# Yoo Yeon-seok

Ahn Yeon-seok (Korean: 안연석; born April 11, 1984), better known by the stage name Yoo Yeon-seok, is a South Korean actor. After making his acting debut in 2003 with a small role in Oldboy, he resumed his acting career in 2008. His notable works include the films Re-encounter (2011), Architecture 101 (2012), A Werewolf Boy (2012), Whistle Blower (2014), and Love, Lies (2016), as well as the television series Reply 1994 (2013), Dr. Romantic (2016), Mr. Sunshine (2018), Hospital Playlist (2020–2021), and When the Phone Rings (2024).

## Early life

Yoo was born as Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984, in Seoul, South Korea as a son of professor of engineering. In his junior year in high school, Yoo decided to take up acting and followed his brother, who was studying another year to enter university, to Seoul and they lived together near the district of Samseong-dong.
While taking acting classes, Yoo met a friend who would later work on the costume staff of film director Park Chan-wook. Remembering that he resembled actor Yoo Ji-tae, he gave him a call about auditioning for a role. Without having to pass out his resume, he made his acting debut as Yoo Ji-tae's younger counterpart in the acclaimed 2003 film Oldboy.
After appearing in Oldboy, Yoo spent a solid amount of time in preparation before becoming a fully-fledged actor, including entering the Department of Film Arts at Sejong University and serving in the military. Upon graduation from Sejong University with a degree in Film Arts, he resumed his acting career in 2008, appearing in the plays In The Burning Darkness and Understudy. He also began using his agency's recommended stage name, Yoo Yeon-seok.

## Career
### 2008–2012: Career beginnings

After an extended hiatus from acting, Yoo made his return in the medical drama General Hospital 2.
Yoo took on supporting roles on television, such as the haughty student body president in the horror series Soul and more appealing characters in medical drama Midnight Hospital and Tasty Life. But Yoo received his best reviews yet for playing a sensitive ex-boyfriend searching for his child in the independent film Re-encounter.
Soon after, Yoo became known to mainstream audiences as the rich and spoiled antagonist in the box office hit melodramas Architecture 101, and A Werewolf Boy. He further raised his profile with comedy film Born to Sing, and the fantasy series Gu Family Book.

### 2013–present: Rising popularity

Yoo rose to popularity in the nostalgic campus drama Reply 1994 in late 2013. Following his breakout year, he was cast in two high-profile films in 2014: Whistle Blower about infamous biotech researcher Hwang Woo-suk, and Joseon-set period drama The Royal Tailor. Yoo then appeared in the travel-reality show Youth Over Flowers.
In 2015, Yoo was cast in his first leading role on network television as a chef and restaurateur in the romantic comedy series Warm and Cozy, written by the Hong sisters and set on Jeju Island. He also starred in the thriller Perfect Proposal (a remake of Woman of Straw), and The Beauty Inside (adapted from the social film of the same title). Later in the year, Yoo played the protagonist in Le Passe-Muraille ("The Man Who Walked Through Wall"); this was his first stage musical since his professional acting debut (Yoo had previously appeared in theatrical productions while still in university).
In 2016, Yoo starred in the period music drama Love, Lies followed by romantic comedy Mood of the Day. He returned to the small screen with hit medical drama Dr. Romantic alongside Han Suk-kyu and Seo Hyun-jin.
In 2018, Yoo starred in romance melodrama Mr. Sunshine penned by Kim Eun-sook. He then appeared in the musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.
In 2020, Yoo starred in the critically acclaimed and hit medical drama Hospital Playlist, playing Ahn Jeong-won, an assistant professor of pediatric surgery and reprised his role in season 2 in 2021.
In 2022, Yoo starred in the crime-mystery film Vanishing by French film director Denis Dercourt, as detective Park Jin-ho. In December, he starred in the JTBC series The Interest of Love, playing an employee at a bank.
In 2023, he also reprised his role as Kang Dong-joo in a cameo role in the third season of Dr. Romantic.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Oldboy | Young Lee Woo-jin | Credit as Ahn Yeon-suk |
| 2009 | Short! Short! Short! 2009: Show Me the Money | Man | Segment: "Saw" |
| 2011 | Re-encounter | Han-soo | |
| 2012 | Eighteen, Nineteen | Ho-ya | |
| 2012 | Architecture 101 | Jae-wook | |
| 2012 | Two Weddings and a Funeral | Joon | Cameo |
| 2012 | Horror Stories | Man | Segment: "Beginning" |
| 2012 | A Werewolf Boy | Ji-tae | |
| 2013 | Born to Sing | Dong-soo | |
| 2013 | Hwayi: A Monster Boy | Park Ji-won | |
| 2014 | Whistle Blower | Shim Min-ho | |
| 2014 | The Royal Tailor | King Yeonjo | |
| 2015 | Perfect Proposal | Sung-yeol | |
| 2015 | The Beauty Inside | Woo-jin | |
| 2016 | Love, Lies | Kim Yoon-woo | |
| 2016 | Mood of the Day | Jae-hyun | |
| 2016 | A Quiet Dream | Motorcycle man | Cameo |
| 2020 | Steel Rain 2: Summit | Jo Seon-sa (North Korean Leader) | |
| 2021 | New Year Blues | Jae-Hyun | |
| 2022 | Vanishing | Park Jin-ho | Korean-French Film |
| 2023 | My Heart Puppy | Min-soo | |
| TBA | No Other Choice | Oh Jin Ho | Filming |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008–2009 | General Hospital 2 | Heo Woo-jin | |
| 2009 | Dream | Noh Chul-joong | |
| 2009 | Soul | Baek Joong-chan | |
| 2010 | Running, Gu | Heo Ji-man | |
| 2010–2011 | Pure Pumpkin Flower | Oh Hyo-joon | |
| 2011 | Midnight Hospital | Yoon Sang-ho | |
| 2012 | Tasty Life | Choi Jae-hyuk | |
| 2012 | What About Mom? | Kim Yeon-seok | |
| 2013 | Gu Family Book | Park Tae-seo | |
| 2013 | Reply 1994 | Chilbong | |
| 2015 | Warm and Cozy | Baek Gun-woo | |
| 2015 | Mrs. Cop | Jo Young-woo | Cameo (Episode 16) |
| 2016–2023 | Dr. Romantic | Kang Dong-joo | Season 1 and 3 (Special appearance; episode 12–16) |
| 2018 | Mr. Sunshine | Goo Dong-mae | |
| 2020–2021 | Hospital Playlist | Ahn Jeong-won/Andrea | Season 1–2 |
| 2022–2023 | The Interest of Love | Ha Sang-soo | |
| 2024–2025 | When the Phone Rings | Paik Sa-eon | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2022 | Narco-Saints | David Park | |
| 2023 | A Bloody Lucky Day | Lee Byeong-Min/Geum Hyuk-soo | |

### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2012 | Cats and Dogs | Host | |
| 2014 | Youth Over Flowers | Regular cast | with Son Ho-Jun & Baro (Reply 1994 cast members) |
| 2016 | Wekid | Mentor | |
| 2019 | Coffee Friends | Regular cast | with Son Ho-jun Choi Ji-woo and Yang Se-jong |
| 2021 | Wise Mountain Village Life | Cast Member | with Hospital Playlist casts (Jo Jung Suk,Jeon Mido,Jung Kyung Ho & Kim Dae Myung) |
| 2024 | Whenever Possible | Host | with Yoo Jae-suk |

### Web shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2023 | Bro and Marble | Cast Member | with Lee Seung-gi, Lee Dong-hwi, Ji Seok-jin, Kyuhyun, Joshua and Hoshi | |

### Hosting

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2018 | 39th Blue Dragon Film Awards | with Kim Hye-soo |
| 2019 | 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | with Kim Hye-soo |
| 2021 | 41st Blue Dragon Film Awards | with Kim Hye-soo |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | with Kim Hye-soo |
| 2022 | 43rd Blue Dragon Film Awards | with Kim Hye-soo |
| 2023 | 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards | with Kim Hye-soo |

### Music video appearances

| Year | Title | Artist |
| 2008 | "Things to Do Tomorrow" | Yoon Jong-shin |
| 2009 | "On the Days I Longed for Love" | Lee Oh Gong Gam |
| 2013 | "You Fool" | Honey-G |
| 2013 | "Things to Do Tomorrow" | Yoon Jong-shin feat. Sung Si-kyung |
| 2013 | "The Day to Love" | Lee Seung-chul |
| 2013 | "One Way Love" | Hyolyn |
| 2013 | "Only Feeling You" | Yoo Yeon-seok, Son Ho-jun and Jung Woo |
| 2014 | "Three People" | Toy feat. Sung Si-kyung |
| 2015 | "Because You're Pretty" | Standing Egg |
| 2018 | "Then You" | K.Will |
| 2020 | "Daystar" | Kyuhyun |

