The Actress Who Beat Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Ji-won, and Kim Soo-hyun… Voted as ‘Television Actor of the Year’

There is one actress who surpassed many renowned actors to claim the top spot in the 2024 'Television Actor of the Year' survey.

The actress who topped the 2024 "Television Actor of the Year" survey is none other than Kim Tae-ri. Conducted by Gallup Korea, this annual survey reflects the public's direct choices and serves as a key indicator of the year's pop culture trends. Kim Tae-ri secured the top spot with her outstanding performance in tvN's drama Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (정년이), gaining significant public support.

▣ Kim Tae-ri Rises to the Top with Public Support

The survey, conducted from November 11 to 25, 2024, asked 1,741 people aged 13 and older to name the "most active talent of the year." As a result, Kim Tae-ri claimed first place with 11.9% of the votes, surpassing many other renowned actors.

Kim Tae-ri showcased her deep acting skills in the recently aired Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (정년이), where she portrayed the role of Yoon Jeong-nyeon in a national theater troupe. Set in the 1950s against the backdrop of the Korean War, the drama focuses on themes of competition and solidarity as the characters grow. Kim Tae-ri's performance heightened the immersion of her character, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.

For this role, Kim Tae-ri spent over a year practicing pansori, dance, and national theater acting to perfect her character. Her dedication elevated the quality of the work, making it one of the most talked-about dramas of the year.

▣ Top-Ranking Actors

Coming in second place with 11.9% of the votes was actor Kim Soo-hyun, who made a powerful impact in tvN's The Queen of Tears (눈물의 여왕). His co-star Kim Ji-won, who played alongside him in the same drama, ranked third with 8.9%. Together, their excellent chemistry played a significant role in the drama's success.

In fourth place was Byeon Woo-seok with 5.5%, followed by Namkoong Min in fifth place with 4.9%. Both actors received widespread love for their strong performances in Up and Lovely Runner (선재 업고 튀어) and My Dearest (연인), respectively.

▣ Kim Tae-ri’s Acting Journey

Kim Tae-ri debuted in 2014 through an advertisement, but it was with the movie The Handmaiden that she became widely recognized. She continued to showcase her delicate acting in films such as 1987 and Little Forest. In television, she gained immense popularity in 2018 with her role in Mr. Sunshine, further expanding her acting range.

Through Jeongnyeoni, Kim Tae-ri has taken another leap as an actress, earning both public admiration and critical acclaim.

▣ Changes in the Drama Industry

This year’s survey also reflects the changing landscape of the drama industry. While broadcast TV dramas used to dominate, non-broadcast and OTT platform dramas have now become the mainstream. The works featuring actors like Kim Tae-ri are a clear representation of this shift.

The 2024 "Television Actor of the Year" survey results highlight how much love Kim Tae-ri has received from the public and the influence she has had on the drama industry this year. Expectations for her future projects have only grown stronger.

Here are the details of the survey:

Survey Period: November 11-25, 2024

Sampling Method: Stratified cluster probability proportional sampling

Response Method: Interview by surveyors (CAPI)

Survey Participants: 1,741 individuals aged 13 and older (excluding Jeju)

Margin of Error: ±2.3 percentage points (95% confidence level)

Response Rate: 28.8% (1,741 responses out of 6,054 total contacts)

Commissioned by: Self-conducted by Korea Gallup