• Name: Yoo Yeon-seok (유연석)
• Birth Name: Ahn Yeon-seok (안연석)
• Religion: Catholic
• Date of Birth: April 11, 1984
• Height: 183 cm (6 ft)
• Zodiac Sign: Aries
• Agency: King Kong by Starship
• Instagram: @yoo_yeonseok

Facts

Yoo Yeon-seok was born as Ahn Yeon-seok in Jinju, South Korea, and spent much of his childhood in a peaceful family setting. He has two older brothers, and his father is a professor of Engineering.

The actor adopted his current stage name, Yoo Yeon-seok, at the beginning of his career as a tribute to his mentor. He graduated from Sejong University with a degree in Film Arts.

He learned to play instruments like the piano and guitar for his role in “Hospital Playlist”, and is is part of a celebrity friend group, including Son Ho-jun and Jung Woo, his co-stars from “Reply 1994.”

He also drew attention for adopting an abandoned dog after filming the movie “My Heart Puppy” and for his various philanthropy works.

Career 

Yoo Yeon-seok  made his acting debut in the critically acclaimed film “Oldboy” (2003), directed by Park Chan-wook. He played the younger version of the protagonist, capturing the attention of audiences despite the minor role.

Despite gaining attention with this role, the actor went on a hiatus to complete his studies in the Department of Film Arts at Sejong University and to finish his military duty.

He returned to acting in 2008, and slowly regained attention via a role in the independent film “Re-encounter”, as well as supporting roles in “Architecture 101” (2012) and “Reply 1994” (2013). His portrayal of the lovable but flawed Chilbong in “Reply 1994” became a cultural phenomenon, earning him widespread recognition.

Yoo Yeon-seok later cemented his position in the acting industry via notable works, including famous K-dramas “Mr. Sunshine” and “Hospital Playlist”. Recently, he made a strong return with the MBC drama “When the Phone Rings”, which has been sweeping through hot topics despite only recently airing.

The actor also starred in movies like “My Heart Puppy”, “Vanishing”, and assumed various prestigious roles in musicals, maintaining a separate reputation on the musical stage.

Controversies

Personality Scandal

In 2023, Yoo Yeon-seok was accused of making disrespectful remarks to a security guard at his building of residence, to the point the guard ended up quitting due to feeling ashamed and humiliated. However, as the accusation spread, Yoo Yeon-seok’s agency issued an official statement, claiming that the claim about the actor was “groundless” and threaten legal action against the person who posted such a claim.

Controversial Remark about Women’s Clothes

Back in 2016, Yoo Yeon-seok received criticism after making a controversial remark about women’s clothing during the promotional period for the movie “Mood of The Day”.

In particular, when asked about the type of outfit to wear during a date, Yooo Yeon-seok insisted that a woman should wear see-through clothes so that a man could feel that the woman is interested in the other person. He also added that wearing discreet clothes like turtlenecks would cause him to believe they are uninterested.

Hearing this, actress Moon Chae-won said that she often wore turtlenecks and pants on dates, to which Yoo Yeon-seok said, “That’s the reason you don’t have a boyfriend”, causing the actress to show an uncomfortable expression.

Dating Rumors 

Yoo Yeon-seok has remained discreet about his personal life, with no confirmed dating news for most of his career. However, he was linked to actress Shin Hyun-bin after starring together with her in the K-drama “Hospital Playlist”, who he often has close interactions with.

The actor was also rumored to be in an “on-and-off” relationship with actress Kim Ji-won for as long as 10 years.

Evidence of Kim Ji Won’s Dating “Reply 1994” Actor Makes a Storm Again