Who is Ryu Jun-yeol? Life and key facts

Ryu Jun-yeol (Korean: 류준열; born September 25, 1986) is a South Korean actor. Ryu began his acting career in independent films like Socialphobia (2015) prior to being known through the television series Reply 1988 (2015–2016) which won him the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor. He then starred in the films The King (2017), A Taxi Driver (2017), Believer (2018), The Battle: Roar to Victory (2019), and The Night Owl (2022). He also gained attention for his work in the two-part action blockbuster films Alienoid (2022) and Alienoid: Return to the Future (2024), as well as the series The 8 Show (2022). Ryu has received numerous accolades and has been included in the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list for three consecutive years: 14th in 2017, 36th in 2018, and 11th in 2019.

Early life and education

Ryu was born on September 25, 1986, in Suwon, South Korea. He is the eldest and has a sister who is two years his junior. He graduated from University of Suwon majoring in film on a scholarship. While studying at the university, Ryu took many part-time jobs, working as an after-school teacher for elementary students, a pizza delivery person, a day labourer, and more.

Ryu was conscripted before debuting as an actor. He registered as a public officer in 2007 and completed his duties in 2009.

Career

2012–2014: Beginnings

In 2012, Ryu started acting in short and independent films, before being cast in a bit part in the 2013 feature film INGtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls.

2015–2017: Reply 1988 and breakthrough

Ryu first drew attention for his performance in his debut feature film, Socialphobia in 2015, which earned him a Rising Star Award at KAFA Film Festival and nominations from Chunsa Film Art Awards. Later that year, Ryu gained widespread public recognition through starring in the family drama Reply 1988, alongside Lee Hye-ri, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, and Lee Dong-hwi.

His performance won him many accolades, including the Best New Actor in TV Award at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards in 2016.

In 2016, Ryu starred in the coming-of-age film One Way Trip and crime thriller No Tomorrow. The same year, he played his first leading role in romantic-comedy Lucky Romance alongside Hwang Jung-eum. In 2017, Ryu featured in political crime drama film The King alongside Zo In-sung and Jung Woo-sung, which became the 7th highest-grossing South Korean film of the year and for which he won the Best New Actor in Film award at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards.

The same year, he featured in biopic film A Taxi Driver with actors Song Kang-ho and Yoo Hae-jin, which became the highest grossing Korean film of the year and the twelfth highest-grossing South Korean film in history. Ryu also appeared in legal thriller film Heart Blackened alongside Choi Min-sik and Park Shin-hye.

2018–present: Work in film and streaming media

In 2018, Ryu starred in the acclaimed drama film Little Forest with Kim Tae-ri, and headlined the crime action film Believer with Cho Jin-woong . Believer was a box-office hit, becoming the first Korean film to surpass five million admissions in 2018. It was the fourth highest-grossing film of the year in South Korea.

In 2019, Ryu starred in the action thriller film Hit-and-Run Squad with Gong Hyo-jin directed by Han Jun-hee, led the crime film Money alongside Yoo Ji-tae and historical action film The Battle: Roar to Victory directed by Won Shin-yun. All three films performed well at the box-office, with The Battle: Roar to Victory and Money eventually becoming the 5th and 9th highest grossing Korean films of the year respectively.

Ryu's film work earned him a spot in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity for two consecutive years, 36th in 2018 and 11th in 2019.

In 2021, Ryu starred in JTBC's "Tenth Anniversary Special Project", a Hur Jin-ho melodrama television series Lost with Jeon Do-yeon, marking his small screen comeback after five years. In 2022, Ryu headlined Choi Dong-hoon's sci-fi action fantasy film, Alienoid, reuniting with Kim Tae-ri. The film premiered in July 2022.

Despite the film not being a commercial success, Ryu's performance was praised by critics. In November, Ryu starred in the historical-thriller film The Night Owl, reuniting with Yoo Hae-jin. In 2024, Ryu starred in psychological thriller Netflix series The 8 Show along with actress Chun Woo-hee and actor Park Jeong-min, reuniting second work with the director Han Jae-rim.

