Ryu Jun-yeol (born September 25, 1986) is a South Korean actor, activist, and photographer. He rose to fame with “Reply 1988” (2015-2016) and has starred in notable films like “The King” (2017), “A Taxi Driver” (2017), and “The Night Owl” (2022). He also appeared in the action films “Alienoid” (2022) and its sequel.
Ryu studied film at the University of Suwon and completed military service before starting his acting career. His breakout role was in “Socialphobia” (2015). He has been featured on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list, ranking 14th in 2017, 36th in 2018, and 11th in 2019.
As an environmental activist, Ryu supports Greenpeace and other causes. He also pursues photography, holding an exhibition in 2020. Ryu was in a relationship with actress Lee Hye-ri from 2016 to 2023 and is friends with Tottenham Hotspur player Son Heung-min.
His latest work is The 8 Show series released on May 17, 2024 from Netflix.
Ryu Jun-yeol Biography
Name
Ryu Jun yeol
Alternative
Name
Ryoo Joon-Yeol
Jun-yeol Ryu
Nationality
South Korean
Date of Birth
Sep 25, 1986
Age
37 years
(in 2024)
Birth Place
Suwon
Career
Actor
Activist
Photographer
Religion
N/A
Zodiac Sign
Libra
(the scales)
Physical Stats
Height
6′ (1.83 m)
Weight
~ 70 kg (154 lbs.)
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Hair Color
Black
Education
Field of Study
Film
College
or
University
University
of
Suwon
Known For:
Film Poster
Title
A Taxi Driver
(Movie) (2017)
7.9/10
The King (Movie) (2017)
6.9/10
Socialphobia
(Movie) (2014)
6.4/10
Believer (Movie) (2018)
6.6/10
Ryu Jun-yeol TV Series & Movies
Film
2013 | INGtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls | Role: Gym man
2015 | Socialphobia | Role: Yang-ge
2016 | Sori: Voice from the Heart | Role: Seedless strawberry
2016 | No Tomorrow | Role: Ji-hoon
2016 | One Way Trip | Role: Ji-gong
2016 | Canola | Role: Cheol-heon
2016 | The Boys Who Cried Wolf | Role: Dong-chul
2017 | The King | Role: Choi Doo-il
2017 | A Taxi Driver | Role: Goo Jae-sik
2017 | Heart Blackened | Role: Kim Dong-myeong
2018 | Little Forest | Role: Jae-ha
2018 | Believer | Role: Seo Young-rak
2019 | Hit-and-Run Squad | Role: Seo Min-jae
2019 | Money | Role: Jo Il-hyun
2019 | The Battle: Roar to Victory | Role: Lee Jang-ha
2022 | Alienoid | Role: Mureuk
2022 | The Night Owl | Role: Kyung-soo
2024 | Alienoid: Return to the Future | Role: Mureuk
TBA | Revelation |
Short film
2012 | Nowhere | Role: A boyfriend
2014 | Midnight Sun | Role: Yong-hoon
2014 | One-minded | Role: Club Dude
2014 | People in a Hurry | Role: Jae-hyun
2014 | Economic Love | Role: Ji-hoon
2014 | Son Na-rae Rescue Operation | Role: Hyun-woo
2015 | Draw | Role: Sang-hoon
Television series
2015 | The Producers | Role: Joo Jong-hyun
2015–16 | Reply 1988 | Role: Kim Jung-hwan
2016 | Lucky Romance | Role: Jae Su-ho
2021 | Lost | Role: Lee Kang-jae
Web series
2024 | The 8 Show | Role: 3F (Jin Soo)
Television shows
2016 | Youth Over Flowers: Africa | Role: Cast member
2019 | Traveler | Role: Cast member
Hosting
2022 | 27th Busan International Film Festival Opening Ceremony | with Jeon Yeo-been
Music video appearances
2014 | “Still I’m by Your Side” | Artist: Clazziquai Project
2015 | “A Little Girl” | Artist: Oh Hyuk
Singles
2017 | “You” | Album: Mixxxture Project, Vol. 2
Ryu Jun-yeol Photos
Ryu Jun-yeol: Actor of the role of “3F” in the Korean series “The 8 Show”
“The 8 Show” is a 2024 South Korean dark comedy thriller television series directed and written by Han Jae-rim. Starring Ryu Jun-yeol, Chun Woo-hee, Park Jeong-min, Lee Yul-eum, Park Hae-joon, Lee Joo-young, Moon Jeong-hee, and Bae Seong-woo, the series is based on the Naver webtoons “Money Game” and “Pie Game” by Bae Jin-soo. It follows eight participants trapped in a secret space divided into eight floors, engaging in a deadly game where they accumulate money over time. The game only ends with a death, in a place where social infrastructure is absent. Released worldwide on Netflix on May 17, 2024.
Ryu Jun-yeol stands out in his role as the character located on the 3th Floor (Jin Soo), bringing depth and intrigue to the series with his performance.
Ryu Jun-yeol in The 8 Show Netflix series
Awards
Wins
2015 | KAFA FILMS | Rising Star | Socialphobia
2016 | Asia Artist Awards | Best Rookie Award, Actor | Reply 1988 2016 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor – Television | Reply 1988 2016 | Fashionista Awards | Best Fashionista – TV Division | Ryu Jun-yeol 2016 | Korean Cable TV Awards | Rising Star | Reply 1988 2016 | Korea First Brand Awards | Special Award for Figure | Ryu Jun-yeol 2016 | Max Movie Awards | Best New Actor | Socialphobia 2016 | Max Movie Awards | Rising Star | Socialphobia 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Lucky Romance 2016 | tvN10 Awards | Rising Star Award, Actor | Reply 1988
2017 | Asia Artist Awards | Best Star Award – Actor | A Taxi Driver 2017 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor – Film | The King 2017 | The Seoul Awards | Best New Actor (Film) | The King
2018 | Asia Artist Awards | Artist of the Year | Ryu Jun-yeol 2018 | Asia Artist Awards | Popularity Award | Ryu Jun-yeol 2018 | Korea World Youth Film Festival | Popular Actor Award | Little Forest
2019 | Golden Cinema Film Festival | Cinematographers’ Choice Popularity Award | Believer 2019 | Korea Youth Film Festival | Best Actor Award | Money, The Battle: Roar to Victory 2019 | London East Asia Film Festival | Rising Star Award | Money 2019 | New York Asian Film Festival | Star Asia Rising Star Award | Money
2023 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor – Film | The Night Owl 2023 | Golden Cinema Film Festival | Best Actor | The Night Owl 2023 | Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | The Night Owl
Nominations
2016 | Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Actor | Socialphobia 2016 | InStyle Star Icon | New Generation Actor Award | Socialphobia, Reply 1988 2016 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Lucky Romance 2016 | tvN10 Awards | Made in tvN, Actor in Drama | Reply 1988 2016 | Wildflower Film Awards | Best New Actor / Actress | Socialphobia
2017 | Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actor | A Taxi Driver 2017 | Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The King 2017 | Fashionista Awards | Best Fashionista – SNS Division | Ryu Jun-yeol
2018 | Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Taxi Driver
2023 | Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actor | The Night Owl 2023 | Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | The Night Owl 2023 | Director’s Cut Awards | Best Actor in film | The Night Owl 2023 | Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | The Night Owl
Listicles
2017 | Forbes | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 14th 2018 | Forbes | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 36th 2019 | Forbes | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 11th
His previous girlfriends were Lee Hyeri and Han So-hee. But now he is single.
Note: The information provided is sourced from reliable websites. In case there are any contradictions in the text, readers are encouraged to point them out in the comments.