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Quick Facts
Biography
Yoo Jae-suk (Hangul: 유재석; RR: Yu Jae-seok; born on August 14, 1972), is a South Korean comedian, host and television personality currently signed to FNC Entertainment. He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including the popular program Infinite Challenge and the world wide popular program Running Man. Known for his quick wit and appeal across a wide range of demographics, Yoo has established himself as one of Korea's top comedians and TV personalities.
Early life and education
Born on August 14, 1972 in Seoul, South Korea, Yoo is the eldest of three siblings. He attended Seoul Institute of the Arts, but was unable to graduate due to his busy schedule as an up-and-coming comedian.
Career
Beginnings
Yoo's television debut was on the KBS Comedian Festival (for college students) in 1991, where he performed a parody of a commercial with Choi Seung-gyung (Hangul: 최승경). Him dancing to a cover of the song "Step by Step" by New Kids on the Block is also one of his early memorable moments. In 2002, after nine hard years as a relatively unknown comedian, thanks to a recommendation by Choi Jin-sil, he hosted a program called Live and Enjoy Together (Hangul: 동거동락). The program became instantly popular and since then Yoo began to host many other variety programs. He then rose to prominence when he co-hosted a program called The Crash of MCs (Hangul: MC 대격돌 – 공포의 쿵쿵따) with Kang Ho-dong, Lee Hwi-jae and Kim Han-seok (Hangul: 김한석).
His first Grand Prize award was for a popular program called Happy Together Friends. The show's concept was for TV personalities to try to find their school friends (five of them) out of many (false friends) who are sitting behind a desk. The show was intended to bring back nostalgic memories about one's days in school. This Grand Prize was especially memorable, not just because it was Yoo's first, but because it was from the broadcasting station where he made his debut.
Mainstream recognition as "Nation's MC"
X-Man
He later went on to host the show X-Man, which soon grew to be one of the most popular and most viewed shows in Korea. During that time, he became increasingly popular and many programs began to nickname Yoo as the "Nation's MC." Then Yoo went on to host various shows, New X-Man, Old TV (in which guests would re-enact classic TV serials), and Haja! Go! (Let's Do It) for SBS, which were shortly canceled due to low ratings on Sunday evenings. However, X-Man has found success in international syndication.
Infinite Challenge
Yoo is a part of the cast of the top-rated comedy variety program Infinite Challenge (Hangul: 무한도전) with Jeong Hyeong Don and Noh Hong Chul. He is the host-in-chief since 2005 and one of the program's founding members. The program wasn't popular when it first aired and its average ratings were low (roughly 5 percent). After Kim Tae-ho took a role as new PD, the program underwent several changes both in its concept and the cast. New members such as Park Myeong-su, Haha, and Jeong Jun-ha were added to the cast of Infinite Challenge in 2006. By the time season 3 of the show aired in 2006, the concept and format of "variety & reality program" became very popular, and Infinite Challenge became the forerunner of many programs that followed with the same or similar format. Since December 2, 2006, the program has received the highest ratings of prime-time lineups for Saturday evening.
Infinite Challenge is seen as Yoo's favorite and best program as not only did he meet his wife, Na Kyung-eun (Hangul: 나경은) during season 2, but he was able to gain even more popularity due the rising popularity of the show and its significant effect on the general public. He ended up winning a total of six Grand Prizes (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016) with the program. His love for this program was reflected during 1-on-1 talk with fellow co-host, Jeong Hyeong-don, on "Pause" special (S04E300) that aired on October 20, 2012. He said "I think my life on television and variety shows will be tied to the fate of Infinite Challenge." and "When will we ever get to do another program like this? No matter how hard you try, it's going to be impossible to do another film like this."
Talk shows
Yoo also co-hosts Come to Play (Hangul: 놀러와) with Kim Won-hee and Happy Together Season 3 (Hangul: 해피 투게더 3) with Park Myeong-su, Park Mi-sun and Shin Bong-sun. Yoo hosted these talk shows for a long period of time (both over 5 years), and the ratings have been consistently high throughout his tenure. Although Happy Together is still broadcasting, Come to Play was cancelled in 2012. Yoo tries his best to differentiate his hosting styles, both based on who his guests are and on their current situation.
