Emoticons featuring Korean actor and entertainer Lee Kwang-soo were launched Tuesday on Chinese messenger app WeChat, said the actor’s agency King Kong Entertainment.

Lee, best known for his appearance on SBS’s variety show “Running Man,” is often referred to as an “Asia Prince” due to his popularity across the region.  

The set consists of 24 animated emoticons of Lee with different expressions, representing his cheerful character, the agency said. It added that Lee is the first hallyu star to be featured in emoticons produced in China.

WeChat, one of the most popular messaging apps in China, was launched in 2011 by tech giant Tencent. It has some 650 million users.

Lee is currently starring in tvN’s drama series “Dear My Friends” and KBS’s web drama series “The Sound of the Heart.”

By Jung Eun-jin (jej2403@heraldcorp.com)