Yoo Ah-in

Yoo Ah-in
Born	Eom Hong-sik October 6, 1986 Daegu, South Korea
Education	Konkuk University - B.A in Film
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2003–present
Agent	StarK Management (2005–2013) United Artists Agency[1] (2014–present)
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Korean name
Hangul	유아인
Hanja	劉亞仁
Revised Romanization	Yu A-in
McCune–Reischauer	Yu A-in
Birth name
Hangul	엄홍식
Hanja	嚴弘植
Revised Romanization	Eom Hong-sik
McCune–Reischauer	Om Hongsik

Yoo Ah-in (born Eom Hong-sik^[2] on October 6, 1986) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame in television series Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010), and became best known for his leading roles in coming-of-age film Punch (2011), melodrama Secret Love Affair (2014), action blockbuster Veteran (2015), period drama film The Throne (2015),^[3] and historical drama series Six Flying Dragons (2015-2016). Yoo currently has three films, Punch, Veteran and The Throne, in the list of highest-grossing films in South Korea.

Career

Eom Hong-sik was born in Daegu and dropped out of high school to pursue acting.^[4] Using the stage name Yoo Ah-in, he made his acting debut in the teen series Sharp 1 in 2003. Various roles on film and television followed. Yoo portrayed a lost teenager in low-budget indie film Boys of Tomorrow, a lonely warrior in historical drama Chil-woo the Mighty, the energetic patisserie aspirant in comedy film Antique,^[5] and a cheeky assistant in romantic comedy He Who Can't Marry.

Yoo rise to fame eventually came in 2010 when he acted in fusion period drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]} Due to the drama's popularity, Yoo shot to stardom along with the rest of the young cast. This was followed by his first big-screen leading role in the coming-of-age film Punch, a critical and commercial hit in 2011.^{[14][15][16][17][18]} His costar, veteran actor Kim Yoon-seok predicted that "In the next 10 years, he will be one of the biggest names in Korean cinema."^[4]

However, Yoo's next project Fashion King was poorly received by audiences, particularly its controversial ending.^{[19][20][21][22]}

Considered one of the most outspoken and politically minded Korean actors of his generation, Yoo drew media attention in late 2012 when he tweeted a strongly worded criticism against the withdrawal of Ahn Cheol-soo from the presidential race.^[23][24] Yoo's unconventional image was strengthened by his willingness to make his social, artistic and philosophical interests public, and he is also the director of a "complex creative space" called Studio Concrete in Hannam-dong, Seoul, which he created with a group of seven artists of various media.^[3]

Cast as King Sukjong in the 2013 period drama Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love, a revisionist take on infamous royal concubine Jang Hui-bin,^[25] Yoo called the role one of the biggest challenges of his career and he garnered favorable press reviews for his mature, charismatic and versatile portrayal of the historical figure.^[4]

He then played the titular character in the film Tough as Iron, about a Busan pier worker who takes care of his mother afflicted with dementia and kidney disease.^[26] Yoo and Tough as Iron costar, Jung Yu-mi later collaborated again as voice actors in the animated film The Satellite Girl and Milk Cow.^[27]

In 2014, he appeared as a quirky supporting role in Lee Han's Thread of Lies (this was Lee's second film adaptation of a Kim Ryeo-ryeong novel after Punch). This was followed by a leading role in cable melodrama Secret Love Affair, in which Yoo played a piano prodigy who falls for a married, much older woman.^[28]

In 2015, Yoo starred in two top-grossing films.^[3] He played an amoral young millionaire who faces off with a detective in Ryoo Seung-wan's crime thriller/comedy Veteran, and as the tragic Crown Prince Sado in Lee Joon-ik's period drama The Throne, giving critics and audiences alike a taste of his versatility and growing competence in challenging roles.^{[29][30][31][32][33][34]} Veteran drew 13.4 million admissions, making it the 3rd all-time highest-grossing film in South Korean cinema history. The Throne is also placed #38 in the List of highest-grossing films in South Korea. Both films drew strong critical acclaim, and Yoo's acting performance in both films were highly praised. Yoo received numerous Best Actor recognition at prestigious award ceremonies such as the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, Korean Film Reporters Association Awards, Max Movie Awards, Chunsa Film Art Awards and Golden Cinematography Awards. In addition, Yoo is named as movie actor of the year in the 2015 Gallup Korea Survey, beating out other older and more experienced actors. He also placed #2 on the Korea Power Celebrity 40, a list compiled by the magazine Forbes Korea; it was his first time entering the Top 10.

