byj

BYJ is commonly used to refer to Bae Yong-joon, a South Korean actor and businessman widely regarded as a leading figure of the Korean Wave. Born in the early 1970s, he rose to fame in the late 1990s and achieved international stardom with the 2002 television drama Winter Sonata, which helped popularize Korean television dramas in Asia and among diaspora audiences.

Over the next decades he starred in films and television series and became one of the first Korean actors to attain global recognition. In addition to acting, BYJ pursued activities in entertainment management and production, contributing to the development of Korean content for international markets. His work has intersected with cultural promotion and philanthropy, reinforcing his public profile beyond screen roles and aiding the spread of Hallyu.

The acronym BYJ is sometimes used in fan communities and media shorthand to reference Bae Yong-joon. While BYJ most commonly denotes this actor in popular discourse, the initials can have other meanings in different contexts. As a notable figure in Korean entertainment, BYJ’s legacy is closely tied to the international expansion of Korean film and television.