Despite his impressive success, Lee Min Ho remains a very modest actor.
The actor recently told the fashion magazine @star1 that his success in China was not due to his own talent or even his indisputable good looks. He said he owed it all to the Hallyu power of k-dramas.
"Chinese fans just love the characters I played in several dramas, including "Boys Over Flowers, "City Hunter" and "The Heirs," which only just wrapped up."
In a study conducted last December, "The Heirs" ranked the number one most watched k-drama in 26 countries, but he is especially well loved in China. Lee Min Ho is so popular in China that he has 20 million Weibo followers. He is described in the Chinese press as a "Namsin," which is the Mandarin word for emperor.
When asked about the devotion of his Chinese fans, he said that it was also the dramas but he had made an effort to connect with them.
"I think it is also due to the power of Korean dramas and I have made great efforts over the past three years to interact with my Chinese fans," said Lee.
Lee Min Ho has made several trips to China to meet his fans there and he was also asked to participate in the show Chunwan for a special televised New Year's Day gala.
"Appearing on the show was a new experience for me," said Lee. "I was very honored that I could represent Korea."
The actor performed "Can't Help Falling in Love," the theme song for "Meteor Garden," which is the Taiwanese version of "Boys Over Flowers." The Taiwanese drama version was produced first in 2001 and made stars of its F4 actors. Both drama versions are based on the manga Hana Yori Dango.
"I was quite proud that I was able to sing the theme song," said Lee, who will next be seen in the film "Gangnam Blues."
Lee Min Ho's modesty has been praised in the past. He is known for respecting those he works with and is always considerate of the effort they put into making him look good. He is also always openly grateful for his fans devotion.
According to the Chinese entertainment website Kugou.com, Lee is one of the top five Korean actors that are currently popular in China. The other actors are Kim Soo Hyun Jang Geun Suk, Kim Woo Bin and Lee Jong Suk.
But it's true that "The Heirs" has made international stars of several of its actors. Kim Woo Bin, Lee Min Ho's co-star in "The Heirs," recently appeared on four of Taiwan's biggest papers for three days in a row, due to his appearance at fan meetings and press conferences there. The press praised Kim Woo Bin for his friendly personality and warm encounters with fans.