Ryu starred in the mystery thriller film Revelations with actress Shin Hyun-been and directed by Yeon Sang-ho. In May 2025, Netflix announced that Ryu will be one of the main characters of the new drama Mousetrap, co-starring Sul Kyung-gu. In June, Ryu signed an exclusive contract with United Artists Agency (UAA).

Other ventures

Philanthropy

While filming Youth Over Flowers: Africa in 2016, Ryu developed an interest in environmentalism and began to campaign for environmental protection.^{[unreliable source?]} In December 2018, Ryu was reported to have donated ₩10 million to Greenpeace.^{[citation needed]} He has been making regular donations since 2016 for various campaigns, such as Save the Arctic.

In 2020, Ryu made another donation to Greenpeace in response to Australian wildfires, and campaigned for animal protection and urgent action to tackle climate change on his Instagram account. In 2021, Ryu participated in a video conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, speaking about environmental protection and bringing attention to the Greenpeace campaign to reduce plastic packaging.

The two had previously visited the DMZ Peace Trail in 2019 to mark the first anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration.

Photography

Ryu took a brief hiatus from acting and moved to the United States, living in Los Angeles for several months from mid-2019 to early 2020, going by his English name Anthony. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles for a study abroad programme. Additionally, he did photography work and learned vlogging in his spare time.^{[citation needed]} He established a mini vlog-series on YouTube, titled Ryu Jun-yeol's: Reportage (Korean: '류준열의 르포르타쥬'), which covered his life in Los Angeles.

In November 2020, Ryu held his first photo exhibition in Seoul, titled "Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood", which showcased the photos he took while living abroad.

Personal life

Ryu was in a relationship with Reply 1988 co-star Lee Hye-ri from late 2016 to November 2023. He briefly dated actress Han So-hee in 2024.

An avid football fan, Ryu has participated in promotional activities for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which was held in South Korea. Ahead of the tournament, Ryu played against Argentine football players Diego Maradona and Pablo Aimar in a five-a-side match held before the official U-20 World Cup draw in Suwon.

Filmography

Film

Nowhere — A boyfriend — Short film — [citation needed]
INGtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls — Gym man — Bit part
Midnight Sun — Yong-hoon — Short film — [citation needed]
2014 — One-minded — Club Dude — Short film — [citation needed]
2014 — People in a Hurry — Jae-hyun — Short film — [citation needed]
2014 — Economic Love — Ji-hoon — Short film — [citation needed]
2014 — Son Na-rae Rescue Operation — Hyun-woo — Short film — [citation needed]
Draw — Sang-hoon — Short film — [citation needed]
2015 — Socialphobia — Yang-ge
Sori: Voice from the Heart — Seedless strawberry
2016 — No Tomorrow — Ji-hoon — [citation needed]
2016 — One Way Trip — Ji-gong — [citation needed]
2016 — Canola — Cheol-heon
2016 — The Boys Who Cried Wolf — Dong-chul
The King — Choi Doo-il
2017 — A Taxi Driver — Goo Jae-sik
2017 — Heart Blackened — Kim Dong-myeong
Little Forest — Jae-ha
2018 — Believer — Seo Young-rak
Hit-and-Run Squad — Seo Min-jae
2019 — Money — Jo Il-hyun
2019 — The Battle: Roar to Victory — Lee Jang-ha
Alienoid — Mureuk
2022 — The Night Owl — Kyung-soo
Alienoid: Return to the Future — Mureuk
Revelations — Seong Min-chan

Television series

The Producers — Joo Jong-hyun — Cameo (Ep. 1–2)
Reply 1988 — Kim Jung-hwan
Lucky Romance — Jae Su-ho
Lost — Lee Kang-jae
The 8 Show — Bae Jin-su / Third Floor
Mousetrap — Je Moon-jae

