Byeon Woo-seok

Byeon Woo-seok (Korean: 변우석; born October 31, 1991) is a South Korean actor and model. He debuted as a model in 2010 and walked the runway during the 2015 F/W Men's Fashion Show. Byeon transitioned into acting in 2016 with minor roles in dramas Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016), Record of Youth (2020), and Strong Girl Nam-soon (2023).
Byeon gained widespread popularity for his portrayal as Ryu Sun-jae in the time slip, romantic-comedy, television series Lovely Runner (2024). He also sang an original song for the drama's soundtrack which charted on the Billboard Global 200. He made his film debut with the Netflix film 20th Century Girl (2022). The following year, he starred in Soulmate (2023). His accolades include an APAN Star Award, six Asia Artist Awards, a Melon Music Award, a MAMA Award, as well as nominations for a Baeksang Arts Award, a Buil Film Award, and a Grand Bell Award.
Byeon was born on October 31, 1991, in Bucheon, South Korea. He has an older sister who is a flight attendant. He spent his early childhood there until kindergarten, after which his family relocated to Seoul. He graduated from Wooshin High School. Byeon pursued a degree in Theater and Film at Cheongju University with the intention of becoming an actor. However, after seeking agency representation, he was instead signed as a model, leading him to discontinue his university studies.
Following his departure from university and subsequent work as a model, Byeon fulfilled his mandatory military service as an administrative officer in the Public Relations Department of the 37th Division from November 2011 to August 2013.
Prior to acting, Byeon pursued a modeling career, first debuted as a model in 2010. He actively working in various fields such as Seoul Fashion Week, various fashion shows, advertising campaigns and magazines, and model trainer. He walked the runway for domestic designers at the Seoul Fashion Week S/S and F/W seasons from 2014 to 2017. His modeling career included work for numerous fashion magazines and advertising campaigns, with notable appearances in publications like Arena, Cosmopolitan, W, and Elle. Byeon made his international debut through the 2015 F/W Men's Fashion Show on seven runways. He worked as a fashion model until 2017.
Byeon began his acting career with minor roles in several television dramas, including tvN's Dear My Friends, as Son Jong-shik, SBS' Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo as Ha-jin's former boyfriend, and MBC's Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo as a swimmer. In 2017, Byeon was cast as the main lead of tvN's Drama Stage History of Walking Upright as Jong-min, the male friend of the female protagonist.
In 2019, he joined as one of the lead cast in JTBC's television series Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency.
In 2020, Byeon was cast in a lead role in tvN's television series Record of Youth.
In 2021, Byeon was cast in KBS2's historical television series Moonshine, in which he was awarded Best New Actor at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards. In the same year, Byeon received his first leading role in the Netflix film 20th Century Girl as Pong Woon-ho a high-teen male protagonist with a clear and refreshing image. The film premiered in 2022.
In 2022, Byeon received another leading role in film Soulmate. The film was released in theaters in 2023. Also in 2022, Byeon was cast as Ryu Si-o in Strong Girl Nam-soon.
In 2023, Byeon held the 'Byeon Wooseok 2023 JAPAN 1st Fanmeeting Special White Day' at Yamano Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
On July 19, 2023, he was cast in his first leading role as Ryu Sun-jae with tvN's time slip romance television series Lovely Runner, opposite Kim Hye-Yoon. It premiered in April 2024. For his role as Ryu Sun-jae, Byeon took singing lessons in order to hone his vocal skills. For his performance in the series, he won Asia Artist Awards for Best Actor of the Year (Daesang), Best Artist Award – Television / Film, Asia Celebrity Award – Television, Best Couple, and Popularity Award. He won Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards for Popele's Choice Award. He also received Korea Drama Awards for Hotstar. He received a nomination in the APAN Star Awards for Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries. The OST "Sudden Shower" from the series entered Billboard Global 200, and won the Asia Artist Awards for Best OST, the Melon Music Awards for Best OST, and the MAMA Awards for Favourite Global Trending Music.
Byeon kicked off his Asia Fanmeeting Tour, Summer Letter, on June 8 in Taipei, traveling to cities such as Bangkok, Manila, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, and concluded in Tokyo with total 12 shows sold out in eight cities, attracting an audience of 40,000.
In September 2024, Byeon made a special appearance as a convenience store worker in No Gain No Love. On December 2, Kakao Entertainment announced Byeon would star in MBC television series The 21st Century Grand Prince's Wife, portraying the lead role of Lee Ahn. The series is scheduled to be premiere in the second half of 2025.
In 2015, Byeon had been selected as the model for a Swedish fashion brand, Elvin.
In March 2024, Byeon was selected as the brand ambassador for Discovery Expedition Korea. Three months later, he became the global brand ambassador of LG Household & Health Care's dermatological beauty brand, Physiogel. In the same month, LG Electronics has selected him as the new model for its wireless portable lifestyle screen, LG Stand By Me. In July, he was selected to promote for Nonghyup Bank. In the same month, he became an ambassador for the beauty brand Clinique and men's cosmetic brand, Dashu. In August, he was selected to endorsed for Paldo Bibim Men, Baskin-Robbins Korea, and selected as brand ambassador of LG Household & Health Care, Euthymol. In September, he was selected as model for Job Korea and Albamon. Two months later, he was selected as model for iloom, Ediya Coffee, contact lens brand, Olens, and Kyochon Chicken. In November, he becomes the brand ambassador for Giordano, Prada, and Cartier.
In October 2024, Byeon donated 300 million won ($217,000) to Severance Hospital to help fund treatments for pediatric patients. The actor kept his donation private, but it was later revealed in a report by local news outlet.
Media call Byeon as "Nation's First Love", but he mention "Monday Blues Cure" as his favorite title. Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik said Byeon has "unique appeal characterized by a blend of masculinity, androgynous charm, and an image of trustworthiness". Ko Eun-kyung, CEO of KPLUS, described him as a hard worker. In 2024, he was listed as Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year.