# Yoo Hae-jin

Yoo Hae-jin (Korean: 유해진; 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.

## 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 monologue play that inspired him to pursue acting in the future. It was a powerful and impactful experience during his puberty. He aspired to attend an arts high school, but due to financial constraints and lack of support from his conservative parents, he couldn't. However, 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 observed their techniques from afar, gradually honing his acting skills despite his introverted personality.
Yoo applied to university acting and film programs for two consecutive years but failed the auditions due to his appearance. He initially planned to enlist in the military but his father suggested he pursue a different path. Yoo chose fashion, believing it could benefit his acting career. Apart from the time he spent in mandatory military service, He gave priority to theater over fashion studies. As a result, he barely managed to graduate. However, his father's advice proved beneficial, as there was a special selection process for college graduates that admitted students based solely on their grades. This is how he gained acceptance to the Seoul Institute of the Arts in 1995.

## 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 Dongrang Repertory Theater Company and became a member of Theater troupe The Mokwha Repertoire Company. Met in a bakery by chance, Yoo received a part-time job offer from a bidet factory owner. Yoo mentioned that he was asked to bring a friend for that job because he seemed inadequate. He then brought along his fellow theater group member, Ryu Seung-ryong. Later, they rented a room in country side for a month and 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 a 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, and now has become a bonafide marquee name in 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 up lead roles. His first lead starring film, Luck Key, was released in 2016 and surpassed 5 million viewers. 2017 was a successful year for Yoo - he had 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 family comedy Love+Sling, and Intimate Strangers, a remake of the Italian comedy film 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 in 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 new agency Awesome ENT.

## Endorsements

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

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

### Television

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2004 | Toji, the Land | Kim Pyeong-san / Kim Doo-soo |

### Television show

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

### Music video

Music video appearances :
| Year | Song title | Artist | Ref. |
| 2001 | "Fix The Makeup" | Wax | |
| 2006 | "It was All You" | Sunset | |

## Theater

List of stage play(s) :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 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 | |
| 1999 | (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

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2006 | 43rd Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | King and the Clown | Won |
| 2006 | 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | King and the Clown | Nominated |
| 2006 | 14th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Tazza: The High Rollers | Nominated |
| 2010 | 47th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Nominated |
| 2010 | 31st Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Won |
| 2010 | 8th Korean Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Won |
| 2011 | 5th Asian Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Nominated |
| 2011 | 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Unjust | Nominated |
| 2011 | 48th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Unjust | Nominated |
| 2014 | 51st Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Won |
| 2014 | 1st Korean Film Producers Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Won |
| 2014 | 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Nominated |
| 2014 | The Night of Stars-Korea Top Star Awards | Korea's Top Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Won |
| 2015 | 6th KOFRA Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Won |
| 2015 | 10th Max Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Nominated |
| 2015 | 51st Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Won |
| 2015 | 35th Golden Cinema Festival | Best Supporting Actor | The Pirates | Won |
| 2015 | 24th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Classified File | Nominated |
| 2015 | 52nd Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Veteran | Nominated |
| 2015 | 36th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Veteran | Nominated |
| 2015 | 16th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Veteran | Won |
| 2016 | 11th Max Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Veteran | Nominated |
| 2017 | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor | Luck Key | Nominated |
| 2017 | 22nd Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actor | Luck Key | Nominated |
| 2017 | 12th University Film Festival of Korea | Best Actor | Luck Key | Won |
| 2017 | 7th SACF Artists of the Year Awards | Artistic Impression in Motion Pictures Award | — | Won |
| 2017 | 37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Taxi Driver | Won |
| 2017 | 38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Taxi Driver | Nominated |
| 2018 | 12th Asian Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Taxi Driver | Nominated |
| 2018 | 39th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | 1987: When the Day Comes | Nominated |
| 2019 | 19th Director's Cut Awards | Best Actor | Intimate Strangers | Nominated |
| 2020 | 25th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actor | The Battle: Roar to Victory | Nominated |
| 2023 | Director's Cut Awards | Best Actor in film | The Night Owl | Nominated |
| 2023 | 32nd Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | The Night Owl | Nominated |
| 2023 | 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actor | Honey Sweet | Nominated |
| 2024 | 60th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Film | Exhuma | Nominated |
| 2024 | 60th Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actor | Yoo Hae-jin | Nominated |

### State honors

Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given :
| Organization | Year | Award | Ref. |
| 51st Taxpayers' Day | 2017 | Presidential Commendation | |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Forbes | 2016 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 22nd | |
| The Screen | 2019 | 2009-2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies | 5th | |