Good Sunday Variety Programs: Family Outing and Running Man
After those replacement shows on SBS, on June 15, 2008, Yoo became the main host of Family Outing (Hangul: 패밀리가 떴다) as a part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup. Together with Lee Hyori, Yoon Jong-shin, Kim Su-ro, Lee Chun-hee, Kang Dae-sung, Park Ye-jin and Kim Jong-kook (since episode 19), they made up the "family" (cast members) of the show. Family Outing has become one of the top-rated shows in Korea, consistently achieving the highest ratings for the Sunday mid-afternoon time-slot, and has gained online popularity among Hallyu fans.
Since July 11, 2010, Yoo has hosted the urban action variety Running Man together with fellow Infinite Challenge member, Haha, and other entertainers such as Ji Suk-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Leessang's Gary (who left since episode 324 to focus on his music career), Song Ji-hyo, Lee Kwang-soo, Song Joong-ki (who left since episode 41 to focus on his acting career) and Lizzy of After School (who left for unknown reasons). Although the program did not have a good start in ratings, it later became popular, and has a consistent international fanbase to this day.
Guest appearances and collaborations
In 2012, Yoo and fellow hosts of Infinite Challenge, Noh Hong-chul and Haha, appeared in the music video for Psy's hit single "Gangnam Style". In the video, he was reprising the retro disco dancing character he created for the mock-band "Sagging Snail" in Infinite Challenge's West Coast Highway Music Festival special where Psy also appeared. Together with the cast of Infinite Challenge, Yoo once again appeared in Psy's follow-up single, "Gentleman".
On July 15, 2015, Yoo signed an exclusive contract with FNC Entertainment after having been without an agency for about 5 years. In September 2015, he made a cameo appearance in the South Korean drama, My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol.
From 2015 to 2016, Yoo hosted the program Two Yoo Project Sugar Man together with You Hee-yeol. The programs focus on remaking hit songs from singers who has disappeared from the public eye.
In 2016, Yoo Jae-suk collaborated with EXO for SM Station single named "Dancing King", which is also a collaboration for Infinite Challenge. He performed with them at EXO's EXO Planet #3 - EXO'rDIUM concert in Bangkok.
In the media
Yoo has been dubbed "the nation's MC" to his broad appeal and popularity with a wide demographic of viewers. He is also nicknamed "The Grasshopper", due to his early appearances where he dressed as a grasshopper.
Known as one of the most popular and beloved television personalities in Korea, Yoo has consistently being picked as a role model by fellow entertainers as well as the citizens of Korea. He is also known for his philanthropy.
Yoo is the first television host to have his own wax figure, displayed at the Grevin Seoul Museum.
Personal life
On July 6, 2008, Yoo married MBC announcer, Na Kyung-eun (Hangul: 나경은), who worked with him on the show Infinite Challenge. Yoo and his wife welcomed their first child, a son, Yoo Ji-ho, on May 1, 2010.
Filmography
Television host
- List of present programs
Year | Title | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006–present | Infinite Challenge | MBC | Member (Host-in-chief) (since 2006.05.06) |
2007–present | Happy Together Season 3 | KBS2 | Co-Host (since 2007.06.28) |
2010–present | Running Man | SBS | Member (since 2010.07.11) |
2017–present | Same Bed, Different Dreams Season 2 | SBS | Host |
- List of former programs
Year | Title | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 - 2002 | Achievable Saturday – Star Survival Donggeodongrak (Live and Fun Together) | MBC | Host |
2002 | Super TV Enjoy Sunday | KBS2 | Co-Host |
! Exclamation Mark | MBC | Co-Host | |
2002 - 2003 | Dangerous Invitation | KBS | Co-Host |
2003 - 2007 | X-Man | SBS | Host-in-chief |
2004 - 2005 | Happy Together – Tray Singing Room (Karaoke) | KBS2 | Co-Host |
2004 - 2012 | Yoo Jae-suk & Kim Won-hee's Come to Play | MBC | Host |
