- People born under this special and auspicious Chinese zodiac sign are said to be creative, confident and curious
- Actors Kim Soo-hyun and Im Si-wan, as well as Aespa members Karina and Giselle, are among the notable names born in this year
Actor Park Seo-joon (right) in a still from “Gyeongseong Creature”. He’s one of the many South Korean celebs born in the Year of the Dragon. Photo: NetflixThis Lunar New Year, we will welcome the Year of the Dragon. People born in this year are said to be creative, confident and curious. Take a look at some notable South Korean celebrities who were born under this auspicious Chinese zodiac animal sign.
G-Dragon
G-Dragon, who debuted as the leader of K-pop boy band BigBang in 2005, turns 36 in 2024. The rapper-singer had a rough year in 2023; he was under police investigation for illegal drug use, but was recently cleared of these allegations.
He will make a comeback this year and establish a foundation to fight drug abuse, according his new management agency, Galaxy.
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Park Seo-joon
Born in the Year of the Earth Dragon, 1988, like G-Dragon, actor Park Seo-joon made his Hollywood debut in The Marvels and stars in Concrete Utopia, South Korea’s entry for best international feature film in the 2024 Academy Awards.
His new Netflix series Gyeongseong Creature Part 1 launched in December, and Gyeongseong Creature Part 2 will debut this month.
Kim Soo-hyun
Another 1988 “dragon baby”, actor Kim Soo-hyun, is known for his roles in My Love from the Star (2013) and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020). In 2024, he will star in the highly anticipated romance drama Queen of Tears, scripted by Crash Landing on You writer Park Ji-eun.
Im Si-wan
Also turning 36 will be singer-turned-actor Im Si-wan, who has the lead role in Once Upon a Boyhood, currently showing, and has been cast in the second season of Netflix’s megahit series Squid Game, scheduled for release in 2024.
K-pop idols
A number K-pop idols active in third-generation bands – formed between 2012 and 2017 – and fourth-generation bands, formed since 2018, were born in 2000, the Year of the Metal Dragon.
They include girl group Aespa’s Karina and Giselle; former Momoland member Nancy; former CLC member Kwon Eun-bin; Itzy’s Yeji and Lia; Le Sserafim’s Kim Chae-won; and solo artist Lee Chae-yeon.
As for male performers, this cohort includes Hyunjin, Han, Felix and Seungmin of Stray Kids; Soobin of TXT; Jongho of Ateez; Haechan, Jeno and Jaemin of NCT; Sunwoo and Eric of The Boyz; and Choi Bo-min from Golden Child.
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Long-time celebs
Several Korean celebrities born in 1976, another Year of the Dragon, including singer Kim Jong-kook and actors Cha Tae-hyun and Jang Hyuk, formed a band of brothers they call Dragons Club. Together, they starred in Korean reality-TV travel show Couriers in Mongolia in 2023.
Veteran actor Han Suk-kyu, who has impressed viewers with his role as top surgeon Master Kim in the Dr. Romantic K-drama series, was born in 1964, the Year of the Wood Dragon.
Meanwhile, K-pop pioneer Lee Soo-man, the founder of music label SM Entertainment, and veteran actor Ahn Sung-ki were born in 1952, the Year of the Water Dragon.