Who are some Korean celebrities well-known in overseas media?

A number of Korean celebrities have risen to prominence on the international scene. Their recognition and success in overseas markets has come in large part thanks to a growing awareness of and interest in Korea resulting from the widespread popularity of hallyu, the "Korean wave," in overseas markets ─ and not only among Asian populations.

Kim Yunjin ─ a hugely successful movie actress in her native Korea ─ launched herself to international fame with her role as Sunhwa Kwon on the wildly popular ABC TV series Lost. In 2006, she was ranked #98 on Maxim's Hot 100, while Maxim back in the motherland called her the "Korean Julia Roberts." Kim Yunjin first proved herself a hugely successful movie actress with her role in 1999's Shiri, Korea's first blockbuster film, which set the record for the highest gross in Korean cinema at the time. She followed this up with a 2002 Blue Dragon Award, Korea's top film honor, for Best Actress for her role in Mirae (Ardor).