Both Kim Soo Hyun and Lee Min Ho are so sought after in China at the moment, it's hard to tell who is more popular.
Lee Min Ho recently reached 20 million followers on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. His dramas, from "Boys Over Flowers" to "Faith: The Great Doctor" have always been well received in China, but "The Heirs" earned him even greater fame. The actor is now so famous in China that he was invited to help ring in the New Year on a televised gala performance. During that performance he sang the theme from "Meteor Garden," the Taiwanese "Boys Over Flowers."
According to Chinese media, Lee Min Ho is currently being bombarded with offers to do commercials there. He is said to be worth about $9 million in commercial fees alone, for ads ranging from cars to cosmetics. And such international commitments will fill his schedule until he begins work on his first film, "Gangnam Blues" in April.
But Kim Soo Hyun's popularity in China is also impressive. The actor won hearts with his role as the alien Do Min Joon in "You Who Came From The Stars." He was also invited to appear on Chinese television. He was the first Korean star to appear as a guest judge on the Chinese television program "Super Brain." A small fortune was spent to bring him over. A private jet was sent for the star and hundreds of security personal were enlisted to protect him. His salary for that one appearance earned him around $500,000.
Everything about "You Who Came From The Stars" became a trending topic in China, from the food eaten by the lead characters to the soundtrack. Singer Lyn was invited to perform the drama's love theme "My Destiny" at the Chinese QQ Music Awards after the song reached the number one spot on the Hong Kong and Taiwanese iTunes charts.
When Kim Soo Hyun arrived in China for his television appearance, eager fans surrounded him.
According to Yang Geun Hwan, the president of Kim Soo Hyun's agency KeyEast entertainment, "We were able to experience how much love Kim Soo Hyun and "You Who Came From The Stars" is receiving in China when we spent the day there."
Some say that these actors' popularity in China signals the advent of a second Hallyu wave. The first Hallyu or Korean wave took place in the late 1990s when dramas such as "Winter Sonata" made international stars out of Korean actors such as Choi Ji Woo and Bae Yong Joon.
And Lee Min Ho and Kim Soo Hyun are not the only Korean actors popular in China. Other actors that are fan favorites include Kim Hyun Joong, Jang Geun Suk, Lee Jong Suk and Lee Jun Ki.
Who is more popular? Whether Lee Min Ho or Kim Soo Hyun is more popular in China hardly matters as both have a lot to offer an international audience and they both deserve their fame.
