# Yoo Jun-sang

Yoo Jun-sang (born November 28, 1969) is a South Korean actor and singer. Yoo is best known for starring in the Hong Sang-soo films Ha Ha Ha (2010), The Day He Arrives (2011), and In Another Country (2012). He was also praised for his supporting roles in Wide Awake (2007) and Moss (2010), and gained newfound popularity in 2012 because of the TV drama My Husband Got a Family. Aside from film and television, Yoo is also active in musical theatre, notably in The Three Musketeers, Jack the Ripper and The Days. He is also one of the main characters in The Uncanny Counter seasons 1 and 2

## Career

Yoo Jun-sang graduated from Dongguk University with a bachelor's degree in Theater and Film and a master's degree in Theater Arts. Having kicked off his career in 1995 through SBS's open auditions, Yoo built a stable acting career through films and TV series. He also stars in stage musicals, notably Claws of Angel, The Three Musketeers, Jack the Ripper, Rebecca, Kim Kwang-seok jukebox musical The Days, and Frankenstein. Additionally, Yoo has been a full-time faculty member at the Korea Arts Institute since 2010.
He gave a memorable supporting turn as a cynical prosecutor in 2010's Moss, the blockbuster mystery film based on a popular online comic series. His performance garnered him Best Supporting Actor wins at the Buil Film Awards and Chunsa Film Art Awards. He also won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards for the 2007 medical thriller Wide Awake.
But Yoo is best known as a regular in the films of auteur Hong Sang-soo. He headlined The Day He Arrives in 2011, which netted him the Best Actor prize at the Busan Film Critics Awards. He also starred in Ha Ha Ha, which won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, at which Yoo and his fellow cast members walked the red carpet. When asked to describe the actor, Hong said that "Yoo is... a kind person." [...] I just... like him. I like him a lot. He is someone with a drive that doesn't irritate me. His honesty doesn't irritate me either and I like his energy. His energy has a clean color. And I think he's a lot of help when we work together." The director cast him opposite renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert in Hong's first English-language film In Another Country. He described Huppert as "a real joy" to work with, while she praised him as "kind and charismatic." Yoo was singled out in The Hollywood Reporter review as the film's scene-stealer.
After a five-year absence from television, he returned in the series My Husband Got a Family (also known as Unexpected You) co-starring Kim Nam-joo. The drama was a big hit, it not only consistently topped its timeslot throughout its long run, but ranked number one on the 2012 yearly TV ratings chart. As a result, Yoo enjoyed his biggest surge of mainstream popularity since his debut, landing commercial contracts and gaining the nickname "Nation's son-in-law".
In 2012, he published his memoir titled The Invention of Happiness. Yoo said he began writing diaries back in university when his professor recommended that he try filling up at least one journal each year with personal reflections. The book contained highlights from his 20 years of journaling life—from his days as a college student, moments on the set of several productions to his travels and vacations—as well as poems and sketches made by the actor in his everyday life. He donated all of the proceeds from the book to charity, especially to impoverished children.
For the aerial action blockbuster R2B: Return to Base, Yoo along with the rest of the cast had to undergo months-long physical training for their role as jet fighter pilots. The actors also had to pass mandatory tests for actual pilots to be able to get into the cockpit—in a low-pressure chamber, emergency escape routine, simulated flight as well as training to develop tolerance for acceleration. Yoo reportedly passed out twice before he passed his 6G test, only passing on his third attempt.
Yoo underwent knee surgery after an injury to his cruciate ligament while filming Fists of Legend. The action movie revolved around a group of middle-aged men who fight on a reality show for a cash prize. On December 19, 2013, he released his first album, titled Junes; besides singing, Yoo composed, wrote the lyrics and produced all the seven songs included. Yoo's second album, J N Joy 20: Travel Project One, Just Travel... Walking... and Thinking..., was a collaboration with guitarist Lee Jun-hwa and released on November 13, 2014, followed by his first concert.