Television shows

Youth Over Flowers: Africa — Cast member
Traveler — Cast member
Reply 1988 10th Anniversary — Special appearance (Ep. 1)

Hosting

27th Busan International Film Festival Opening Ceremony — with Jeon Yeo-been
9th Asia Artist Awards — with Sung Han-bin and Jang Won-young

Music videos

"Hyehwa-dong (or Ssangmun-dong)"

Music video appearances

"Still I'm by Your Side" — Clazziquai Project
"A Little Girl" (소녀) — Oh Hyuk

Discography

Singles

2017 — Mixxxture Project, Vol. 2
2025 — Reply 1988 10th Anniversary OST

Accolades

Awards and nominations

2016 — Best Rookie Award, Actor — Reply 1988 — Won
Asia Artist Awards — 2017 — Best Star Award – Actor — A Taxi Driver — Won
Asia Artist Awards — 2018 — Artist of the Year — Ryu Jun-yeol — Won
Asia Artist Awards — 2018 — Popularity Award — Ryu Jun-yeol — Won
Asia Artist Awards — 2024 — Best Artist Award – Television/Film — Ryu Jun-yeol — Won
2016 — Best New Actor – Television — Reply 1988 — Won
Baeksang Arts Awards — 2017 — Best New Actor – Film — The King — Won
Baeksang Arts Awards — 2023 — Best Actor – Film — The Night Owl — Won
2017 — Best New Actor — A Taxi Driver — Nominated — [citation needed]
Blue Dragon Film Awards — 2023 — Best Actor — The Night Owl — Nominated
2024 — Best Actor — The 8 Show — Nominated
2017 — Best Supporting Actor — The King — Nominated
Buil Film Awards — 2023 — Best Actor — The Night Owl — Nominated
2016 — Best New Actor — Socialphobia — Nominated
Chunsa Film Art Awards — 2018 — Best Supporting Actor — A Taxi Driver — Nominated
2023 — Best Actor in film — The Night Owl — Nominated
2016 — Best Fashionista – TV Division — Ryu Jun-yeol — Won
Fashionista Awards — 2017 — Best Fashionista – SNS Division — Ryu Jun-yeol — Nominated
2019 — Cinematographers' Choice Popularity Award — Believer — Won
Golden Cinema Film Festival — 2023 — Best Actor — The Night Owl — Won
2023 — Best Actor — The Night Owl — Nominated
2016 — New Generation Actor Award — Socialphobia, Reply 1988 — Nominated — [citation needed]
2015 — Rising Star — Socialphobia — Won
2016 — Rising Star — Reply 1988 — Won
2016 — Special Award for Figure — Ryu Jun-yeol — Won
2023 — Best Actor — The Night Owl — Won
2018 — Popular Actor Award — Little Forest — Won
2019 — Best Actor Award — Money, The Battle: Roar to Victory — Won — [citation needed]
2019 — Rising Star Award — Money — Won — [unreliable source?]
2016 — Best New Actor — Socialphobia — Won
Max Movie Awards — 2016 — Rising Star — Socialphobia — Won
2016 — Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries — Lucky Romance — Nominated — [citation needed]
MBC Drama Awards — 2016 — Best New Actor — Lucky Romance — Won
2019 — Star Asia Rising Star Award — Money — Won
2017 — Best New Actor (Film) — The King — Won
2016 — Made in tvN, Actor in Drama — Reply 1988 — Nominated — [citation needed]
tvN10 Awards — 2016 — Rising Star Award, Actor — Reply 1988 — Won
2016 — Best New Actor / Actress — Socialphobia — Nominated — [citation needed]

State honors

Korea Minister of Health and Welfare — 2017 — Suicide Prevention Contribution Award
South Korea — Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards — 2019 — Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism's Commendation

Listicles

2017 — Korea Power Celebrity 40 — 14th
Forbes — 2018 — Korea Power Celebrity 40 — 36th
Forbes — 2019 — Korea Power Celebrity 40 — 11th
2021 — Korean Actors 200 — Included