Yoo Yeon-seok (born Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984) is a South Korean actor. After making his acting debut in 2003 with a small role in ''
Oldboy'', he resumed his acting career in 2008. His notable works include the films ''
Re-encounter'' (2011), ''
Architecture 101
''Architecture 101'' (; lit. ''Introduction to Architecture'') is a 2012 South Korean romance film written and directed by Lee Yong-ju. The film tells the story of two students who meet in an introductory architecture class and fall in love. Fifte ...
'' (2012), ''
A Werewolf Boy
''A Werewolf Boy'' (; lit. "Wolf Boy") is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romance film in which a beautiful teenage girl (Park Bo-young) is sent to a country house for her health, where she befriends and attempts to civilize a feral boy (Song Joong-k ...
'' (2012) and ''
Whistle Blower'' (2014), ''
Perfect Proposal'' (2015), ''
Mood of the Day'' (2016) as well as the television series ''
Reply 1994'' (2013), ''
Warm and Cozy'' (2015), ''
Dr. Romantic'' (2016), ''
Mr. Sunshine'' (2018), and ''
Hospital Playlist
''Hospital Playlist'' () is a South Korean television series written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho. It is the second installment of the ''Wise Life'' series, following ''Prison Playbook'' (2017–18). It stars Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Ye ...
'' (2020).
Early life
Yoo was born as Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984, in
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 of ...
,
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
. In his junior year in high school, Yoo decided to take up acting and followed his brother, who was studying another year to enter university, to Seoul and they lived together near the district of
Samseong-dong
Samseong-Dong is an affluent neighborhood or ward of Gangnam-gu in Seoul, South Korea.
The area has a large concentration of upscale shopping malls, popular restaurants and hotels such as the Ramada Seoul Hotel and the Hyatt Park Hotel. Samseon ...
.
While taking acting classes, Yoo met a friend who would later work on the costume staff of film director
Park Chan-wook
Park Chan-wook ( ; born 23 August 1963) is a South Korean film director, screenwriter, producer, and former film critic. He is considered as one of the most prominent filmmakers of South Korean cinema as well as world cinema in 21st century. ...
. Remembering that he resembled actor
Yoo Ji-tae, he gave him a call about auditioning for a role. Without having to pass out his resume, he made his acting debut as
Yoo Ji-tae's younger counterpart in the acclaimed 2003 film ''
Oldboy''.
Upon graduation from
Sejong University
Sejong University (SJU; ) is a private university located in Seoul, South Korea known for its standing in hospitality and tourism management, dancing, animation and rhythmic gymnastics. Founded as the Kyung Sung Humanities Institute, it was rename ...
with a degree in Film Arts, he resumed his acting career in 2008 and began using his agency's recommendation
stage name, Yoo Yeon-seok.
Career
2008–2012: Career beginnings
After an extended hiatus from acting, Yoo made his return in the medical drama ''General Hospital 2''.
Yoo took on supporting roles on television, such as the haughty student body president in the horror series ''
Soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...
'' and more appealing characters in
medical drama ''Midnight Hospital'' and ''
Tasty Life
''Tasty Life'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Im Chae-moo, Yoon Jung-hee, Ryu Hyun-kyung, Yoo Da-in and Lee Hyeri. The series written by Kim Jung-eun and directed by Woon Goon-il is about four daughters of a wealthy fathe ...
''.
But Yoo received his best reviews yet for playing a sensitive ex-boyfriend searching for his child in
indie
Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Gaming
*Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies
*Indie game, any game (board ...
''
Re-encounter''.
Soon after he became known to mainstream audiences as the rich and spoiled antagonist in the box office hit melodramas ''
Architecture 101
''Architecture 101'' (; lit. ''Introduction to Architecture'') is a 2012 South Korean romance film written and directed by Lee Yong-ju. The film tells the story of two students who meet in an introductory architecture class and fall in love. Fifte ...