## Personal life

Besides acting, singing and writing, Yoo can also play several musical instruments including guitar, saxophone, violin and the piano. Furthermore, he showcased 20 pieces of his artwork at the Art Asia fair in December 2012.
He married actress Hong Eun-hee in 2003, and they have two sons named Yoo Dong-woo and Yoo Min-jae. Dong-woo appeared in the 2011 short film Modern Family.
On the talk show Healing Camp, he spoke about his love for his widowed mother, who suffered a cerebral hemorrhagic stroke in 2011.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Tell Me Something | Kim Gi-yeon | |
| 2000 | Nightmare | Jung-wook | |
| 2001 | Go Back, Red Peter's Confession | | |
| 2003 | Show Show Show | San-hae | |
| 2005 | Wedding Campaign | Hee-chul | |
| 2007 | Wide Awake | Kang Wook-han | |
| 2009 | Like You Know It All | Mr. Go | |
| 2009 | Where is Ronny... | In-ho | |
| 2010 | Ha Ha Ha | Bang Joong-sik | |
| 2010 | Moss | Prosecutor Park Min-wook | |
| 2011 | The Last Blossom | Kim Geun-deok | |
| 2011 | List | | short film |
| 2011 | The Day He Arrives | Seong-jun | |
| 2012 | In Another Country | Lifeguard | |
| 2012 | R2B: Return to Base | Lee Cheol-hee | |
| 2012 | Touch | Park Dong-sik | |
| 2012 | Adventures in Zambezia | Tendai the Peregrine Falcon | (voice, Korean dubbed) |
| 2013 | Nobody's Daughter Haewon | Joong-sik | |
| 2013 | Fists of Legend | Lee Sang-hoon | |
| 2014 | The Target | Song Gi-cheol | |
| 2015 | A Matter of Interpretation | Detective | |
| 2015 | Angry Painter | Painter | |
| 2015 | Right Now, Wrong Then | Ahn Seong-gook | |
| 2015 | The Map Against The World | Heungseon Daewongun | |
| 2017 | Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds | Dead firefighter | |
| 2019 | Hotel by the River | Byung Soo | |
| 2022 | Honest Candidate 2 | President of the Republic of Korea | Special appearance |
| 2022 | The Boys | Choi Woo-seong | Premiere at BIFF |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Kka-chi-ne | | |
| 1995 | Agatha Christie | | |
| 1996 | Expedition of Men | | |
| 1996 | MBC Best Theater: "Man Opening the Refrigerator Door" | Jae-min | |
| 1996 | When the Salmon Returns | Han Jae-joon | |
| 1997 | Wedding Dress | | |
| 1997 | MBC Best Theater: "Tricycle" | Min-soo | |
| 1997 | MBC Best Theater: "Until You Fall Asleep" | Man | |
| 1998 | Hope Inn | | |
| 1998 | Sunday Best: "April Concerto" | Joon-ho | |
| 1998 | I Love You, I'm Sorry | | |
| 1998 | Stranger | Beom-soo | |
| 1998 | White Nights 3.98 | Kim Jin-seok | |
| 1999 | Young Sun | Yoon Je-hyuk | |
| 1999 | We Saw a Lost Little Bird | | |
| 1999 | Sunday Best: "A Thirty-one-year-old's First Kiss" | | |
| 1999 | Cello | Park Ki-tae | |
| 1999 | The Last War | Kim Tae-joong | |
| 1999 | Goodbye My Love | Song Dae-ho | |
| 1999 | Magic Castle | Lee Poong-jin | |
| 2000 | Butcher's Daughter | | |
| 2000 | The Full Sun | Kang Min-ki | |
| 2001 | How Should I Be? | Na Ki-chan | |
| 2001 | Life Is Beautiful | Nam Jung-woo | |
| 2001 | Fox and Cotton Candy | Bong Kang-chul | |
| 2002 | Affection | Jo Byung-soo | |
| 2002 | Inspector Park Mun-su | Park Mun-su | |
| 2004 | The Woman Who Wants to Marry | Shin Joo-ho | |
| 2005 | Toji, the Land | Kim Gil-sang | |
| 2005 | Young-jae's Golden Days | Eom Joong-seo | |
| 2007 | Catching Up with Gangnam Moms | Seo Sang-won | |
| 2012 | My Husband Got a Family | Bang Gwi-nam/Terry Kang | |
| 2013 | The Secret of Birth | Hong Gyung-doo | |
| 2013 | My Love from the Star | Section chief Yoo | Cameo (Eps. 2–3) |
| 2015 | Heard It Through the Grapevine | Han Jeong-ho | |
| 2016 | Working Mom Parenting Daddy | Lee Moon-han | Cameo |
| 2016 | Pied Piper | Yoon Hee-Sung | |
| 2017 | Distorted | Lee Seok-min | |
| 2019 | Liver or Die | Lee Poong-sang | |
| 2020 | Graceful Friends | Ahn Goong-chul | |
| 2020 | The Uncanny Counter | Ga Mo-tak | Season 1–2 |
| 2021 | The Penthouse: War in Life | Jung Doo-man | Cameo, Season 2 |
| 2022 | Alchemy of Souls | Park Jin | |
| TBA | We Will Replace the Trip | Oh Sang-sik | |

