Actor Ahn Hyo-seop is set to open the new year of 2026 with an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Ahn will appear on the long-running American talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon, one of the most influential and recognizable programs in U.S. television. His upcoming appearance marks a significant milestone beyond a routine overseas variety show booking, symbolically underscoring his distinctive standing within the global content market.
Throughout the past year, Ahn has maintained a packed schedule, spanning the Netflix animated film K-pop Demon Hunters, the feature film Omniscient Reader, and the ongoing production of the SBS drama Today Is Sold Out Again. In particular, K-pop Demon Hunters, in which Ahn participated as a voice actor, surpassed 500 million cumulative global views within 27 weeks of release, ranking among the most popular films in Netflix history.
The film garnered major critical recognition, including the Best Animated Feature award from the New York Film Critics Circle, along with nominations in three categories at the Golden Globe Awards and two categories at the Critics Choice Awards. The character Jin-woo, voiced by Ahn, sparked a global fandom phenomenon, while the film’s soundtrack achieved five Grammy Award nominations and double-platinum certification, setting an extraordinary record.
In K-pop Demon Hunters, Ahn led the emotional and narrative arc of the story through the core character “Saja Boys’ Jin-woo.” His performance went beyond conventional voice acting, convincingly establishing the character’s identity and emotional depth, earning widespread praise from international audiences. The project clearly demonstrated how a Korean actor can expand presence within a global animation IP.
Meanwhile, the film Omniscient Reader, sold to 113 countries, has begun rolling out sequential releases worldwide, sustaining international attention on Ahn. Despite maintaining a relatively restrained promotional approach, limited mainly to remote interviews with outlets such as CBS News and Time magazine, industry interest and global media demand have continued unabated.
His first official in-person overseas appearance has been confirmed as NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In addition, standalone appearances, including year-end greeting segments broadcast through major outlets such as CNN, are also scheduled. These engagements are viewed not as isolated moments, but as part of a sustained trajectory, drawing focused attention from the U.S. entertainment industry.
Ahn’s enduring strength lies in both expansion and accumulation. His experiences across drama, film, animation, and performance form a continuous narrative rather than fragmented achievements. The sincerity and discipline he has consistently demonstrated have coalesced into a solid personal brand. He commands attention without overexposure and carries persuasive power without ostentation, qualities that define Ahn Hyo-seop today.
This momentum will continue into the SBS drama Today Is Sold Out Again, slated for broadcast in 2026. Centered on relational nuance rather than spectacle, the series is expected to showcase another facet of the acting spectrum Ahn has steadily built. His balanced navigation between global projects and local narratives continues to solidify his reputation as an irreplaceable actor.
Ahn Hyo-seop’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon will air on Monday, January 12, at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT) on NBC, and will be available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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