When Gong Yoo slapped Lee Jung Jae in “Squid Game,” it elicited a visceral reaction in viewers. Many were wary of what exactly was going on. But there was a whole subset of spectators who were overly excited, saying that they, too, would one day like to be slapped by Gong Yoo on the subway platform … or anywhere.  

Of course, most of this was said in jest. But what’s also true is there has been a loooooottttt of interest lately in a group of middle-aged actors. You know how K-pop fans like to refer to idols as oppa/오빠, which is what younger girls/women call their older brothers in Korean (but has morphed into a word that women call their boyfriends/husbands)? Gong Yoo, Lee Jung Jae, and “Parasite” star Lee Sun Gyun are all ajeossi /아저씨 — or older male — actors.

Just to make this crystal clear: being an ajeossi isn’t a pejorative. There is beauty to being successful and in demand in your late 30s and beyond. More power to these fine gentlemen.

Here are seven ajeossi actors to keep your eyes on:

GONG YOO: The Hot Ajeossi

If you look up “hot Korean actor,” Gong Yoo’s face and name will pop up. It’s the law. Why? Because … he’s GONG YOO. Born in Busan in 1979, the star of “Train to Busan,” “Coffee Prince,” “Silenced,” “Big,” and “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (also known as “Goblin”) has had a long and illustrious career. At 42, he is one of Korea’s most bankable and in-demand actors.

LEE JUNG JAE: The Sweet Ajeossi

“Squid Game” may have made him a household name internationally, but this actor — who turns 49 on December 15 — has been well-known in Korea for years. The former model made his K-drama debut in the 1993 series “Dinosaur Teacher.” His film roles include “The Housemaid” and “The Thieves” (which also featured Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun).  Unfortunately, most of his work is not available on KOCOWA. But, if you’d like to see the ajeossi trifecta of him, Lee Sun Kyun, and Song Joong Ki, you can check out “Triple.” And … it has been confirmed there will be a second season of “Squid Game,” and Lee Jung Jae will star in it!

LEE DONG WOOK: The Vampire Ajeossi

I would like to know the secret to this man’s youth because Lee Dong Wook at 40 is better looking than just about anyone else at 20 (or 30). There is a viral video going around of him answering fans’ questions, and he laughed hysterically after one teenager asked him, “Oppa, why are my parents only five years old than you?” ㅋㅋ The A-list actor — whose credits include “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” “Partner,” “Strangers from Hell,” “Touch Your Heart”  — is a natural when it comes to variety shows, with multiple appearances on “Running Man” under his belt. He also has his own series, “Because I Want to Talk,” where his first guest was none other than his bestie Gong Yoo. He will next be seen in the upcoming K-drama, “Bad and Crazy.” His co-star is Wi Ha Joon (“Showterview with Jessi,” “My Golden Life,” “Matrimonial Chaos”), who was in a little series you may have heard of called “Squid Game.” ㅋㅋ

SONG JOONG KI: The Baby-Faced Ajeossi

Blessed with youthful good looks, the “Vincenzo” star is arguably even more handsome today than when he debuted in 2008’s “A Frozen Flower.” The 36-year-old star is known for his work in the films “A Werewolf Boy,” “The Battleship Island,” and “Space Sweepers.” He has a long list of popular K-dramas, including “Sungkyunkwan Scandal,” “The Innocent Man,” “Descendants of the Sun,” “Arthdal Chronicles,” “Will It Snow for Christmas?” and the aforementioned “Triple.” In 2022, he’s set to star in the new series “The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate.” And just in case some of you don’t remember: he was one of the original members of “Running Man“!

LEE SUN KYUN: The Oscar-winning Ajeossi

Technically, Lee didn’t win an individual Academy Award. But his film, “Parasite” won five Oscars in 2020, so I consider that a win for the actor with the best velvety-smooth deep voice ever. His latest series is “Dr. Brain,” which has the distinction of being Apple TV+’s very first K-drama. The 46-year-old thespian spent his early years playing small parts with little recognition. He was well-received for his roles on stage in such plays as “The Rocky Horror Show” (as Brad Majors) and “Grease” (as Danny Zuko). But viewers fell in love with him as Gong Yoo’s cousin in “Coffee Prince.” If you want to see more of Lee’s earlier work, check him out in “Miss Korea,” “Pasta,” “My Sweet City,” “Golden: Time,” “The Path to Glory,” and “Behind the White Tower.” He even starred opposite IU in one of the best K-dramas ever. It was called … “My Ajeossi.”

HYUN BIN: The Ajeossi Who Should Be the Next James Bond

Hyun Bin met his real-life girlfriend, Son Ye Jin, on “Crash Landing on You,” and fans couldn’t have been happier for the charismatic 39-year-old actor. He made his acting debut in 2002’s “Shower,” but that film was never released. Three years later, he played a snobby restaurateur who weight-shamed his pastry chef in the popular K-drama “My Lovely Sam Soon.” Honestly, it was a testament to his acting skills that even though his character was unbearable at times, viewers liked him enough to cheer on the lead couple. He is also known for “Secret Garden,” “Hyde, Jekyll, Me,” and “Memories of the Alhambra.”

SO JI SUB: The Versatile Ajeossi

Having begun his career as a teenage model, it’s not surprising that one of So Ji Sub’s earliest K-Dramas was the SBS series, “Model.” As he grew into his role as one of Korea’s favorite leading men, the now 44-year-old star played a street-wise adoptee abandoned by abusive parents in Australia (“I’m Sorry, I Love You“); a gifted doctor who’s the target of his jealous brother (“Cain and Abel“); a former police officer using his cyber skills to uncover his friend’s death (“Ghost“); a chaebol CEO who is intrigued by a woman who talks to ghosts (“Master’s Sun“); a spy in “My Secret Terrius;” and an incredibly fit trainer with an elusive past in “Oh My Venus.”

All these actors own their age with pride, as they should! As So Ji Sub pointed out to a teenage fan (who was addressing him as oppa) on an episode of the KBS variety series, “Guerilla Date,” he is an ajeossi. But the fan insisted he was an oppa because he was so handsome. Oppa or ajeossi, all these actors are stars worth watching. Who’s your favorite ajeossi actor? Let me know in the comments below!