### Music video

| Year | Title | Artist |
| 2003 | "Can't I?" | Wheesung |
| 2007 | "Oh, You Beautiful Woman" | Yoo Jun-sang |

## Stage
### Concerts

Concert performances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 2011 | Lee Young-mi concert | 이영미 콘서트 | Singer | Rolling hole | May 6, 2011 | |

### Musical

| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1995 | Foes of Women | | | | | |
| 1998 | Grease | | | | | |
| 2001 | The Play | | | | | |
| 2001 | Love & Luve | | | | | |
| 2004 | Two Men | | | | | |
| 2005 | Passion of the Rain | | | | | |
| 2007 | Claws of Angel | | Il-du/Idu | | | |
| 2008 | The Life | | Sonja | | | |
| 2008–2009 | The Happy Life | | Beom-jin | | | |
| 2009 | The Three Musketeers | 삼총사 | D'Artagnan | Chungmu Art Hall Grand Theatre | May 12 - June 21 | |
| 2009-2010 | Jack the Ripper | 살인마 잭 | Anderson | Universal Art Center | November 13, 2009 – January 31, 2010 | |
| 2009-2010 | Jack the Ripper | 살인마 잭 | Anderson | Yeungnam University Cheonma Art Center Grand Hall, Daegu | December 24 – 26, 2009 | |
| 2013 | Rebecca | 레베카 | Maxim DeWinter | LG Arts Center | January 12–March 31 | |
| 2013 | Those Days | 그날들 | Cha Jeong-hak | Daehakro Musical Center Main Theater | April 4–June 30 | |
| 2013 | Rebecca | 레베카 | Maxim De Winter | Daegu Gyeongnam Art Center | April 9–13 | |
| 2013 | Rebecca | 레베카 | Maxim De Winter | Gimhae Cultural Center Maru Hall | April 19–21 | |
| 2013 | Rebecca | 레베카 | Maxim De Winter | Busan Cultural Center Grand Theater | May 11–12 | |
| 2013 | Rebecca | 레베카 | Maxim De Winter | Cheonan Arts Center Main Theater | May 25–26 | |
| 2013 | Rebecca | 레베카 | Maxim De Winter | Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center Aram Theater | June 1–2 | |
| 2013 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jeong-hak | Daejeon Arts Center Art Hall | July 5–7 | |
| 2013 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jeong-hak | Daegu Gyeongnam Art Center | July 19–21 | |
| 2013 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jeong-hak | Gyeonggi Arts Center Main Theater | August 2–4 | |
| 2013 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jeong-hak | Centum City Sohyang Theater Shinhan Card Hall | August 15–18 | |
| 2013 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jeong-hak | Ansan Culture & Arts Center Haedoji Theater | August 23–25 | |
| 2014 | Frankenstein | | Victor Frankenstein | 2015 | | |
| 2014–2015 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Daehangno Musical Center Grand Theater | Oct 21–Jan 18, 2015 | |
| 2015 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Seongnam Art Center Opera House | March 21–22 | |
| 2015 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Incheon Culture and Arts Center Grand Performance Hall | Feb 7–8 | |
| 2015 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Daegu Keimyung Art Center | April 4–5 | |
| 2015 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Jeju Art Center | May 30–31 | |
| 2015 | Robin Hood | | Robin Hood | | | |
| 2015 | Robin Hood | 로빈훗 | Robin Hood | D Cube Link Art Center | January 23 - March 29 | |
| 2015 | Robin Hood | 로빈훗 | Robin Hood | Seongnam Art Centre Opera House | April 19 - May 25 | |
| 2016 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Chungmu Art Center Grand Theater | Aug 25–Nov 3 | |
| 2016 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Daegu Keimyung Art Center | Nov 12–13 | |
| 2016 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Centum City Sohyang Theater Shinhan Card Hall Busan | Dec 2–4 | |
| 2016 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Gyeonggi Arts Center Grand Theater Suwon | Dec 10–11 | |
| 2016 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Guri Art Hall Cosmos Grand Theater | Dec 16–17 | |
| 2016 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | GS Caltex Yeulmaru Grand Theater Yeosu | Dec 23–25 | |
| 2017 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Seongnam Art Center Opera House | Jan 21–22 | |
| 2017 | The Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater | Feb 7–March 5 | |
| 2017 | Ben Hur | | Judah Ben Hur | | | |
| 2018 | Barnum | | P.T. Barnum | | | |
| 2018–2019 | Those Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Centum City Sohyang Theater Shinhan Card Hall Busan | Dec 23–30 | |
| 2018–2019 | Those Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Daejeon Arts Center Art Hall | Jan 5–6 | |
| 2018–2019 | Those Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall Busan | Feb 22–May 6 | |
| 2018–2019 | Those Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Gyeongsangnam-do Culture and Arts Center Grand Performance Hall Guri | June 7–8 | |
| 2021 | Beetlejuice | | Beetlejuice | | | |
| 2023 | Those Days | 그날들 | Cha Jun-hak | Seoul Arts Center | July 12 to September 3 | |

