Yoo Hai-jin

Yoo Hae-jin (; born January 4, 1970) is a South Korean actor. After graduating with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Arts, he became a member of Theater troupe The Mokwha Repertoire Company. He has established himself as one of the top actors in the country, playing both supporting and lead roles. In 2026, his performance in The King's Warden earned him the highest accolade at the Baeksang Art Awards, the Grand Prize in Film.

Early life and education Yoo’s interest in acting began in childhood, when he would sneak into a cultural center in Cheongju to watch performances. During eighth grade, a monologic play inspired him to pursue the craft professionally. Although he hoped to attend an arts high school, he was unable to do so because of financial constraints and opposition from his conservative parents. Instead, he joined a theater troupe following a summer acting camp in high school. Despite an introverted personality, he developed his skills by assisting and observing seasoned actors. After he completed his military service, he remained focused on theater during his time in fashion school, which resulted in poor academic performance. However, his father's earlier advice proved beneficial. A special selection process for college graduates permitted admission based only on written test, leading to his enrollment at the Seoul Institute of the Arts in 1995.

Following his graduation from the Seoul Institute of the Arts with a degree in Theater, Yoo performed with the Dongrang Repertory Theater Company and later became a member of The Mokwha Repertoire Company. During this period, a chance encounter with a bidet factory owner at a bakery led to a part-time job offer. Yoo later recalled that the owner requested he recruit an additional worker because Yoo struggled with the labor on his own. He enlisted Ryu Seung-ryong for the job. The two actors rented a room in the countryside for one month, where they worked together assembling bidets.

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.

In 2026, Yoo portrayed Eom Heung-do, the title character of the historical film The King's Warden directed by Jang Hang-jun. The film was released on February 4, 2026, coinciding with the Korean New Year holiday. It received positive reviews and did well at the box office.

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 Year Title RoleNotes 1997 Blackjack Dump 1999 The Spy Eokkae 2 Bit part Attack the Gas Station Yonggari Bit part 2001 Kick the Moon Neopchi Musa the Warrior Du-chung 2002 Public Enemy Yong-man Break Out Composed man Jail Breakers Chu Moo-seung The Coast Guard Cheol-gu 2003 Mr. Butterfly Dong-sik Cameo Please Teach Me English Subway passenger Cameo 2004 Ice Rain Park In-soo Dance with the Wind Cameo Hi! Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul Yong-dae 2005 Another Public Enemy Yong-man Bit part Blood Rain Dok-gi Short Time Han-kal Cameo Never to Lose Gas bucket Cameo Mapado Fisherman Cameo King and the Clown Yuk-gab 2006 Over the Border Kim Sun-ho's brother-in-law Tazza: The High Rollers Ko Gwang-ryeol Once in a Summer PD Kim Cameo 2007 Small Town Rivals Noh Dae-gyu My Son Man next door Voice cameo Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K Moon Geun-young 2008 Public Enemy Returns Yong-man Truck Truck driver Jung Cheol-min 2009 Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard Chorangyi 2010 A Little Pond Refugee Bit part Moss Kim Deok-cheon Enemy at the Dead End Park Sang-eob The Unjust Jang Seok-gu 2011 In Love and War Jae-hoon Mama Mama's boy gangster Seung-chul 2012 Miss Conspirator Red Shoes The Spies Department head Choi Rise of the Guardians Easter Bunny Voice; Korean dub 2013 The Flu Bae Kyung-ub 2014 Obsessed Im, owner of Renaissance Music Hall The Pirates Chul-bong Tazza: The Hidden Card Ko Gwang-ryeol 2015 The Classified File Kim Joong-san Minority Opinion Jang Dae-seok Veteran Managing director Choi Fatal Intuition Pharmacist Min 2016 Luck Key Hyung-wook 2017 Confidential Assignment Kang Jin-tae A Taxi Driver Hwang Tae-sool 1987: When the Day Comes Han Byung-yong 2018 Love+Sling Gwi-bo Intimate Strangers Tae-soo 2019Mal-Mo-E: The Secret MissionKim Pan-soo The Battle: Roar to Victory Hwang Hae-cheol 2021 Space Sweepers Robot Bubs Voice and motion capture Egoist: The Border of Selfishness and AltruismNarratorDocumentary 2022 Life Is But A Dream Undertaker Short film Confidential Assignment 2: International Kang Jin-tae The Night OwlKing Injo 2023 Honey Sweet Chi-ho 2024Dog DaysMin-sang Exhuma Yeong-geun 2025 Yadang: The SnitchKoo Gwan-hee Big Deal Pyo Jong-rok 2026 The King's Warden Eom Heung-do The Assassin(s) Detective Cheol-gu

Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 Toji, the Land Kim Pyeong-san / Kim Doo-soo 2013 March: A Story of Friends Himself 2 Days & 1 Night Cast member Season 2, episodes 56–89 2015 Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village Cast member Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 2 2016 Three Meals a Day: Gochang Village 2019Korean Hostel in Spain 2020 Humanimal with Park Shin-hye Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 5 2022–2023 Europe Outside Your Tent Season 1 and 3 2022 Doctors Without Borders Narrator Photo exhibition audio guide

Music video appearances YearSong titleArtist 2001 "Fix the Makeup" Wax 2006 "It was All You" Sunset

Theater +List of stage play(s) Year Title Role Theater Date English Korean 1998 Birds Don't Cross at Crosswalks 새들은 횡단보도로 건너지 않는다 Jae-ho Theater Arunguji 1999 Chunpoong's Wife 춘풍의 처 Multi-roles Theater Arunguji August 10 to October 3 (2nd) (1999) Oh Tae-seok Theater Festival - Our Sound, Color, and Gesture (제2회) (1999) 오태석 연극제 - 우리 소리 · 색깔 · 몸짓 Bu, Koo Seon-bok Theater Arunguji

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 Asian Film Awards 2011 Best Supporting Actor Moss 2018 A Taxi Driver Baeksang Arts Awards 2015 Best Supporting Actor – Film The Pirates 2017 Best Actor – Film Luck Key 2024 Best Supporting Actor – Film Exhuma 2026 Grand Prize – Film The King's Warden Best Actor – Film Blue Dragon Film Awards 2006 Best Supporting Actor The King and the Clown 2010 Moss 2011 The Unjust 2014 The Pirates 2015 Veteran 2017 A Taxi Driver 2018 1987: When the Day Comes 2023 Best Actor Honey Sweet 2024 Best Supporting Actor Exhuma Brand Customer Loyalty Awards 2026 Actor (Film) Yoo Hae-jin Buil Film Awards 2015 Best Supporting Actor The Classified File 2023 Best Actor The Night Owl 2024 Best Supporting Actor Exhuma Busan Film Critics Awards 2015 Best Actor Veteran Chunsa Film Art Awards 2006 Best Supporting Actor Tazza: The High Rollers 2017 Best Actor Luck Key 2020 The Battle: Roar to Victory 2023 Special Acting Award Honey Sweet Director's Cut Awards 2019 Best Actor – Film Intimate Strangers 2023 The Night Owl 2026The King's Warden Golden Cinematography Awards 2015 Best Supporting Actor The Pirates 2026 Best Actor The King's Warden Grand Bell Awards 2006 Best Supporting Actor The King and the Clown 2010 Moss 2011 The Unjust 2014 The Pirates 2015 Veteran Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2017 Best Supporting Actor A Taxi Driver Korean Film Awards 2010 Moss KOFRA Film Awards 2015 The Pirates Max Movie Awards 2015 2016 Veteran SACF Artists of the Year Awards 2017 Artistic Impression in Motion Pictures Award Yoo Hae-jin Star Night - Korea Top Star Awards Ceremony 2014 Best Supporting Actor The Pirates University Film Festival of Korea 2017 Best Actor Luck Key

State honors +Name of the organization, year presented, and the honor givenOrganizationYearHonorTaxpayers' Day2017 Presidential Commendation

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes Korea 2016 Power Celebrity 40 Gallup Korea 2015 Film Actor of the Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2022 2023 2024 Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200 The Screen 2019 2009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies