Yoo Hae-jin

Yoo Hae-jin

Yoo Hae-jin (Korean: 유해진; born January 4, 1970) is a South Korean actor. After graduating with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Arts, he became a member of Theater troupe The Mokwha Repertoire Company. He has established himself as one of the top actors in the country, playing both supporting and lead roles.

Early life and education

Yoo Hae-jin

Yoo’s interest in acting began in childhood, when he would sneak into a cultural center in Cheongju to watch performances. During eighth grade, a monologic play inspired him to pursue the craft professionally. Although he hoped to attend an arts high school, he was unable to do so because of financial constraints and opposition from his conservative parents. Instead, he joined a theater troupe following a summer acting camp in high school. Despite an introverted personality, he developed his skills by assisting and observing seasoned actors.

After high school, Yoo auditioned for university acting and film programs for two consecutive years but was unsuccessful. Reports suggest these rejections were based on his physical appearance. Although he initially planned to begin his mandatory military service immediately, his father encouraged him to explore other avenues first. Yoo chose to study fashion, under the impression that it would eventually benefit his acting career. After he completed his military service, he remained focused on theater during his time in fashion school, which resulted in poor academic performance. However, his father's earlier advice proved beneficial. A special selection process for college graduates permitted admission based only on written test, leading to his enrollment at the Seoul Institute of the Arts in 1995.

Career

Yoo Hae-jin

In 1997, a pivotal moment in his life occurred in New York City. He traveled there with Professor Kang Man-hong and fellow actor Ryu Seung-ryong to visit and perform in the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. During this trip, he attended various influential performances, including Stomp, Blue Man Group, and Tube.

Following his graduation from the Seoul Institute of the Arts with a degree in Theater, Yoo performed with the Dongrang Repertory Theater Company and later became a member of The Mokwha Repertoire Company. During this period, a chance encounter with a bidet factory owner at a bakery led to a part-time job offer. Yoo later recalled that the owner requested he recruit an additional worker because Yoo struggled with the labor on his own. He enlisted Ryu Seung-ryong for the job. The two actors rented a room in the countryside for one month, where they worked together assembling bidets.

Yoo then began doing bit roles in films, graduating to supporting roles where he acquired a reputation as a scene stealer. Despite limited short screen time, his performances made a strong impression on audiences and critics. As Korean films became more diverse in terms of genre, Yoo found opportunities in increasingly weighty roles, over time becoming a bonafide marquee name at the box office. He has since established himself as one of the top character actors in the country, notably in King and the Clown, Small Town Rivals, Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard, Moss, The Unjust, The Pirates, The Classified File, Minority Opinion, Veteran, and Public Enemy and its sequels.

Yoo also began to take on lead roles. His first lead came in the film, Luck Key, which was released in 2016 and exceeded 5 million viewers. 2017 was a successful year for Yoo - he had the co-lead in Confidential Assignment, and had supporting roles in A Taxi Driver and 1987: When the Day Comes. All three were among the highest grossing Korean films of that year. In addition, A Taxi Driver earned him a Best Supporting Actor award at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and a nomination at the Asian Film Awards. In 2018, he starred in the family comedy Love+Sling, and Intimate Strangers, a remake of the Italian comedy Perfect Strangers. That year, he also was cast in the historical war film The Battle: Roar to Victory. He reprised his role in Confidential Assignment 2: International, which was the third highest grossing Korean film in 2022.

He has also appeared as a regular cast member on two reality shows: 2 Days & 1 Night from March to November 2013, and Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village in January 2015.

In November 2023, Yoo signed with the new agency Awesome ENT.

In 2026, Yoo portrayed Eom Heung-do, the title character of the historical film The King's Warden directed by Jang Hang-jun. The film was released on February 4, 2026, coinciding with the Korean New Year holiday. It received positive reviews and did well at the box office.

Endorsements

Yoo Hae-jin

Yoo Hae-jin has become a popular choice as an advertising model for the food industry following the number of films he has had with 10 million viewers. Nongshim chose Yoo and Song Kang-ho as models for their new Shin Ramyun commercial in 2015. In the commercial, Song Kang-ho is seen boiling the noodles while singing about their enhanced flavor, and Yoo is shown enjoying the ramen while bantering with Song.