### Theater

Theater play performances of Oh :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Venue | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Venue | Date | Ref. |
| 2018 | Doosan Humanities Theater 2018 Altruism - Nassim | 두산인문극장 2018 이타주의자 - 낫심 | | Doosan Art Center Space111 | April 10–29 | |

## Discography

| Album information | Track listing |
| Oh, You Beautiful Woman 1 track from Lee Eun-ju: Only One Released: February 16, 2007 Label: Mnet Media, CJ Music | Track listing 7. 오, 그대는 아름다운 여인 (Oh, You Beautiful Woman) – Yoo Jun-sang |
| Don't Turn Off the Lights 1 track from Love Tree Project: Namoo Actors Charity Project Released: January 8, 2010 Label: Ode Music, KT Music | Track listing 8. 꺼지지 않는 불빛 (Don't Turn Off the Lights) – Yoo Jun-sang |
| Gray City / I Hate This City 2 tracks from Jack the Ripper cast recording Released: August 9, 2010 Label: M Musical Company, Windmill Media, Mirrorball Music | Track listing 11. 회색도시 (Gray City) – Ensemble, Yoo Jun-sang 22. 이 도시가 싫어 (I Hate This City) – Ensemble, Yoo Jun-sang |
| Ce Song 1 track from My Husband Got a Family OST Released: August 17, 2012 Label: The Groove Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment | Track listing 2. Ce Song – Yoo Jun-sang (feat. Kwak Dong-yeon and Kim Sang-ho) |
| Junes Album Artist: Yoo Jun-sang Released: December 20, 2013 Label: CJ Music | Track listing 27과 33 그 해 여름 사이 사랑이 필요해 아름다운 아름다운 Making Room 그대에게 다가가는 순간 (feat. Lee Da-yeon of Taurine) In Tokyo 27과 33 여름 사이 |
| Travel Project One: Just Travel... Walking... And Thinking... Album Artist: J N Joy 20 (Yoo Jun-sang, Lee Joon-wha) Released: November 17, 2014 Label: Mirrorball Music | Track listing 기타 치기 좋은 오후 나의 본적을 찾아서 Now(nä) 기차 너머 보이는 저 풍경 위를 따라가다 보면 The Path You've Been 이제 울지 마 어떤 사람이 될까? I'll Call The Name 너에게 못다 한 이야기 공연할 때 눈물을 너무 많이 흘려서 앞으로 눈물이 안 나오면 어쩌나 걱정하는 어느 연기자의 고백 |

