Ahn Hyo-seop is kicking off 2026 with a major stateside splash: the actor will appear on NBC’s "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon", marking a high-profile late-night debut.
Landing a Tonight Show slot is more than a quick overseas promo stop. Fallon’s couch remains a rite of passage for global stars, underscoring Ahn’s growing footprint in the international content market.
The past year, Ahn stayed booked and busy with Netflix’s "KPop Demon Hunters", the feature Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, and filming the upcoming SBS drama “Sold Out Today.” "KPop Demon Hunters", which features Ahn in a pivotal voice role, has turned into a juggernaut―surpassing 500 million global views in 27 weeks and cementing itself as one of Netflix’s most-watched films.
Awards buzz followed. The animated hit nabbed Best Animated Feature from the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC), earned three Golden Globe nominations and two Critics Choice nods, and spun off a soundtrack that scored five Grammy nominations and double-platinum certification. Ahn’s character Jinu became a breakout favorite among international fans.
As the voice of “Jinu” of the Saja Boys, Ahn didn’t just perform lines―he anchored the story’s heart and momentum, shaping the character’s identity and emotional arc with nuance. His turn offered a clear blueprint for how Korean actors can expand their presence within global animation IP.
Meanwhile, the rolling international release of "Omniscient Reader"―already sold to 113 territories―has kept the spotlight on Ahn. Even with a low-key promo footprint, limited mostly to remote chats with outlets like CBS News and Time, industry interest hasn’t slowed.
His first major stateside stop: NBC’s "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". He’s also set for solo year-end greetings on major U.S. broadcasters including CNN, signaling a sustained media run rather than a one-off pop-in―something that has U.S. industry watchers paying attention.
Ahn’s edge lies in steady expansion and careful accumulation. Moving between drama, film, animation, and live performance, he’s built a coherent narrative―and a brand―defined by consistency over flash. He doesn’t need wall-to-wall exposure to command attention, and he doesn’t need to shout to be convincing.
That momentum carries into 2026 with his upcoming SBS series “Sold Out Today,” a relationship-driven drama that aims to showcase another register of his range. Balancing global tentpoles with grounded local storytelling is quickly becoming his signature―and a reason he’s viewed as irreplaceable.
Quiet but sure-footed, Ahn is setting his own pace and solidifying an identity that’s hard to replicate. In 2026, the next chapter is already underway.
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" featuring Ahn Hyo-seop airs Monday, Jan. 12 at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streams the following day on Peacock.
Photo Credit: The Present Company
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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