Korean Actors Who Found Their Way to Hollywood

We cannot deny the admiration of Korean TV series and films are getting very popular all over the world. It is ardent as more and more Korean actors have been making a buzz on their own not only in Asia but internationally.

On top of it all, Korean films and series are definitely the new wave to binge-watch as they have been dominating mostly every household.

Some celebrities were born in Korea while some abroad and this list of actors are among those who made it to Hollywood. Being Asian didn't stop them from doing the things they love, which is, of course, acting.

Lee Byung Hun

Because of his role as Storm Shadow in the film "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," and its sequel, "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," the actor started gaining worldwide recognition. Lee also co-starred in the American film "RED 2" with Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich prior to an unexpected action-comedy hit "RED." "Terminator Genisys," "Misconduct," and "The Magnificent Seven" were among his Hollywood films.

Rain

This K-pop icon became a sensation worldwide and getting a lot of media attention. No wonder he made it to Hollywood and starred in Hollywood films "Speed Racer" and "Ninja Assassin."

Steven Yeun

Popularly known as Glenn in the AMC hit series "The Walking Dead," this has been his biggest role to date. This actor definitely made a name for himself in Hollywood. "Mayhem," "Sorry to Bother You," and "Minari" are among his American films. He also appeared in the sitcoms "The Big Bang Theory" as Sebastian and in "Jerry" as Chaz.

Ki-Hong Lee

Actor-writer Ki Hong Lee is known for his breakout role in "The Maze Runner," "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" (2015), and "Maze Runner: The Death Cure." This trilogy has brought this South Korean-born into prominence. He's married to his childhood friend Hayoung Choi since 2015.

Ken Jeong

Ken Jeong is born in Detroit to Korean parents. He is popularly known for his role as Ben Chang in the sitcom "Community." Among his comedic roles were from the comedy film "The Hangover Trilogy." He also appeared in Michael Bay's film "Pain & Gain" and "Crazy Rich Asians," which turned out to be a box office hit, having an all-Asian star cast. Plus, this actor is a licensed physician in California.

Nicole Bilderback

Born in Seoul, this actress is a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese but pretty much an all American girl. She got her last when she was adopted as a newly-born to parents Jim and Lois Bilderback. Though she has not been seen much on TV now, her past works include "Dawson's Creek," "Dark Angel," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Heroes," "The Mentalist," "Bring It On," and many more. She recently completed filming as Pocahontas in the TV show, "Snow."

Bobby Lee

Born in San Diego, he is among the first Asians to cast in MadTV and was best on it. This actor-writer is known for his role in "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.". He recently finished production for the TV show "High & Tight."

John Cho

Born in Seoul, his acting career began with small roles in projects, such as "Wag the Dog," "Bowfinger," and "Better Luck Tomorrow." He rose to prominence for his breakthrough role in the teen romance comedy "American Pie" and helped coin the phrase "MILF." He started appearing in various films, such as "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," indie drama "Columbus," "Searching," "The Grudge," and many more.

Arden Cho

Born in Amarillo, Texas, Arden Cho is an actress-producer and best known for her role in the TV series "Teen Wolf," "Chicago Med," and "The Honor List" were among other series she participated on. She just finished filming the TV movie "The Selection" as Elise Whisks.

Margaret Cho

This San Francisco-born is an actress, writer, and producer has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows. She started as a stand-up comedienne that got her roles in different Hollywood films and TV series, such as "The Nanny," "Sex and the City," "'Til Death," "One Missed Call," "Ghost Whisperer," "Family Guy," and many more. She authored a lot of books and is a philanthropist.

Though some Korean actors may have turned down Hollywood projects due to conflicting schedules, there is no stopping the Korean wave as more and more Korean celebrities have been invited to join Hollywood films.