## Discography
### Singles

List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Gaon | US World | Album |
| "Only Feeling You" (너만을 느끼며) (with Jung Woo and Son Ho-jun) | 2013 | 8 | — | Reply 1994 OST Part 7 |
| "To You" (너에게) | 2021 | 73 | — | Hospital Playlist Season 2 OST Part 7 |
| "Our Vacation" (with Bro & Marble Cast) | 2023 | — | — | Bro & Marble OST |
| "Happy Together" (with Cho Kyu-hyun) | 2023 | — | — | Bro & Marble OST |
| "Falling" | 2023 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Say My Name" | 2024 | — | 7 | When the Phone Rings OST |

## Stage
### Musical

Musical play performances :
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2015–2016 | Le Passe-Muraille (벽을 뚫는 남자) | Dusoleil |
| 2017 | Hedwig and the Angry Inch (헤드윅) | Hedwig |
| 2019 | A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (젠틀맨스 가이드) | Monty Navarro |
| 2020 | Werther (베르테르) | Werther |
| 2021–2022 | A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (젠틀맨스 가이드) | Monty Navarro |
| 2024 | Hedwig and the Angry Inch (헤드윅) | Hedwig |

### Theater

Theater play performances :
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2008 | The Good Person of Szechwan (사천사는 착한사람) | |
| 2008 | In The Burning Darkness (타오르는 어둠속에서) | |
| 2009 | The Understudy (언더스터디) | |
| 2017 | Death of a Salesman - Suwon (세일즈맨의 죽음 - 수원) | Howard |

## Book

| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN |
| 2014 | Yoo Yeon-seok's Dream | Paperbook | ISBN 9788997148387 |

## Ambassadorship

* Ambassador for the 5th Seoul Animal Film Festival (2022)

## Fanmeeting
### THE SECRET CODE: Y (2025)

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| March 1, 2025 | Bangkok | Thailand | IDEA LIVE |
| March 8, 2025 | Hong Kong | China | Axa Dreamland |
| March 9, 2025 | Hong Kong | China | Axa Dreamland |
| March 15, 2025 | Tokyo | Japan | Ichikawa City Cultural Hall |
| March 22, 2025 | Taipei | Taiwan | Legacy Max |
| March 23, 2025 | Taipei | Taiwan | Legacy Max |
| March 27, 2025 | Singapore | Singapore | The Theatre at Mediacorp |
| April 5, 2025 | Jakarta | Indonesia | JIEXPO Theatre |

## 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 |
| APAN Star Awards | 2018 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Mr. Sunshine | Nominated |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2018 | Artist of the Year | Mr. Sunshine | Won |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2018 | Best Actor | Mr. Sunshine | Won |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2018 | Popularity Award (Actor) | Mr. Sunshine | Nominated |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2020 | Popularity Award (Actor) | Yoo Yeon-seok | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2015 | Best Supporting Actor – Film | The Royal Tailor | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2019 | Best Supporting Actor – Television | Mr. Sunshine | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2019 | Most Popular Actor | Mr. Sunshine | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Best Actor – Television | A Bloody Lucky Day | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Most Popular Actor | Yoo Yeon-seok | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2012 | Best New Actor | Horror Stories | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2021 | Best Supporting Actor | Steel Rain 2: Summit | Nominated |
| Golden Cinema Festival | 2015 | Best New Actor | The Royal Tailor | Won |
| Grand Bell Awards | 2011 | Best New Actor | Re-encounter | Nominated |
| Grand Bell Awards | 2015 | Best Supporting Actor | The Royal Tailor | Nominated |
| Korea Film Actors Association Awards | 2016 | Popularity Award | Mood of the Day | Won |
| Korea Musical Awards | 2018 | Best New Actor | Hedwig and the Angry Inch | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2015 | Top 10 Stars Award | Warm and Cozy | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2024 | Best Couple Award | Yoo Yeon-seok (with Chae Soo-bin) When the Phone Rings | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2024 | Grand Prize (Daesang) | When the Phone Rings | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2024 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | When the Phone Rings | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2016 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Genre Drama | Dr. Romantic | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2016 | Best Couple Award | Dr. Romantic (with Seo Hyun-jin) | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2016 | Idol Academy Award – Best Kiss | Dr. Romantic (with Seo Hyun-jin) | Won |
| SBS Entertainment Awards | 2024 | Rookie Award (Talk/Reality) | Whenever Possible | Won |
| The Seoul Awards | 2018 | Best Supporting Actor (Drama) | Mr. Sunshine | Won |
| Soompi Awards | 2018 | Best Supporting Actor Male Category | Mr. Sunshine | Nominated |
| Style Icon Awards | 2014 | Top 10 Style Icons | Yoo Yeon-seok | Won |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Forbes | 2019 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 22nd | |