Nation's First Love
Nation's First Love (Korean: 국민 첫사랑) or Nation's Boyfriend (Korean: 국민 남친) is an informal honorific title used in South Korean entertainment industry to describe a female [or male] celebrity, most often an actress, who embodies the image of a country's idealized first love.[1]
Actress and singer Bae Suzy (L) has been called "Nation's First Love" while actor Park Bo-gum (R) has been given the nickname "Nation's Boyfriend" by media outlets.
People associated with the title
Nation's First Love
- Im Ye-jin (born 1960), actress[2]
- Lee Mi-yeon (born 1971), actress[3]
- Park Joo-mi (born 1972), actress[4]
- Shim Eun-ha (born 1972), actress[5]
- Jun Ji-hyun (born 1981), actress[2][6]
- Son Ye-jin (born 1982), actress[6][7]
- Han Ga-in (born 1982), actress[8]
- Lee Yeon-hee (born 1988), actress[6]
- Bae Suzy (born 1994), actress and singer[9][6]
- Shin Ye-eun (born 1998), actress[10]
- Kim Da-hyun (born 1998), actress and singer[11][12]
- Kim You-jung (born 1999), actress[13]
- Roh Yoon-seo (born 2000), actress[14]
- Kim Min-ji (born 2004), singer [15]
Nation's Boyfriend
- Ahn Jae-wook (born 1971), actor and singer
- Cha Tae-hyun (born 1976), actor and singer
- Zo In-sung (born 1981), actor[16]
- Eric Nam (born 1988), singer[17]
- Jung Hae-in (born 1988), actor[1][3]
- Park Seo-joon (born 1988), actor[18]
- Yoon Doo-joon (born 1989), singer and actor[19]
- Byeon Woo-seok (born 1991), actor[20]
- Park Bo-gum (born 1993), actor[21]
- Seo Kang-joon (born 1993), actor and former singer[4]
- Park Jin-young (born 1994), singer and actor[22]
- Choi Hyun-wook (born 2002), actor[23]
See also
References
- ^ a b F_200814. "[심쿵] '예쁜 누나' 정해인, 남친짤의 정석! '국민 남친' 등극한 대세 배우 (4)". kr.people.com.cn. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b 조선일보 (2020-07-23). "[Oh!쎈 탐구]임예진부터 수지까지, 국민 첫사랑(국내편)". 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ a b SBS (2017-11-01). [배우모음ZIP] 서브병 유발 정해인(Jung hae in) 모음집.zip / 'Jung hae in' Special. Retrieved 2026-01-30 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "[어디꺼]국민연하남 서강준의 완벽한 남친룩". 스포츠조선. 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ^ 국민 국내관광 수요의 모형화 및 예측연구 (Report). 한국문화관광연구원. 2020-10-19.
- ^ a b c d "Korean stars dubbed 'Nation's first love'". www.kpopherald.com. 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ Palat, Lakshana N. (2025-01-11). "Son Ye-Jin, the rise and rise of 'Nation's First Love': Why she is a beloved Korean icon". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ "한가인 임신, 한가인 '국민첫사랑' '올리비아 핫세' 전국민에 열풍 몰고와". 미디어펜 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ 이소현, 노도현 기자 (2015-12-01). "'국민 첫사랑' 배수지의 변주". 레이디경향 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ "'어서와' 신예은, 사랑스러운 교복 컷 공개! '국민 짝사랑 등극 예감'". 한국일보 (in Korean). 2020-03-21. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ 김양수 (2024-06-10). "진영x다현, '그시절, 우리가 좋아했던 소녀' 호흡…6월 크랭크인". 아이뉴스24 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Shin-jung, Mo (2025-03-09). "TWICE Dahyun: "First Love Icon? It's Overwhelming but a Precious Title" [Interview]". K-en News. Archived from the original on 2025-08-27. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ^ Kim, Na-ra (October 27, 2022). 김유정, 진짜 '글로벌 첫사랑' 됐다!...'20세기 소녀', 전세계 2위+33개국 톱10 등극 [공식] [Kim Yoo-jung, became a real 'global first love'! '20th Century Girl', ranked 2nd in the world + Top 10 in 33 countries [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022 – via Naver.
- ^ "[And 방송·문화] 첫사랑의 새 얼굴 노윤서…"대중에 믿음주는 배우 될 것"". 국민일보 (in Korean). 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
- ^ "Why NewJeans' Minji Deserves To One Day Hold The Title Of "Nation's First Love," According To Korean Fans". Koreaboo. 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ^ iMBC연예 (2026-01-12). [FULL] '류승완 감독의 액션 첩보 영화' 조인성-박정민-박해준-신세경, '휴민트' 제작보고회 풀영상. Retrieved 2026-01-30 – via YouTube.
- ^ tag TV (2016-10-23). [12회]국민남친 에릭남의 잇템쇼 급습!│잇템쇼. Retrieved 2026-01-30 – via YouTube.
- ^ "[콕TV] 2연타 박서준, '쌈' 싸고 싶은 국민 남친". Daum. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ^ besguerra (2020-08-02). "Highlight's Yoon Doo-joon, Korea's 'national BF,' finally goes solo—but 'Lonely'". Lifestyle.INQ. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ^ "100번 넘게 오디션 탈락?! 😱 '국민 남친'된 ✨반전✨ 배우 누구?". 다음 - 트렌드로 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ^ 뉴스인사이드 (2018-11-21). 박보검(Park Bo Gum), 연기력+비주얼+인성까지 두루 갖춘 국민 ‘남자친구’ 예고. Retrieved 2026-01-30 – via YouTube.
- ^ "[화보] '국민남친' 박진영, 때로는 부드럽게 때로는 강렬하게 : 네이트 연예". 모바일 네이트 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ^ "[화보IS] 1000만 웹드 스타 최현욱, 만찢남 비주얼". 일간스포츠 (in Korean). 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2026-01-31.