Popular South Korean actress Song Hye Kyo is well-known for her parts in a number of hit TV dramas and motion pictures. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, on November 22, 1981. Due to her parts in popular dramas like That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), Full House (2004), Autumn in My Heart (2000), and Descendants of the Sun (2016), Song gained widespread recognition in the early 2000s.

She became a major actress in the industry after landing her breakthrough role in the "Seasonal Drama" series Autumn in My Heart, which was extremely famous throughout Asia. She gained international recognition for her role opposite Rain in the hugely successful film Full House.

According to their IMDb ratings as of January 2025, the top 5 Korean dramas starring Song Hye Kyo are as follows:

1. Descendants of the Sun (2016)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Genre: Romance, Action, Military

Plot: This highly successful drama tells the story of a romance between a doctor and a special forces soldier, set in a war-torn country. The series became a global hit, and Song Hye Kyo's performance as a determined and compassionate doctor received widespread acclaim.

In Descendants of the Sun (2016), Song Hye Kyo plays the role of Dr. Kang Mo-yeon, a highly skilled and dedicated doctor. Here’s a more detailed look at her character:

Character Overview:

Name: Kang Mo-yeon

Profession: Doctor (Cardiothoracic Surgeon)

Personality: Compassionate, strong-willed, intelligent, and determined

Storyline:

Kang Mo-yeon is a doctor working at a prestigious hospital in Seoul. Despite her expertise, she faces challenges due to her ethical standards and her frustration with the hospital's corrupt practices. Mo-yeon is independent, passionate about her work, and highly idealistic.

Her life changes dramatically when she meets Yoo Shi-jin (played by Song Joong-ki), a captain in the South Korean special forces, who is stationed in a fictional war-torn country as part of a peacekeeping mission. Despite their contrasting professions, the two develop a deep romantic connection.

Her portrayal of Kang Mo-yeon in Descendants of the Sun became one of her most iconic roles, further solidifying her place as one of Korea’s top actresses. Her character's resilience, compassion, and emotional depth resonated with audiences, making the drama a massive success both in South Korea and internationally.

2. That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013)

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Genre: Romance, Melodrama

Plot: This emotionally charged drama features Song Hye Kyo as a blind heiress who becomes involved with a man pretending to be her brother. The complex romance and heart-wrenching twists in the plot captivated viewers, and Song's portrayal of a vulnerable character was widely praised.

Character Overview:

Name: Oh Young

Profession: Heiress (to a large corporation)

Personality: Vulnerable, emotionally complex, and deeply scarred by past trauma

Storyline:

Oh Young is the blind daughter of a wealthy family. After losing both her parents in a car accident, she is left with her cold and manipulative stepbrother, who controls her inheritance.

Despite her blindness, Oh Young is a strong and independent woman who yearns for genuine love and human connection. She lives a lonely and isolated life, dealing with the emotional scars left by her traumatic childhood and loss.

Oh Soo (played by Jo In-sung) is a man who pretends to be her long-lost brother to inherit her wealth, but he soon becomes deeply involved in her life and begins to genuinely care for her. As their relationship develops, Oh Young finds herself falling in love with Oh Soo, unaware of his initial deception.

Song Hye Kyo’s portrayal of Oh Young was widely praised for its emotional depth and complexity. She captured the duality of her character—her strength and fragility—with remarkable nuance. The show was a huge success, and her performance earned her several awards. Her role in That Winter, the Wind Blows is considered one of her standout performances, showcasing her ability to portray complex emotions and vulnerable characters.

3. Full House (2004)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Plot: This romantic comedy revolves around Han Ji-eun, a cheerful woman who ends up living with a famous actor in a contract marriage. The charming story and the excellent chemistry between Song Hye Kyo and Rain helped make this drama a beloved classic in the rom-com genre.

Character Overview:

Name: Han Ji-eun

Profession: Aspiring Screenwriter

Personality: Kind-hearted, optimistic, independent, humorous, and a bit naïve

Storyline:

Han Ji-eun is an optimistic and carefree young woman who lives in her late father’s house, which she lovingly calls “Full House.” She has dreams of becoming a screenwriter, but her life takes an unexpected turn when she gets scammed out of her house by her two best friends, who sell it without her knowledge.