## Book

| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN |
| 2012 | The Invention of Happiness | Yolimwon | ISBN 9788970637426 |

## Ambassadorship

* Public Relations Ambassador for the Park Kyung-ri Literature Awards (2022)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2001 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor | How Should I Be? | Won |
| 2001 | MBC Drama Awards | Popularity Award | How Should I Be? | Won |
| 2002 | 8th Korea Musical Awards | Best Actor | The Play | Won |
| 2002 | MBC Drama Awards | Popularity Award | Fox and Cotton Candy | Won |
| 2005 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Land | Won |
| 2006 | 40th Taxpayer's Day | Prime Minister's Commendation | — | Won |
| 2007 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Catching Up with Gangnam Moms | Won |
| 2008 | 45th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Wide Awake | Won |
| 2009 | 3rd Daegu International Musical Festival | Popular Star Award | | Won |
| 2010 | 18th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Won |
| 2010 | 19th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ha Ha Ha | Won |
| 2010 | 31st Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Nominated |
| 2011 | 12th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | The Day He Arrives | Won |
| 2012 | 5th Style Icon Awards | Top 10 Style Icons | — | Won |
| 2012 | Korea Advertisers Association Awards | Good Model Award | — | Won |
| 2012 | 21st Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | In Another Country | Nominated |
| 2012 | 49th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | In Another Country | Nominated |
| 2012 | 1st K-Drama Star Awards | Excellence Award, Actor | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| 2012 | 1st K-Drama Star Awards | Top Popularity Award | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| 2012 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| 2012 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | My Husband Got a Family | Nominated |
| 2012 | KBS Drama Awards | Netizen Award, Actor | My Husband Got a Family | Nominated |
| 2012 | KBS Drama Awards | Best Couple Award with Kim Nam-joo | My Husband Got a Family | Won |
| 2013 | 49th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (TV) | My Husband Got a Family | Nominated |
| 2013 | 50th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Fists of Legend | Nominated |
| 2013 | 25th Korean PD Awards | Best Performer, TV Actor category | — | Won |
| 2013 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | The Secret of Birth | Nominated |
| 2014 | 8th Daegu International Musical Festival | Star of the Year Award | — | Won |
| 2015 | 9th Daegu International Musical Festival | Star of the Year Award | — | Won |
| 2015 | 4th Yegreen Musical Awards | Actor of the Year | — | Won |
| 2015 | 8th Korea Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Heard It Through the Grapevine | Nominated |
| 2015 | 4th APAN Star Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Heard It Through the Grapevine | Nominated |
| 2015 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Heard It Through the Grapevine | Won |
| 2016 | 3rd Wildflower Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Matter of Interpretation | Nominated |
| 2018 | 12th Daegu International Musical Festival | Star of the Year Award | — | Won |
| 2019 | MBC Entertainment Awards | Multi-tainer Award | Funding Together | Won |
| 2019 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Liver or Die | Won |
| 2019 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Liver or Die | Nominated |
| 2019 | KBS Drama Awards | Netizen Award, Actor | Liver or Die | Nominated |
| 2019 | KBS Drama Awards | Best Couple Award with Shin Dong-mi | Liver or Die | Won |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Forbes | 2013 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 12th | |
| Forbes | 2014 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 29th | |