Yoo was then cast in the historical drama series Six Flying Dragons, reuniting with Fashion King co-star, Shin Se-kyung.^[35][36] At the Baeksang Arts Awards, he became the first actor to be nominated as Best Actor in both the film and TV category. Eventually, Yoo's portrayal of an ambitious prince Yi Bang-won eventually garnered him the Best Actor award in the TV Category. Next, he plays a famous actor in Like for Likes, a movie inspired from Facebook which tells the story of a group of people who are interconnected through and addicted to their social media accounts, who share their daily lives with one another online and discover love.

Yoo is cast in the film, Burning along with Kang Dong-won. Helmed by critically acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong who is behind the award-winning film Poetry, the movie is about the intertwined lives of one woman, a chaebol man, and a deliveryman.^[37]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2007	Skeletons in the Closet	Shim Yong-tae
	Boys of Tomorrow	Jeon Jong-dae
2008	Antique	Yang Ki-beom
2009	Sky and Ocean	Jin-goo
2011	Punch	Do Wan-deuk
2013	Tough as Iron	Gang Cheol
2014	The Satellite Girl and Milk Cow	Ko Kyung-chun (voice)	animated film
	Thread of Lies	Choo Sang-bak
2015	Veteran	Jo Tae-oh
	The Throne	Crown Prince Sado
2016	Like for Likes[38]	Noh Jin-woo
2017	Burning

Television Drama

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
2003	Honest Living	Man #2	SBS	bit part, episode 164
2004-2005	Sharp 1	Yoo Ah-in	KBS2	57 episodes
2004	April Kiss	16-year-old Kang Jae-sup	KBS2	1 episode
2005	Shi-eun & Soo-ha	Lee Min-suk	KBS2	Drama City episode
2008	Chil-woo the Mighty	Heuksan / Kim Hyuk	KBS2
2009	He Who Can't Marry	Park Hyun-kyu	KBS2
2010	Sungkyunkwan Scandal	Moon Jae-shin	KBS2
2012	Fashion King	Kang Young-gul	SBS
2013	Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love	King Sukjong	SBS
2014	Secret Love Affair	Lee Sun-jae	jTBC
	Discovery of Love	Woodworking class student	KBS2	cameo, episode 16
2015-2016	Six Flying Dragons	Yi Bang-won	SBS
2016	Descendants of the Sun	Bank teller Uhm Hong-sik	KBS2	cameo, episode 13

Variety Shows

Year	Title	Network	Notes
2005	Sponge	KBS2	guest, episode 68
2007	Cinema Paradiso	EBS1	guest, episode 659
2008	Trend Report FIL	Mnet	guest, Season 2 episode 52
	Come to play	MBC	guest, episode 219
2009	Ya Shim Man Man Season 2	SBS	guest, episode 25
2011	Yoo Ah-in's Launch My Life	Mnet	Fashion/business reality show
2013	Running Man	SBS	guest, episode 164
2014	Wan-deuk who wants to Fly	KBS1	Narrator, Documantary

Music video appearances

Year	Song Title	Artist
2004	"Footprints"	T.O
2012	"Only One"[39][40]	BoA
2016	"ㅎㅎㅎ (Heung-bu)"	Peggy Gould