Her house is bought by Lee Young-jae (played by Rain), a popular and temperamental actor. To get her house back, Ji-eun ends up in a contract marriage with Young-jae. They agree to live together as husband and wife for a year, during which they will pretend to be in love, with the ultimate goal of resolving the ownership issue.

Over time, their relationship becomes complicated as the two grow closer and start developing real feelings for each other, despite their initial misunderstandings and clashes in personality.

Song Hye Kyo's portrayal of Han Ji-eun in Full House is considered one of her signature roles. Her performance helped solidify her place as one of the leading actresses in Korea, and the drama itself became a massive success both domestically and internationally. The combination of her charm, humor, and emotional depth made Ji-eun a character that many viewers could relate to and love. The series remains a classic in the romantic comedy genre, and Song Hye Kyo's performance continues to be fondly remembered by fans worldwide.

4. Autumn in My Heart (2000)

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Genre: Romance, Melodrama

Plot: This melodramatic love story about lost and rediscovered family ties, as well as the tragic romance between the main characters, made Autumn in My Heart one of the defining dramas of the early 2000s. Song Hye Kyo’s heartfelt portrayal of Yoon Joon-suh was central to the success of the series.

Character Overview:

Name: Yoon Joon-suh

Profession: High School Student (later a college student)

Personality: Innocent, kind-hearted, and emotionally vulnerable

Storyline:

Yoon Joon-suh is a sweet, gentle young woman who grows up in a loving family, only to discover a shocking truth about her past. After the death of her biological parents in a tragic accident, she is adopted by a new family. However, she later learns that she was switched at birth with another child, Yoon Joon-hee, a girl from a wealthier family. This revelation sets the stage for the central tragedy of the drama.

Throughout the series, Joon-suh faces immense emotional turmoil as she grapples with her identity, the betrayal of those she loves, and the complicated relationships in her life. She is torn between her deep love for Han Tae-seok (played by Won Bin), her childhood friend, and her complicated family dynamics.

Her role as Yoon Joon-suh in Autumn in My Heart is considered one of her breakthrough performances, and the drama itself became a cultural phenomenon. Her portrayal of a woman caught in a tragic love triangle while dealing with a crisis of identity helped her become one of the most popular and respected actresses in Korea. Autumn in My Heart is still remembered as one of the defining K-dramas of the early 2000s, and Song Hye Kyo's performance is central to the series' enduring legacy.

5. Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021)

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Genre: Romance, Drama

Plot: This contemporary romance series explores the ups and downs of a love story between a fashion designer and a photographer. While it wasn't as universally adored as some of Song Hye Kyo’s other works, it still garnered a strong fanbase, and her portrayal of a strong yet emotionally complex character was well received.

These ratings reflect the general reception and popularity of each drama, showcasing the global impact and lasting legacy of Song Hye Kyo's performances in these hit series.

Character Overview:

Name: Ha Young-eun

Profession: Head of the Design Department at a fashion company

Personality: Pragmatic, strong-willed, intelligent, emotionally complex, and somewhat guarded

Storyline:

Ha Young-eun is a highly skilled and accomplished fashion designer who has built a successful career despite facing personal and professional challenges. She is a woman who is realistic about life and relationships, having experienced emotional hurt in the past, which has made her cautious and guarded.

Young-eun enters a complicated and intense romance with Yoon Jae-guk (played by Jang Ki-yong), a successful photographer. Their relationship begins with attraction and passion but becomes strained as they deal with the complexities of love, ambition, and their different life priorities.

Throughout the series, Young-eun is torn between her career, her evolving feelings for Jae-guk, and her desire to protect herself from being hurt again. The story explores the challenges of maintaining love while juggling personal growth, career aspirations, and past emotional baggage.

Her portrayal of Ha Young-eun in Now, We Are Breaking Up marked a more mature and introspective role compared to her previous work. While the series didn’t achieve the same level of massive international success as some of her earlier dramas, Song Hye Kyo’s performance was praised for its depth and subtlety, showing her ability to take on more complex, layered characters as she continues to evolve in her career.

Her role as Ha Young-eun resonated with viewers, especially those who could relate to the struggles of balancing career ambitions with personal relationships. This drama added another memorable role to her diverse career and solidified her status as a top actress in Korean dramas.