Personal life

Yoo Hae-jin

Yoo and actress Kim Hye-soo first met in 2001 after shooting the movie Kick the Moon and became close in 2006 after appearing together in Tazza: The High Rollers. Rumors of their relationship surfaced in 2008 although both continued to deny any romantic involvement until early 2010 when paparazzi photographs of the two were released, and the couple officially confirmed their relationship. Yoo and Kim broke up in 2011.

Filmography

Film

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1997</td><td>Blackjack</td><td>Dump</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>The Spy</td><td>Eokkae 2</td><td>Bit part</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Attack the Gas Station</td><td>Yonggari</td><td>Bit part</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2001</td><td>Kick the Moon</td><td>Neopchi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Musa the Warrior</td><td>Du-chung</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2002</td><td>Public Enemy</td><td>Yong-man</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Break Out</td><td>Composed man</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jail Breakers</td><td>Chu Moo-seung</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Coast Guard</td><td>Cheol-gu</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2003</td><td>Mr. Butterfly</td><td>Dong-sik</td><td>Cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Please Teach Me English</td><td>Subway passenger</td><td>Cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2004</td><td>Ice Rain</td><td>Park In-soo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dance with the Wind</td><td></td><td>Cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hi! Dharma 2: Showdown in Seoul</td><td>Yong-dae</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>Another Public Enemy</td><td>Yong-man</td><td>Bit part</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Blood Rain</td><td>Dok-gi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Short Time</td><td>Han-kal</td><td>Cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Never to Lose</td><td>Gas bucket</td><td>Cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mapado</td><td>Fisherman</td><td>Cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>King and the Clown</td><td>Yuk-gab</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>Over the Border</td><td>Kim Sun-ho's brother-in-law</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tazza: The High Rollers</td><td>Ko Gwang-ryeol</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Once in a Summer</td><td>PD Kim</td><td>Cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>Small Town Rivals</td><td>Noh Dae-gyu</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>My Son</td><td>Man next door</td><td>Voice cameo</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K</td><td>Moon Geun-young</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>Public Enemy Returns</td><td>Yong-man</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Truck</td><td>Truck driver Jung Cheol-min</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard</td><td>Chorangyi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>A Little Pond</td><td>Refugee</td><td>Bit part</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Moss</td><td>Kim Deok-cheon</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Enemy at the Dead End</td><td>Park Sang-eob</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Unjust</td><td>Jang Seok-gu</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>In Love and War</td><td>Jae-hoon</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mama</td><td>Mama's boy gangster Seung-chul</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Miss Conspirator</td><td>Red Shoes</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Spies</td><td>Department head Choi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Rise of the Guardians</td><td>Easter Bunny</td><td>Voice; Korean dub</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>The Flu</td><td>Bae Kyung-ub</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Obsessed</td><td>Im, owner of Renaissance Music Hall</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Pirates</td><td>Chul-bong</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tazza: The Hidden Card</td><td>Ko Gwang-ryeol</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>The Classified File</td><td>Kim Joong-san</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Minority Opinion</td><td>Jang Dae-seok</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Veteran</td><td>Managing director Choi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fatal Intuition</td><td>Pharmacist Min</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Luck Key</td><td>Hyung-wook</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Confidential Assignment</td><td>Kang Jin-tae</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>A Taxi Driver</td><td>Hwang Tae-sool</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1987: When the Day Comes</td><td>Han Byung-yong</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Love+Sling</td><td>Gwi-bo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Intimate Strangers</td><td>Tae-soo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission</td><td>Kim Pan-soo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Battle: Roar to Victory</td><td>Hwang Hae-cheol</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Space Sweepers</td><td>Robot Bubs</td><td>Voice and motion capture</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Egoist: The Border of Selfishness and Altruism</td><td>Narrator</td><td>Documentary</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Life Is But A Dream</td><td>Undertaker</td><td>Short film</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Confidential Assignment 2: International</td><td>Kang Jin-tae</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Night Owl</td><td>King Injo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Honey Sweet</td><td>Chi-ho</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Dog Days</td><td>Min-sang</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Exhuma</td><td>Yeong-geun</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Yadang: The Snitch</td><td>Koo Gwan-hee</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Big Deal</td><td>Pyo Jong-rok</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>The King's Warden</td><td>Eom Heung-do</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Television

