Since starring in Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin, his reputation as an actor of wide range and professional dedication has grown. Playing the driven, amoral surgeon Jang Joon-hyuk in the 2007 MBC TV series White Tower, he earned the nickname Myung-min Bon Joa meaning the “true guru in acting” in Korean.

In 2008, after five months of preparation learning to simulate the skills of an orchestra conductor, he played the main role in the 18-episode MBC series Beethoven Virus as Kang Ma-e (Kang Gun-woo, or Maestro Kang). He was given the Grand Prize for this role at the 2008 Korea Drama Awards and also won the Grand Prize at 2008 MBC Drama Awards.