2005 - 2007 | Happy Together – Tray Singing Room (Karaoke) | KBS2 | Co-Host |
Yoo Jae-suk's Truth Game | SBS | Host | |
2007 | Haja Go! (Let's Do It!) | SBS | Host-in-chief |
Old TV | SBS | Host-in-chief | |
2007 - 2008 | Miracle Contestant | SBS | Host |
2008 - 2010 | Family Outing | SBS | Host |
2014 | I Am a Man | KBS2 | Co-Host |
2015-2016 | Two Yoo Project Sugar Man | JTBC | Host |
Same Bed, Different Dreams Season 1 | SBS | Host |
Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/d9be8e16e4d857fcb2b34b615d7e6c5e.png)
Television dramas
Year | Title | Role | Network |
---|---|---|---|
2000 - 2001 | Great Friends | KBS | |
2005 | Banjun Drama | SBS | |
2008 | Yi San | Cameo | MBC |
2009 | Queen of Housewives | Cameo | |
2015 | The Girl Who Sees Smells | Cameo with Running Man members | SBS |
My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol | Cameo | MBC |
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Tyranno's Toenail | ||
2008 | Bee Movie | (Korean dubbing as Barry B. Benson) | |
2009 | White Tuft, the Little Beaver | (Korean dubbing as narrator & Owl) |
Music video appearances
Year | Song Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2004 | "Cause' You're Pretty" (이쁘니까) | Shinnago (신나고) |
2005 | "Look Out the Window" | Kang Ho-dong |
2009 | "Let's Dance" | Future Liger (with Tiger JK, Tasha) |
2012 | "Room Nallari" (방구석 날라리) | Sagging Snail (처진 달팽이; with Lee Juck) |
"Gangnam Style" (강남스타일) | Psy | |
2013 | "Gentleman" | |
2014 | "Beep" | Park Ji-yoon |
2015 | "Tell Me One More Time" | Jinusean |
2016 | "Dancing King" | EXO |
Radio
Year | Title | Network |
---|---|---|
2000 | FM Date | |
FM Plus | ||
Lee Hwi-jae's Starry Night (K-Pop Quiz) | ||
2001 | Wishlist Songs Playing at Noon | |
2003 | A Date at 2 pm | |
2005 | Wishlist Songs Playing at Noon (Nutrition Tonic Talk Show with Kang Ho-dong) | |
Defeat the Boredom | ||
Haha's Ten Ten Club | ||
All Thanks to You | ||
2006 | Wishlist Songs Playing at Noon (Nutrition Tonic Talk Show No. 2 with Kang Ho-dong) | |
Park Myeong-su's Fun Fun Radio (Summer Special) | ||
Noh Hong-chul's Our Belated Youthful Days | ||
2007 | Park Myeong-su's Fun Fun Radio (Phone) | |
Park Myeong-su's Fun Fun Radio (The Age of a Big Star) | ||
Yoon Jong-shin's A Date at 2 pm (Stalking) | ||
2008 | Park Myeong-su's A Date at 2 pm (Phone) | |
Park Kyung-lim's Starry Night (Phone) | ||
2009 | Song Eun-ee, Shin Bong-sun's Dong Go Dong Rak (with Noh Hong-chul) | |
2014 | Tablo's Dreaming Radio (Daily DJ) |
Discography
- Singles
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2006 | "All You Need Is Love" | with Infinite Challenge members |
2007 | "If I Do It or Not" (하나마나송) | with Noh Hong-chul |
"Fascination of Samba" (삼바의 매력) | a part of Infinite Challenge Song Festival (강변북로 가요제) | |
2009 | "The Family's Day" (패밀리의 하루) | with Family Outing members |
"Let's Dance" | a part of Infinite Challenge Olympic Road Duet Song Festival with Tiger JK, Tasha (올림픽대로 듀엣 가요제) | |
2011 | "Apgujeong Nallari" (압구정 날라리) | a part of Infinite Challenge West Coast Highway Music Festival with Lee Juck |
"As I Say" (말하는 대로) | a part of Infinite Challenge West Coast Highway Music Festival with Lee Juck | |
2012 | "Room Nallari" (방구석 날라리) | Sagging Snail (처진달팽이) with Lee Juck |
"Heat Stroked Seagull" (더위 먹은 갈매기) | with Song Eun-yi (송은이), Kim Sook (김숙) (Arrangement of RockBrain (collaboration of Noh Hong-chul and NoBrain)'s "Heat Stroked Seagull") | |
2013 | "Please Don't Go My Girl" | with You Hee-yeol (유희열), Kim Jo-Han (김조한) |
"Dance King" (댄스왕) | Yoo Jae-Suk (유재석) feat You Hee-yeol (유희열) (Bonus track for Muhan Dojeon Jayuro Music Festival Album) | |
2014 | "Eyes, Nose, Lips" (눈, 코, 입) | by Taeyang -parody |
2015 | "I'm So Sexy" | Dancing Genome (댄싱게놈), a part of Infinite Challenge Yeongdong Expressway Music Festival with Park Jin-young |
2016 | "Dancing King" | collaboration with EXO through SM Station |
"Like" (처럼) | Yoo Jae-suk (유재석) with Dok2, feat. Lee Hi, a part of Infinite Challenge History × Hiphop special |
Awards
