Choo Young-woo, Moon Sang-min, Cynthia, and More… Kakao Entertainment's 'Rising Five', the Box Office Cheat Key of 2026

The so-called 'hot rookie' actors from Kakao Entertainment's management company are showcasing their dazzling presence across TV, OTT, and the big screen as 2026 begins. The five actors, including Moon Sang-min, Choo Young-woo, Cynthia, Kim Min-ju, and Hong Hwa-yeon, each with distinct personalities, are rapidly rising as box office cheat keys in various genres, signaling a dominant year ahead.

Moon Sang-min & Choo Young-woo: 'Conquering Genres' from Romantic Comedy to Authentic Melodrama

The first to stand out is Moon Sang-min, affiliated with Awesome ENT. He is currently starring in the popular KBS 2TV 〈My Dear Thief〉, playing the role of a great prince of Joseon, achieving a peak viewership rating of 7.7%. Notably, he is receiving praise as the 'endless rom-com great' for his stable acting in a dual role where souls are swapped. He will transform into the real-life youth 'Kyung-rok' in the Netflix film 〈Pavane〉 set to release on February 20, showcasing a deep youth melodrama alongside Go Ah-sung.

Choo Young-woo from J-Wide Company has also solidified his position as a 'surefire trend'. Last year, he worked across medical and noir genres, and this year he returns with the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 〈Love Doctor〉. Directed by the renowned Ahn Pan-seok, he plays 'Park Min-jae', who loses a leg due to an unexpected illness but finds a new life as a robotics engineer. Expectations are high for a dense, authentic melodrama set in a laboratory alongside his co-star Kim So-hyun.

Cynthia, Kim Min-ju, and Hong Hwa-yeon: New Icons Chosen by Gen Z

Cynthia, supported by the Gen Z generation with her mysterious mask, has chosen the Netflix series 〈Grand Galaxy Hotel〉 as her next project. She will play 'Sang-soon', the only human manager of a hotel that comforts souls, challenging the mystery romance fantasy genre unique to the Hong sisters' writing style.

Kim Min-ju, from the same agency, will greet viewers with the JTBC Friday series 〈Shining〉, premiering on March 6. She will portray 'Mo Eun-ah', a former hotelier turned guesthouse manager, alongside Park Jin-young, depicting a poignant first love narrative. Her detailed emotional changes, proven in films like 〈Cheongseol〉, are expected to shine in this work as well.

Rising star Hong Hwa-yeon from BH Entertainment has joined the new tvN drama 〈Secret Gratitude〉. In this project, where she will collaborate with Shin Hye-sun and Gong Myung, she will play 'Park Ah-jung', a character with professional work abilities, delicately portraying a multidimensional figure who appears glamorous on the outside but has defensive mechanisms within.