Ryu Jun-yeol

Ryu Jun-yeol (; born September 25, 1986) is a South Korean actor. Ryu began his acting career in independent films like Socialphobia prior to being known through the television series Reply 1988 (2015–2016) which won him the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor. He then starred in the films The King (2017), A Taxi Driver (2017), Believer (2018), The Battle: Roar to Victory (2019), and The Night Owl (2022). He also gained attention for his work in the two-part action blockbuster films Alienoid (2022) and Alienoid: Return to the Future (2024), as well as the series The 8 Show (2022). Ryu has received numerous accolades and has been included in the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list for three consecutive years: 14th in 2017, 36th in 2018, and 11th in 2019.

Early life and education Ryu was born on September 25, 1986, in Suwon, South Korea. He is the eldest and has a sister who is two years his junior. He graduated from University of Suwon majoring in film on a scholarship. While studying at the university, Ryu took many part-time jobs, working as an after-school teacher for elementary students, a pizza delivery person, a day labourer, and more. Ryu was conscripted before debuting as an actor. He registered as a public officer in 2007 and completed his duties in 2009.

Career 2012–2014: Beginnings In 2012, Ryu started acting in short and independent films, before being cast in a bit part in the 2013 feature film INGtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls.

2015–2017: Reply 1988 and breakthrough Ryu first drew attention for his performance in his debut feature film, Socialphobia in 2015, which earned him a Rising Star Award at KAFA Film Festival and nominations from Chunsa Film Art Awards. Later that year, Ryu gained widespread public recognition through starring in the family drama Reply 1988, alongside Lee Hye-ri, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, and Lee Dong-hwi. His performance won him many accolades, including the Best New Actor in TV Award at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards in 2016.

In 2016, Ryu starred in the coming-of-age film One Way Trip and crime thriller No Tomorrow. The same year, he played his first leading role in romantic-comedy Lucky Romance alongside Hwang Jung-eum. In 2017, Ryu featured in political crime drama film The King alongside Zo In-sung and Jung Woo-sung, which became the 7th highest-grossing South Korean film of the year and for which he won the Best New Actor in Film award at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards. which became the highest grossing Korean film of the year and the twelfth highest-grossing South Korean film in history. Ryu also appeared in legal thriller film Heart Blackened alongside Choi Min-sik and Park Shin-hye.

2018–present: Work in film and streaming media

In 2018, Ryu starred in the acclaimed drama film Little Forest with Kim Tae-ri, and headlined the crime action film Believer with Cho Jin-woong . Believer was a box-office hit, becoming the first Korean film to surpass five million admissions in 2018. It was the fourth highest-grossing film of the year in South Korea. In 2019, Ryu starred in the action thriller film Hit-and-Run Squad with Gong Hyo-jin directed by Han Jun-hee, led the crime film Money alongside Yoo Ji-tae and historical action film The Battle: Roar to Victory directed by Won Shin-yun. All three films performed well at the box-office, with The Battle: Roar to Victory and Money eventually becoming the 5th and 9th highest grossing Korean films of the year respectively. Ryu's film work earned him a spot in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity for two consecutive years, 36th in 2018 and 11th in 2019.

In 2021, Ryu starred in JTBC's "Tenth Anniversary Special Project", a Hur Jin-ho melodrama television series Lost with Jeon Do-yeon, marking his small screen comeback after five years. In 2022, Ryu headlined Choi Dong-hoon's sci-fi action fantasy film, Alienoid, reuniting with Kim Tae-ri. The film premiered in July 2022. Despite the film not being a commercial success, Ryu's performance was praised by critics. In November, Ryu starred in the historical-thriller film The Night Owl, reuniting with Yoo Hae-jin. In 2024, Ryu starred in psychological thriller Netflix series The 8 Show along with actress Chun Woo-hee and actor Park Jeong-min, reuniting second work with the director Han Jae-rim. Ryu starred in the mystery thriller film Revelations with actress Shin Hyun-been and directed by Yeon Sang-ho. In May 2025, Netflix announced that Ryu will be one of the main characters of the new drama Mousetrap, co-starring Sul Kyung-gu. In June, Ryu signed an exclusive contract with United Artists Agency (UAA).

Other ventures Philanthropy While filming Youth Over Flowers: Africa in 2016, Ryu developed an interest in environmentalism and began to campaign for environmental protection. In December 2018, Ryu was reported to have donated to Greenpeace. He has been making regular donations since 2016 for various campaigns, such as Save the Arctic. In 2020, Ryu made another donation to Greenpeace in response to Australian wildfires, and campaigned for animal protection and urgent action to tackle climate change on his Instagram account. In 2021, Ryu participated in a video conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, speaking about environmental protection and bringing attention to the Greenpeace campaign to reduce plastic packaging. The two had previously visited the DMZ Peace Trail in 2019 to mark the first anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration.

Photography Ryu took a brief hiatus from acting and moved to the United States, living in Los Angeles for several months from mid-2019 to early 2020, going by his English name Anthony. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles for a study abroad programme. Additionally, he did photography work and learned vlogging in his spare time. He established a mini vlog-series on YouTube, titled Ryu Jun-yeol's: Reportage , which covered his life in Los Angeles. In November 2020, Ryu held his first photo exhibition in Seoul, titled "Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood", which showcased the photos he took while living abroad.

