In almost every episode, the audience will find themselves at the edge of their seats as Min Ho goes through another near-death fighting scene. However, it is nothing to fret over as he takes over his opponent effortlessly. One of the most iconic parts is where he takes over two security guards with just one walkie-talkie ­­­– all that is enough for his fans to gush over. While initially Yoon Sung is blinded by vengeance, as the show progresses, the audience sees cracks in his personality and a softening of heart when Kim Na Na comes into his life.

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3 The Heirs (2013)

One of Lee Min Ho’s most iconic and loved roles is definitely his performance as Kim Tan, an heir to one of the biggest Groups in Korea, in the drama The Heirs. One of the most interesting parts about Min Ho’s role in this K-Drama is that his fans get to see how versatile he can truly act. This role demands Lee Min Ho to not only act as a romantic lover, but to also portray a neglected child, who is manipulated and discouraged by his brother, and so much more! However, he pulls all of these wide ranges of expressions and emotions effortlessly. In the later half of the show, when one of the biggest secrets is revealed, Kim Tan finds himself falling into a self-destructive depression. This is where the audience will see Min Ho’s best of the best acting shine through.

2 Pachinko (2022)

Based on the New York Times best Seller novel, Pachinko tells a tale of an immigrant family across a few generations. The show narrates their sacrifices and how they affect all generations. It is quite daring to take on the villainous role of Koh Hansu, a merchant who forms a relationship with Sunja, the main character, when she was in her teens. In most K-drama, the audience often gets to see an over-the-top villain. However, in Pachinko Min Ho plays a manipulative, gaslighting villain that is too close to home. When Sunja tells him that she is expecting, he initially acts cheery, but as soon as she wishes to marry him, the audience sees a 180-shift in his expression. Leaving fans baffled as he insults her with derogatory remarks and later informs her that he is already married. Whether it is through the initial chivalrous gestures or the complete gaslighting jerk attitude, Lee Min Ho’s performance is commendable. Due to his presence in the series, it was noted to be one of the most anticipated shows of 2022.

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1 Boys Over Flowers (2009)

No one could argue after seeing Boys Over Flowers on this list as it is Lee Min Ho’s best of the best performance. This SBS drama became an instant hit all across Asia, and it is still a classic K-Drama favorite for fans to re-watch. Boys Over Flowers might have a cliché storyline where a rich, spoiled brat, Gu Jun Pyo, portrayed by Lee Min Ho, falls in love with the poor yet courageous Geum Jan-di, who gets an opportunity to study in their elite school. Not only is the story portrayed well, but it has become a trendsetter for many school dramas to come. In the initial scenes, the audience gets to see how icy cold Lee Min Ho can truly act when he smashes a cake all over a girl’s face, who specifically baked it for him, and his excuse to do it was that he eats cakes made by top-notch pastry chefs — a complete jerk. Or in the most iconic scene that stunned the audience when he asked a classmate to lick ice cream off his shoe. Whether it is through his expressions or actions, the audience will feel the chilled breeze through the screen because of his icy, cruel heart. However, as the show progresses, Jun Pyo has a change of heart. Lee Min Ho made the audience fall for his role with this childish and goofy nature, making it impossible to not root for his character. Boys Over Flowers was and still is the crucial component of the entire budding Korean wave, and helps in kick-starting Lee Min Ho’s popularity all around the world.