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Quick Facts
Biography
Ryu Jun-yeol (born September 25, 1986) is a South Korean actor. He gained attention through his roles in the film Socialphobia (2015) and his breakthrough role in the television series Reply 1988 (2015–2016). Since then he has appeared in television series Lucky Romance (2016) and films The King (2017) and A Taxi Driver (2017).
Career
2012–2014: Beginnings
While attending university under a scholarship, Ryu took on several part-time jobs, working as a pizza delivery person, a day labourer, and an after-school tutor, among other things. In 2012, Ryu started acting in short films and independent productions, before being cast in a bit part in the 2013 feature film INGtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls.
2015–present: Rising popularity
Ryu first drew attention for his performance in Socialphobia in 2015, but it wasn't until later that year that Ryu gained public recognition through starring in the teen series Reply 1988, alongside Lee Hye-ri, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, and Lee Dong-hwi.
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Ryu then 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 historical film The King, which won him the Best New Actor award in film at the Baeksang Arts Awards. The same year, he featured in biopic A Taxi Driver, which became the highest grossing Korean film of the year. Ryu also appeared in legal thriller Heart Blackened.
In 2018, Ryu featured in the drama film Little Forest, and headlined the crime action film Believer.
In 2019, Ryu starred in the action thriller film Hit-and-Run Squad directed by Han Jun-hee, crime film Money and historical action film The Battle: Roar to Victory directed by Won Shin-yun.
Ryu is set to appear in Choi Dong-hoon's upcoming sci-fi crime film.
Philanthropy
In December 2018, Ryu was reported to have donated 10 million won (approximately $8,895) to Greenpeace, a non-governmental environmental organisation. He has been making regular donations since 2016, which includes for particular campaigns such as the ‘Save the Arctic’ campaign.
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | KAFA FILMS 2015 | Rising Star | Socialphobia | Won | |
2016 | Korea First Brand Awards | Special Award for Figure | N/A | Won | |
InStyle Star Icon | New Generation Actor Award | Socialphobia, Reply 1988 | Nominated | ||
11th Max Movie Awards | Best New Actor | Socialphobia | Won | ||
Rising Star | Won | ||||
21st Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Actor | Nominated | |||
3rd Wildflower Film Awards | Best New Actor / Actress | Nominated | |||
10th Korean Cable TV Awards | Rising Star | Reply 1988 | Won | ||
52nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor (TV) | Won | |||
1st tvN10 Awards | Made in tvN, Actor in Drama | Nominated | |||
Rising Star Award, Actor | Won | ||||
1st Asia Artist Awards | Best Rookie Award, Actor | Won | |||
2nd Fashionista Awards | Best Fashionista - TV Division | N/A | Won | ||
35th MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Lucky Romance | Nominated | ||
Best New Actor | Won | ||||
2017 | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor (Film) | The King | Won | |
26th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |||
1st The Seoul Awards | Best New Actor (Film) | Won | |||
38th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actor | A Taxi Driver | Nominated | ||
3rd Fashionista Awards | Best Fashionista – SNS Division | N/A | Nominated | ||
2nd Asia Artist Awards | Best Star Award – Actor | A Taxi Driver | Won | ||
2018 | 23rd Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
18th Korea World Youth Film Festival | Popular Actor Award | Little Forest | Won | ||
3rd Asia Artist Awards | Artist of the Year | N/A | Won | ||
Best Popular | Won | ||||
2019 | 18th New York Asian Film Festival | Star Asia Rising Star Award | Won | ||
39th Golden Cinema Film Festival | Cinematographers’ Choice Popularity Award | Believer | Won | ||
10th Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards | Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s Commendation | N/A | Won |