Personal life Ryu was in a relationship with Reply 1988 co-star Lee Hye-ri from late 2016 to November 2023. He briefly dated actress Han So-hee in 2024.

An avid football fan, Ryu has participated in promotional activities for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which was held in South Korea. Ahead of the tournament, Ryu played against Argentine football players Diego Maradona and Pablo Aimar in a five-a-side match held before the official U-20 World Cup draw in Suwon.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2012 Nowhere A boyfriend Short film 2013 INGtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls Gym man Bit part 2014 Midnight Sun Yong-hoon Short film One-minded Club Dude Short film People in a Hurry Jae-hyun Short film Economic Love Ji-hoon Short film Son Na-rae Rescue Operation Hyun-woo Short film 2015 Draw Sang-hoon Short film Socialphobia Yang-ge 2016 Sori: Voice from the Heart Seedless strawberry No Tomorrow Ji-hoon One Way Trip Ji-gong Canola Cheol-heon The Boys Who Cried Wolf Dong-chul 2017 The King Choi Doo-il A Taxi Driver Goo Jae-sik Heart Blackened Kim Dong-myeong 2018 Little Forest Jae-ha Believer Seo Young-rak 2019 Hit-and-Run Squad Seo Min-jae Money Jo Il-hyun The Battle: Roar to Victory Lee Jang-ha 2022 Alienoid Mureuk The Night Owl Kyung-soo 2024 Alienoid: Return to the Future Mureuk 2025 Revelations Seong Min-chan

Television series

Year Title Role Notes 2015 The Producers Joo Jong-hyun Cameo (Ep. 1–2) 2015–2016 Reply 1988 Kim Jung-hwan 2016 Lucky Romance Jae Su-ho 2021 Lost Lee Kang-jae 2024 The 8 Show Bae Jin-su / Third Floor 2026 Je Moon-jae

Television shows Year Title Role 2016 Youth Over Flowers: Africa Cast member 2019 Traveler 2025–26Reply 1988 10th AnniversarySpecial appearance (Ep. 1)

Hosting Year Title Notes 2022 27th Busan International Film Festival Opening Ceremony with Jeon Yeo-been 2024 9th Asia Artist Awardswith Sung Han-bin and Jang Won-young

Music videos Year Title 2025 "Hyehwa-dong (or Ssangmun-dong)"

Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2014 "Still I'm by Your Side" Clazziquai Project 2015 "A Little Girl" Oh Hyuk

Discography Singles Title Year AlbumRef. "You" 2017 Mixxxture Project, Vol. 2 "Hyehwa-dong (or Ssangmun-dong) (혜화동 (혹은 쌍문동))"2025Reply 1988 10th Anniversary OST

Accolades Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Asia Artist Awards 2016 Best Rookie Award, Actor Reply 1988 2017 Best Star Award – Actor A Taxi Driver 2018 Artist of the Year Ryu Jun-yeol Popularity Award 2024 Best Artist Award – Television/Film Baeksang Arts Awards 2016 Best New Actor – Television Reply 1988 2017 Best New Actor – Film The King 2023 Best Actor – Film The Night Owl Blue Dragon Film Awards 2017 Best New Actor A Taxi Driver 2023 Best Actor The Night Owl Blue Dragon Series Awards 2024 Best Actor The 8 Show Buil Film Awards 2017 Best Supporting Actor The King 2023 Best Actor The Night Owl Chunsa Film Art Awards 2016 Best New Actor Socialphobia 2018 Best Supporting Actor A Taxi Driver Director's Cut Awards 2023 Best Actor in film The Night Owl Fashionista Awards 2016 Best Fashionista – TV Division Ryu Jun-yeol 2017 Best Fashionista – SNS Division Golden Cinema Film Festival 2019 Cinematographers' Choice Popularity Award Believer 2023 Best Actor The Night Owl Grand Bell Awards 2023 InStyle Star Icon 2016 New Generation Actor Award Socialphobia, Reply 1988 KAFA FILMS 2015 Rising Star Socialphobia Korean Cable TV Awards 2016 Reply 1988 Korea First Brand Awards Special Award for Figure Ryu Jun-yeol Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2023 Best Actor The Night Owl Korea World Youth Film Festival 2018 Popular Actor Award Little Forest Korea Youth Film Festival 2019 Best Actor Award Money, The Battle: Roar to Victory London East Asia Film Festival Rising Star Award Money Max Movie Awards 2016 Best New Actor Socialphobia Rising Star MBC Drama Awards 2016 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Lucky Romance Best New Actor New York Asian Film Festival 2019 Star Asia Rising Star Award Money The Seoul Awards 2017 Best New Actor (Film) The King tvN10 Awards 2016 Made in tvN, Actor in Drama Reply 1988 Rising Star Award, Actor Wildflower Film Awards 2016 Best New Actor / Actress Socialphobia

State honors + Name of country and organization, year given, and name of honor Country Organization Year Honor / Award South Korea Korea Minister of Health and Welfare 2017 Suicide Prevention Contribution Award Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2019 Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism's Commendation

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2017 Korea Power Celebrity 40 2018 2019 Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200