'',
and ''
A Werewolf Boy
''A Werewolf Boy'' (; lit. "Wolf Boy") is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romance film in which a beautiful teenage girl (Park Bo-young) is sent to a country house for her health, where she befriends and attempts to civilize a feral boy (Song Joong-k ...
''.
He further raised his profile with comedy film ''
Born to Sing'', and the fantasy series ''
Gu Family Book''.
2013–present: Rising popularity
Yoo rose to popularity in the nostalgic campus drama ''
Reply 1994'' in late 2013.
Following his breakout year, he was cast in two high-profile films in 2014: ''
Whistle Blower'' about infamous
biotech researcher
Hwang Woo-suk, and
Joseon-set period drama ''
The Royal Tailor''.
Yoo then appeared in the travel-
reality show ''
Youth Over Flowers''.
In 2015, Yoo was cast in his first leading role on network television as a chef and restaurateur in the romantic comedy series ''
Warm and Cozy'', written by the
Hong sisters and set on
Jeju Island.
He also starred in the thriller ''
Perfect Proposal'' (a
remake of ''
Woman of Straw''), and ''
The Beauty Inside'' (adapted from the
social film of
the same title).
Later in the year, Yoo played the protagonist in ''
Le Passe-Muraille'' ("The Man Who Walked Through Wall"); this was his first stage musical since his professional acting debut (Yoo had previously appeared in theatrical productions while still in university).
In 2016, Yoo starred in the period music drama ''
Love, Lies'' followed by romantic comedy ''
Mood of the Day''.
He returned to the small screen with hit medical drama ''
Dr. Romantic'' alongside
Han Suk-kyu
Han Suk-kyu (born November 3, 1964) is a South Korean actor. One of the leading actors of Korean cinema, Han's notable works include ''Green Fish'' (1997), '' No. 3'' (1997), '' Christmas in August'' (1998), '' Shiri'' (1999), ''The Scarlet Lett ...
and
Seo Hyun-jin
Seo Hyun-jin (born February 27, 1985) is a South Korean actress and singer. Seo debuted as the main vocalist of South Korean girl group M.I.L.K. in 2001 and continued until the group disbanded in 2003. She contributed songs as a solo artist af ...
.
In 2018, Yoo starred in romance melodrama ''
Mr. Sunshine'' penned by
Kim Eun-sook
Kim Eun-sook (Korean: 김은숙, born 1973) is a South Korean screenwriter. She wrote the popular television dramas ''Lovers in Paris'' (2004), '' On Air'' (2008), '' Secret Garden'' (2010), ''A Gentleman's Dignity'' (2012), ''The Heirs'' (20 ...
.
To celebrate his 15th debut anniversary Yoo held a fan meeting titled “All About YOO”.
He then appeared in the musical ''A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder''.
In 2020, Yoo starred in the critically acclaimed and hit medical drama ''
Hospital Playlist
''Hospital Playlist'' () is a South Korean television series written by Lee Woo-jung and directed by Shin Won-ho. It is the second installment of the ''Wise Life'' series, following ''Prison Playbook'' (2017–18). It stars Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Ye ...
'', playing Ahn Jeong-won, an assistant professor of
pediatric surgery and reprised his role in
season 2 Season 2 may refer to:
* ''Season 2'' (Infinite album)
* '' 2econd Season''
See also
*
{{disambig ...
in 2021.
In 2022, Yoo starred in the
crime
In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Ca ...
-
mystery
Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters
*Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange''
Films
* ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film
* ''Mystery'' ( ...
film ''
Vanishing'' by French film director
Denis Dercourt, as detective Park Jin-ho.
Filmography
Film
Television series
Web series
Television show
Hosting
Radio shows
Music video appearances
Discography
Singles
Theater
Book
Ambassadorship
* Ambassador for the 5th Seoul Animal Film Festival (2022)
Awards and nominations
Listicles
Notes
References
External links
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoo, Yeon-seok
South Korean male film actors
South Korean male television actors
South Korean male stage actors
South Korean male musical theatre actors
King Kong by Starship artists
1984 births
Living people
21st-century South Korean male actors
People from Jinju
Sejong University alumni