Biography
- Name: Yoo Yeon-seok
- Birth name: Ahn Yeon-seok
- Religion: Catholic
- Date of birth: April 11, 1984
- Height: 183 cm (6 feet)
- Zodiac sign: Aries
- Agency: King Kong from Starship
- Instagram: @yoo_yeonseok
Facts
Yoo Yeon-seok was born as Ahn Yeon-seok in Jinju, South Korea, and spent much of his childhood in a quiet family environment. He has two older brothers and his father is an engineering professor.
The actor adopted his current stage name, Yoo Yeon-seok, early in his career as a tribute to his mentor. He graduated from Sejong University with a degree in film arts.
She learned to play instruments like piano and guitar for her role in “Hospital Playlist,” and is part of a group of famous friends, including Son Ho-jun and Jung Woo, her co-stars from “Reply 1994 “.
He also gained attention for adopting an abandoned dog after filming the movie “My Heart Puppy” and for his various philanthropy works.
Career
Yoo Yeon-seok made his acting debut in the critically acclaimed film “Oldboy” (2003), directed by Park Chan-wook. He played the younger version of the protagonist, capturing the audience’s attention despite the minor role.
Although he attracted attention with this role, the actor took time off to complete his studies at the Film Arts Department of Sejong University and complete his military service.
He returned to acting in 2008 and slowly regained attention with a role in the independent film “Re-encounter”, as well as supporting roles in “Architecture 101” (2012) and “Reply 1994” (2013). His portrayal of the lovable but flawed Chilbong in “Reply 1994” became a cultural phenomenon, earning him widespread recognition.
Yoo Yeon-seok later consolidated his position in the acting industry through notable works, including the popular K-dramas “Mr. Sunshine” and “Hospital Playlist”. Recently, he made a big comeback with the MBC drama “When the Phone Rings,” which tackled hot topics despite only recently airing.
The actor also starred in films such as “My Heart Puppy”, “Vanishing” and took on various prestigious roles in musicals, maintaining a separate reputation on the musical stage.
Controversies
Personality scandal
In 2023, Yoo Yeon-seok was accused of making disrespectful comments to a security guard in his residence building, to the point that the guard ended up resigning because he was ashamed and felt humiliated. However, as soon as the allegation spread, Yoo Yeon-seok’s agency released an official statement, claiming that the claim about the actor was “unfounded” and threatening legal action against the person who posted the claim.
In 2016, Yoo Yeon-seok received criticism after making a controversial remark about women’s clothing during the promotional period for the film “Mood of The Day.”
In particular, when asked what kind of dress to wear on a date, Yooo Yeon-seok insisted that a woman should wear transparent clothes so that a man can feel that the woman is interested in the other person. He also added that wearing discreet clothing such as turtlenecks would make him believe they were uninterested.
Hearing this, actress Moon Chae-won said that she often wore turtlenecks and trousers on dates, to which Yoo Yeon-seok said, “This is why you don’t have a boyfriend”causing the actress to show an uncomfortable expression.
Dating Rumors
Yoo Yeon-seok has remained low-key about his personal life, with no confirmed dating news for much of his career. However, he was linked to actress Shin Hyun-bin after co-starring with her in the K-drama “Hospital Playlist”, with whom he often has close interactions.
The actor was also said to have been in an “on and off” relationship with actress Kim Ji-won for as long as 10 years.