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2004</td><td>Toji, the Land</td><td>Kim Pyeong-san / Kim Doo-soo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>March: A Story of Friends</td><td>Himself</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2 Days & 1 Night</td><td>Cast member</td><td>Season 2, episodes 56–89</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village</td><td>Cast member</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 2</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Three Meals a Day: Gochang Village</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>Korean Hostel in Spain</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Humanimal</td><td>with Park Shin-hye</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 5</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022–2023</td><td>Europe Outside Your Tent</td><td>Season 1 and 3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Doctors Without Borders</td><td>Narrator</td><td>Photo exhibition audio guide</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Music videos

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Song title</th><th>Artist</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2001</td><td>"Fix The Makeup"</td><td>Wax</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>"It was All You"</td><td>Sunset</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Theater

Yoo Hae-jin

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Theater</th><th>Date</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>English</td><td>Korean</td></tr><tr><td>1998</td><td>Birds Don't Cross at Crosswalks</td><td>새들은 횡단보도로 건너지 않는다</td><td>Jae-ho</td><td>Theater Arunguji</td><td>—N/a</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>Chunpoong's Wife</td><td>춘풍의 처</td><td>Multi-roles</td><td>Theater Arunguji</td><td>August 10 to October 3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1999</td><td>(2nd) (1999) Oh Tae-seok Theater Festival - Our Sound, Color, and Gesture</td><td>(제2회) (1999) 오태석 연극제 - 우리 소리 · 색깔 · 몸짓</td><td>Bu, Koo Seon-bok</td><td>Theater Arunguji</td><td>—N/a</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Accolades

Awards and nominations

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Category</th><th>Nominated work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2006</td><td>43rd Grand Bell Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>King and the Clown</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>27th Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>14th Chunsa Film Art Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Tazza: The High Rollers</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>47th Grand Bell Awards</td><td>Moss</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>31st Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8th Korean Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>5th Asian Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>The Unjust</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>48th Grand Bell Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>51st Grand Bell Awards</td><td>The Pirates</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1st Korean Film Producers Association Awards</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>35th Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Night of Stars-Korea Top Star Awards</td><td>Korea's Top Supporting Actor</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>6th KOFRA Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>10th Max Movie Awards</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>51st Baeksang Arts Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>35th Golden Cinema Festival</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>24th Buil Film Awards</td><td>The Classified File</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>52nd Grand Bell Awards</td><td>Veteran</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>36th Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>16th Busan Film Critics Awards</td><td>Best Actor</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>11th Max Movie Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>53rd Baeksang Arts Awards</td><td>Best Actor</td><td>Luck Key</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>22nd Chunsa Film Art Awards</td><td>Best Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>12th University Film Festival of Korea</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7th SACF Artists of the Year Awards</td><td>Artistic Impression in Motion Pictures Award</td><td>—N/a</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>A Taxi Driver</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>38th Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>12th Asian Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>39th Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>1987: When the Day Comes</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>19th Director's Cut Awards</td><td>Best Actor</td><td>Intimate Strangers</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>25th Chunsa Film Art Awards</td><td>The Battle: Roar to Victory</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Director's Cut Awards</td><td>Best Actor in film</td><td>The Night Owl</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>32nd Buil Film Awards</td><td>Best Actor</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>44th Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>Best Leading Actor</td><td>Honey Sweet</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>60th Baeksang Arts Awards</td><td>Best Supporting Actor – Film</td><td>Exhuma</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

State honors

<table><thead><tr><th>Organization</th><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Taxpayers' Day</td><td>2017</td><td>Presidential Commendation</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Listicles

Publisher	Year	Listicle	Placement	Ref.
Forbes	2016	Korea Power Celebrity 40	22nd
Korean Film Council	2021	Korean Actors 200	Included
The Screen	2019	2009-2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies	5th