Yoo Hae-jin

Early life

Yoo's passion for acting started in childhood when he would sneak into a nearby cultural center in Cheongju to watch performances. In eighth grade, he saw a monologic play that inspired him to pursue acting, marking a significant moment during his adolescence. Although he aspired to attend an arts high school, financial constraints and resistance from his conservative parents prevented him from doing so. Nevertheless, he pursued his passion by joining a theater troupe after participating in a summer acting camp during high school. Initially, he assisted other actors and learned from them, gradually honing his skills despite his introverted nature.

Yoo applied to university acting and film programs two straight years but failed the auditions due to his appearance. He initially planned to enlist in the military, but his father encouraged him to explore other options. Yoo chose to study fashion, believing it would help his acting career. He completed his mandatory military service, but academically, he prioritized theater over his fashion studies, leading to less-than-stellar grades. However, his father's advice proved advantageous, as a special selection process for college graduates allowed admission based solely on grades. This led to his acceptance at the Seoul Institute of the Arts in 1995.Asiae Interview:

Career

In 1997, a pivotal moment in his life occurred in New York, USA when he accompanied his professor, Professor Kang Man-hong, and Ryu Seung-ryong to the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. The performances they saw in New York included shows like Stomp, Blue Man Group, and Tube.

After graduating with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Arts, he was active in the Dongrang Repertory Theater Company and became a member of a theater group called The Mokwha Repertoire Company. After he met a bidet factory owner by chance in a bakery, the man offered Yoo a part-time job. Yoo later said that the owner asked him to recruit another worker because Yoo wasn't up to the task himself. He recruited his fellow theater group member, Ryu Seung-ryong and they rented a room in the countryside for a month and they assembled bidets together.

Yoo then began doing bit roles in films, graduating to supporting roles where he acquired a reputation as a scene stealer. Despite limited short screen time, his performances made a strong impression on audiences and critics. As Korean films became more diverse in terms of genre, Yoo found opportunities in increasingly weighty roles, over time becoming a bonafide marquee name at the box office. He has since established himself as one of the top character actors in the country, notably in King and the Clown, Small Town Rivals, Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard, Moss, The Unjust, The Pirates, The Classified File, Minority Opinion, Veteran, and Public Enemy and its sequels.

Yoo also began to take on lead roles. His first lead came in the film, Luck Key, which was released in 2016 and exceeded 5 million viewers. 2017 was a successful year for Yoo - he had the co-lead in Confidential Assignment, and had supporting roles in A Taxi Driver and 1987: When the Day Comes. All three were among the highest grossing Korean films of that year. In addition, A Taxi Driver earned him a Best Supporting Actor award at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and a nomination at the Asian Film Awards. In 2018, he starred in the family comedy Love+Sling, and Intimate Strangers, a remake of the Italian comedy Perfect Strangers. That year, he also was cast in the historical war film The Battle: Roar to Victory. He reprised his role in Confidential Assignment 2: International, which was the third highest grossing Korean film in 2022.

He has also appeared as a regular cast member on two reality shows: 2 Days & 1 Night from March to November 2013, and Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village in January 2015.

In November 2023, Yoo signed with the new agency Awesome ENT.

Endorsements

Yoo Hae-jin has become a popular choice as an advertising model for the food industry following the number of films he has had with 10 million viewers. Nongshim chose Yoo and Song Kang-ho as models for their new Shin Ramyun commercial in 2015. In the commercial, Song Kang-ho is seen boiling the noodles while singing about their enhanced flavor, and Yoo is shown enjoying the ramen while bantering with Song.

Personal life

Yoo and actress Kim Hye-soo first met in 2001 after shooting the movie Kick the Moon and became close in 2006 after appearing together in Tazza: The High Rollers. Rumors of their relationship surfaced in 2008 although both continued to deny any romantic involvement until early 2010 when paparazzi photographs of the two were released, and the couple officially confirmed their relationship. Yoo and Kim broke up in 2011.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Theater

Accolades

Awards and nominations

State honors

Listicles

Notes

References

References

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81. "KOREAN ACTORS 200".
82. "2009~2019 한국영화 배우 흥행 파워 2위~10위".