Endorsements

Year(s)	Product	Notes
2003	Nongshim Jjolmyeon
2004	Nongshim Honey Twist
2005	SK Telecom Speed 011
	Skoolooks	with Choi Soo-young, Jang Keun-suk
	Bluetail Apparel	with Seo Hyun-suk, Park Min-ji
2010	LG Fashion Hazzys	with Go Joon-hee, Lee Hyun-jin, Lee Si-young
2011	Hana Bank Hana SK Touch 1
	CJ Olive Young
	LG Optimus Black	with Kim Sa-rang
	Reebok Classic
2011-2012	Okkudak Oven Baked Chicken
2011-2013	Creas Fashion Jack & Jill
	Diadora
2012	Fujifilm Instax	with Song Joong-ki
	AmorePacific O'Sulloc
	Hite-Jinro Chamisul	with Moon Chae-won
	Very Good Tour
2012-2013	Samchuly Bicycle MTB Callas	with Lee Se-young
2013	LG Optimus LTE III
2013-2014	Basic House The Class
	Basic House China I'm David
	LG Fashion Lafuma	with Go Joon-hee
2013–present	AmorePacific Mise-en-Scène	with Shin Min-a (2013-2014)
	Philips Young Kit 5000&7000 Series
2015–present	McCafé
	Jeep Outfitter
	LG U+ iPhone 6S, U+ TV G, LTE Video Portal
2016–present	S•E•S•A Living
	Reebok Classic Aztec
	Giordano	with Krystal Jung
	Netmarble Games KON (Knights Of Night)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2004	Gonews Netizen Entertainment Awards	Best New Actor in Drama series	Sharp 1	Nominated
2007	3rd Pyeongtaek Film Festival	Best New Actor	Boys of Tomorrow	Won
	8th Busan Film Critics Awards	Best New Actor		Won
	28th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best New Actor	Skeletons in the Closet	Nominated
2008	11th Director's Cut Awards[41]	Best New Actor	Antique	Won
2010	5th A-Awards (Arena Homme + and Audi Korea)	Style Award	N/A	Won
	24th KBS Drama Awards	Best New Actor	Sungkyunkwan Scandal	Nominated
		Netizen Award, Actor		Nominated
		Best Couple with Song Joong-ki		Won
2011	5th Mnet 20's Choice Awards	Hot 20's Voice	N/A	Won
		Hot Style Icon	N/A	Nominated
	4th Style Icon Awards	Bonsang ("Main Award")	N/A	Won
2012	3rd Korean Film Reporters Association Awards (KOFRA)	Discovery Award	Punch	Won
	6th Mnet 20's Choice Awards[42]	20's Male Movie Star		Nominated
		20’s Style Star	N/A	Nominated
	21st Buil Film Awards	Best Actor	Punch	Nominated
	20th SBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries	Fashion King	Nominated
		Netizen Popularity Award		Nominated
		Best Couple with Shin Se-kyung		Nominated
2013	Korean Environmental & Community Awards	People Who Made the World Brighter (Broadcasting/Entertainment category)	N/A	Won
	21st SBS Drama Awards[43]	Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special	Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love	Nominated
		Best Couple with Kim Tae-hee		Nominated
2014	50th Baeksang Arts Awards[44]	Best Actor (TV)	Secret Love Affair	Nominated
	7th Korea Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actor		Nominated
	3rd APAN Star Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries		Nominated
2015	3rd Marie Claire Asia Star Awards (20th Busan International Film Festival)	Asia Star of the Year	Veteran	Won
	15th Korea World Youth Film Festival	Favorite Actor		Won
	35th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards	Best Actor		Nominated
		Best Actor	The Throne	Nominated
	52nd Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor	Veteran	Nominated
		Best Actor	The Throne	Nominated
	36th Blue Dragon Film Awards[45]	Best Actor		Won
	Fashionista Awards	Best Male Fashionista in a Movie (First Prize)	Veteran	Won
	10th A-Awards (Arena Homme + and Mont Blanc Korea)	Style Award	N/A	Won
	5th SACF Artists of the Year Awards	Artistic Impression in Motion Pictures Award	Veteran, The Throne	Won
	4th CFDK Awards	Fashion Icon Award	N/A	Won
	The Korea Film Actors Association Awards	Top Star Award	Veteran, The Throne	Won
	23rd SBS Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)	Six Flying Dragons	Nominated
		Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama		Won
		Top 10 Stars		Won
		Netizen Popularity Award		Nominated
		Best Couple Award with Shin Se-kyung		Won
		Producer's Award		Nominated
2016	7th Korean Film Reporters Association Awards (KOFRA)	Best Actor	The Throne	Won
	11th Max Movie Awards	Best Actor	Veteran	Won
	8th Style Icon Awards	Bonsang ("Main Award")	N/A	Won
	10th Asian Film Awards	Next Generation Award	Veteran, The Throne	Won
	21st Chunsa Film Art Awards	Best Actor	The Throne	Won
	36th Golden Cinematography Awards[46]	Best Actor	Veteran	Won
	52nd Baeksang Arts Awards[47]	Best Actor (Film)	The Throne	Nominated
		Best Actor (TV)	Six Flying Dragons	Won
	11th Seoul International Drama Awards[48]	Best Actor		Nominated
	7th Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards	Prime Minister Award	N/A	Won
	1st Asia Artist Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang), TV Drama	Six Flying Dragons	Nominated
	16th Korea World Youth Film Festival[49]	Favorite Actor	The Throne	Won

