[2025 Year-End Review] Cineplay Arts Awards Best Actor 4

The year 2025 is coming to a close. Just as previews for year-end settlements often come up, the end of the year requires a time to reflect and summarize the year. Therefore, Cineplay is also looking back on the year and selecting impressive works in various fields. We have selected awards for films, scripted, unscripted, actors, rookie actors, and special awards regardless of the field. Among them, this post features one actor each selected by our reporters who showcased excellent performances among Korean male actors. Similar to the previous BEST work selection, we chose from actors in films and dramas officially released in Korea by December 10, 2025. We applaud all the actors who filled this year with their presence and introduce the four selected by Cineplay reporters.

Seongchan Eol - 〈Face〉 Park Jung-min

Despite the 'Park Jung-min craze' that is sweeping through, I sometimes wonder, 'Is it really that great?' Nevertheless, I cannot deny the talent of actor Park Jung-min. To speak frankly, I cannot imagine a 〈Face〉 that is not Park Jung-min. Since his debut, his challenge of playing two roles has not seemed like a barrier to his acting. The performances of his son Dong-hwan and his father Young-kyu in his youth are distinctly different, and the process of Young-kyu's transformation is portrayed very realistically. From the smile of someone who has never received kindness to the moment of collapse from humiliation, Park Jung-min exists in front of the camera as the character itself. To be more frank, an actor who gives up their fee for the sake of the film and even suggests playing two roles themselves? Honestly, there are hardly any. I am just grateful that Park Jung-min stands in that rare category.

Chua-young - 〈Severe Trauma Center〉 Ju Ji-hoon

In 〈Severe Trauma Center〉, Ju Ji-hoon has created another life character as 'Baek Kang-hyuk', a person who does not belong anywhere and does not compromise with injustice. If someone felt this drama was like a superhero story, it is due to Ju Ji-hoon's eyes and expressions that embody Baek Kang-hyuk's extraordinary tenacity.

Joo Seong-cheol - 〈Good News〉 Hong Kyung

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〈Good News〉 transcends genres and styles, performing a magic trick that feels like gathering several films into one. Under the brilliant and skillful technique of director Byun Sung-hyun, all actors constantly transform in each sequence as if they are changing masks. Actor Hong Kyung remains completely unshaken in the ever-changing situations. It is both amazing and grateful to see him standing tall as the 'young male lead' actor in a drought state, following in the footsteps of Lee Je-hoon, Yoo Ah-in, and Ryu Jun-yeol.

Kim Ji-yeon - 〈Bad Relationship〉 Park Hae-soo

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I once again confirmed why Netflix loves Park Hae-soo so much. He is an actor who possesses not only wit and humor but also madness and chill that suit genre works. Park Hae-soo's performance further enriched the twists of 〈Bad Relationship〉. Thanks to that, it is only natural that the pleasure and shock are maximized as the threads unravel. From the 'witness man' who desperately cries out, "Please save me!" to "While digging the ground, I kept thinking, no matter how much I think, it seems like a small amount. Please give me ten million won more," and then to 'Park Jae-young' and 'Kim Beom-jun'. I want to give an acting award to Park Hae-soo, who effortlessly portrayed three faces in one work.