30 Facts About Ryu Jun-yeol

Ryu Jun-yeol is a South Korean actor, activist, and photographer.

Ryu Jun-yeol rose to international prominence through his breakthrough role in the critically acclaimed television series Reply 1988, the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time, which led to him winning the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actor.

Since then, Ryu Jun-yeol has starred in the high-profile films The King, A Taxi Driver, Little Forest, Believer, Money, The Battle: Roar to Victory, and The Night Owl.

Ryu Jun-yeol is known for his work in the two-part action blockbuster films Alienoid and Alienoid: Return to the Future.

Ryu Jun-yeol has received numerous accolades throughout his career for Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, Buil Film Awards, Chunsa Film Art Awards, London East Asian Film Festival and New York Asian Film Festival.

Ryu Jun-yeol has been on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list for three consecutive years: 14th in 2017,36th in 2018, and 11th in 2019.

Ryu Jun-yeol was born on September 25,1986, in Suwon, South Korea.

Ryu Jun-yeol is the eldest and has a sister who is two years his junior.

Ryu Jun-yeol graduated from University of Suwon majoring in film on a scholarship.

Ryu Jun-yeol registered as a public officer in 2007 and completed his duties in 2009.

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

Ryu Jun-yeol first drew attention for his breakout performance in his debut feature film, Socialphobia in 2015, which earned him Rising star award at KAFA Film Festival and other nominations from Chunsa Film Art Awards.

Later that year, Ryu Jun-yeol gained widespread public recognition through starring in the popular teen series Reply 1988, alongside Lee Hye-ri, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, and Lee Dong-hwi.

In 2016, Ryu Jun-yeol starred in the coming-of-age film One Way Trip and crime thriller No Tomorrow.

In 2017, Ryu Jun-yeol featured in political crime drama film The King alongside Jo 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.

Ryu Jun-yeol appeared in legal thriller film Heart Blackened alongside Choi Min-sik and Park Shin-hye.

In 2018, Ryu Jun-yeol starred in the critically acclaimed drama film Little Forest with Kim Tae-ri, and headlined the crime action film Believer with Cho Jin-woong.

In 2019, Ryu Jun-yeol starred in the action thriller film Hit-and-Run Squad with Gong Hyo-jin directed by Han Jun-hee, lead the crime film Money alongside Yoo Ji-tae and historical action film The Battle: Roar to Victory directed by Won Shin-yun.

In 2021, Ryu Jun-yeol 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 Jun-yeol headlined Choi Dong-hoon's sci-fi action fantasy film, Alienoid, reuniting with Kim Tae-ri.

In 2024, Ryu Jun-yeol 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 Jun-yeol is set to appear as a lead in mystery thriller film Revelations along with actress Shin Hyun-been and will be directed from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho.

Ryu Jun-yeol has been making regular donations since 2016 for various campaigns, such as Save the Arctic.

In 2020, Ryu Jun-yeol made yet 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 Jun-yeol 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.

Ryu Jun-yeol took a brief hiatus from acting and moved to the United States of America, living in Los Angeles for several months from mid-2019 to early 2020, going by his English name Anthony.

Ryu Jun-yeol attended the University of California, Los Angeles for a study abroad programme.

Ryu Jun-yeol established a mini vlog-series on YouTube, titled Ryu Jun-yeol's: Reportage, which covered his life in Los Angeles.

Ryu Jun-yeol was in a relationship with singer-actress and Reply 1988 co-star Lee Hye-ri from late 2016 to November 2023.

Ryu Jun-yeol is best friends with Tottenham Hotspur player Son Heung-min, and has participated in promotional activities for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which was held in South Korea.