Year | Award | Category | Results |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Inaugural KBS College Student Gag Competition | Honorable Award | Won |
2000 | MBC Drama Awards | Special Award in Television MC | Won |
Gyeongin Broadcasting and Entertainment | Popular Comedian Award | Won | |
2002 | 1st KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Television Presenter | Won |
Book Publishing Promotion Book Reading | Special Award | Won | |
2003 | 2nd KBS Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award in Television MC | Won |
3rd MBC Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award in Show/Variety | Won | |
2004 | SBS Drama Awards | Special Award in Television MC | Won |
2005 | 4th KBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won |
2006 | 18th Korean Broadcasting Producer Awards | Best Television MC | Won |
42nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Male TV Personality | Won | |
Blue Media | Speech Award | Won | |
6th MBC Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
2007 | 7th MBC Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) (with Infinite Challenge members) | Won |
8th Korea Video Competition | Photogenic Award | Won | |
Mobile Entertainment Awards | Best Television MC | Won | |
2008 | 2nd Mnet 20's Choice Awards | Variety Star of the Year | Won |
2nd SBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
1st Nickelodeon Korea Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Comedian | Won | |
2009 | 21st Korean Broadcasting Producer Awards | Best Television MC | Won |
9th MBC Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
PD Award | Won | ||
3rd SBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) (with Lee Hyori) | Won | |
Best Teamwork Award (for Family Outing) | Won | ||
2nd Nickelodeon Korea Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Comedian | Won | |
2010 | 9th KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Teamwork Award (for Happy Together 3) | Won |
10th MBC Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
Korean Guardian Tree Award | Won | ||
4th SBS Entertainment Awards | Best 10 Entertainers | Won | |
3rd Nickelodeon Korea Kids' Choice Awards | Favourite Comedian | Won | |
2011 | 11th MBC Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award in a Variety Show | Won |
5th SBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
4th Nickelodeon Korea Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Comedian | Won | |
53rd National Rowing Championships 2000m Novice | Eight Special Award (with Infinite Challenge members) | Won | |
2012 | 12th MBC Entertainment Awards | PD Award | Won |
6th SBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
Viewers' Favorite TV Personality | Won | ||
3rd Korean Popular Culture and Arts Award | Prime Minister Award | Won | |
5th Nickelodeon Korea Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Comedian | Won | |
2013 | 49th Baeksang Arts Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) for TV | Won |
6th Nickelodeon Korea Kids Choice Awards | Favorite Comedian | Won | |
12th KBS Entertainment Awards | Eating Broadcast Award (for Happy Together 3) | Won | |
7th SBS Entertainment Awards | Viewer's Choice Most Popular Entertainer Award | Won | |
7th SBS Entertainment Awards | Viewer's Most Popular Award (with Running Man members) | Won | |
2014 | 13th KBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won |
14th MBC Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
8th SBS Entertainment Awards | Viewer's Choice Most Popular Entertainer Award | Won | |
2015 | 15th MBC Entertainment Awards | Achievement Award (with Infinite Challenge members) | Won |
9th SBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) (with Kim Byung-man) | Won | |
Viewers' Favorite TV Personality | Won | ||
2016 | 15th KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Teamwork Award (for Happy Together 3) | Won |
16th MBC Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | |
InStyle Korea | Entertainer Star Icon (Male category) | Won |