Park Bo-gum and IU Top 2025 'Talent of the Year' Survey, 'When My Love Blooms' Dominates

According to the '2025 Talent of the Year' survey released by Korea Gallup, Park Bo-gum and IU have secured the top two spots, proving their immense popularity among viewers.

The survey, conducted from November 11th to 28th with 1,700 individuals aged 13 and above nationwide, asked respondents to name up to two actors who were most active and impactful throughout the year. Park Bo-gum (13.3%) and IU (11.3%), who played the central couple in the hit Netflix drama 'When My Love Blooms' (폭싹 속았수다), ranked first and second, respectively.

Park Bo-gum, who debuted in the 2011 film 'Blind,' previously caused a 'Park Bo-gum syndrome' with his roles in tvN's 'Reply 1988' and KBS2's 'Love in the Moonlight,' earning him the top spot in the 'Talent of the Year' survey in 2016. He has since solidified his status as a leading actor through consistent performances.

IU, a singer-songwriter who debuted in 2008, has also made significant strides as an actress. She ranked 7th in the 'Talent of the Year' survey in 2019 for her role in tvN's 'Hotel Del Luna' and has further expanded her acting spectrum by flawlessly portraying a dual role in 'When My Love Blooms.' The drama, which depicted the life story of a couple from Jeju Island from the 1950s to the present, evoked nostalgia among viewers and ranked first in Korea Gallup's preferred broadcast video programs for three consecutive months upon its release.

Kim Ji-won came in third (4.4%) for her remarkable portrayal of 'Hong Hae-in' in tvN's 'Queen of Tears.' Following her were Im Yoon-ah (3.9%) from tvN's 'The Chef of a Tyrant,' Choo Young-woo (3.3%) who appeared in dramas like tvN's 'The Tale of Fairy,' and Lee Jung-jae (3.1%) for his role in Netflix's 'Squid Game Season 2 & 3.' Namkoong Min and Han Ji-min (2.9% each) for their respective roles in SBS's 'My Dearest' and JTBC's 'Beyond the Dream,' Byeon Woo-seok for tvN's 'Lovely Runner,' and Kim Tae-ri for tvN's 'Jeong Nyeon' also tied for seventh place. Notably, Im Yoon-ah, Choo Young-woo, and Han Ji-min entered the top 10 for the first time this year.

The survey results highlight a dynamic shift in the entertainment landscape, moving away from terrestrial broadcasters to non-terrestrial and OTT platforms. The increasing diversity of genres and subjects has led to a more varied audience preference, reflected in the fluctuating 'Talent of the Year' rankings. The fact that an actor from an OTT drama took the top spot for the first time signifies the evolving media environment.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically, commenting, 'As expected, Park Bo-gum and IU's chemistry was amazing!', 'When My Love Blooms was a masterpiece, the actors' performances were top-notch,' and 'It's a shame about Lee Je-hoon and Kim Hye-soo, they were great too.' Many also noted the changing times, with comments like 'An OTT drama taking first place, times have really changed,' reflecting the shift in media consumption.