References

1. "New Year brings new agencies". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2014-01-07. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
2. "유아인이 말하는 ′엄홍식vs유아인′" (in Korean). SBS. 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
3. Won, Ho-jung (16 September 2015). "Yoo Ah-in's evolution from rebellious teen to tragic crown prince". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
4. Do, Je-hae (17 June 2013). "New face of Korean drama: Yoo Ah-in steals show in SBS Jang Ok-Jung, Living by Love". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
5. "6 Korean Films to Screen at Berlin Festival". The Chosun Ilbo. 30 January 2009. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
6. Lee Ji-hye, Lynn Kim (16 July 2010). "KBS TV series Sungkyunkwan Scandal press conf - Part 1". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
7. Lee Ji-hye, Lucia Hong (16 July 2010). "KBS TV series Sungkyunkwan Scandal press conf - Part 2". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
8. Lee Ji-hye, Jessica Kim (18 August 2010). "Song Joong-ki says will suggest Micky bed scene if ratings fall". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
9. Choi, Ji-eun (12 November 2010). "INTERVIEW: Actor Yoo A-in - Part 1". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
10. Choi, Ji-eun (12 November 2010). "INTERVIEW: Actor Yoo A-in - Part 2". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
11. Choi, Ji-eun (12 November 2010). "INTERVIEW: Actor Yoo A-in - Part 3". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
12. Lee, Ji-hye (8 December 2010). "Actor Yoo A-in's Song Picks". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
13. Lee, Ji-hye (28 January 2011). "Actor Yoo A-in's Movie Picks". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
14. Hong, Lucia (6 September 2011). "Actor Yoo A-in yearns for high school life". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
15. "Yoo Ah In: 'I Can Do Everything in Front of Camera'". KBS Global. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
16. Choi, Ji-eun (20 October 2011). "INTERVIEW: Actor Yoo A-in - Part 1". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
17. Choi, Ji-eun (20 October 2011). "INTERVIEW: Actor Yoo A-in - Part 2". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
18. Ki, Sun-min (21 October 2011). "Punch pushes actor into next phase of his career". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
19. Suk, Monica (14 March 2012). "Yoo A-in says Fashion King casts know what they are doing". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
20. Choi, Bo-ran (14 March 2012). "Yoo Ah In talks about Fashion King: "We may be young, but it doesn't necessarily mean we're amateurs"". Star News. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
21. Sunwoo, Carla (17 March 2012). "Yoo Ah-in bares his fashion secrets". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
22. Kim, Ji-yeon (9 June 2012). "Yoo Ah In On Fashion King End, Acting and His Goals". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
23. Lee, Chul-ho (28 November 2012). "Where is Ahn Cheol-soo?". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
24. Lee, Tae-ho (27 December 2012). "Feature: Korean Celebs More Willing to Speak out Their Views". 10Asia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
25. Kang, Jung-yeon (27 June 2013). "Yu A-in Bids Farewell to Fans of Jang Ok Jeong". 10Asia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved 2013-06-28.
26. "Yu A-in Gets Tough in New Flick". The Chosun Ilbo. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
27. Conran, Pierce (27 January 2014). "The Satellite Girl and Milk Cow". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
28. Lee, Jeong-bong (17 March 2014). "The cougar and the pianist". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
29. Choi, He-suk (17 June 2015). "Yoo Ah-in returns as 'a proper villain'". K-pop Herald. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
30. Won, Ho-jung (1 July 2015). "Veteran actors hope to conquer summer with laughs and action". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
31. Lee, Eun-seon (30 July 2015). "Yoo Ah-in takes turn as a villain". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
32. "Yu A-in Releases Inner Evil in Veteran". The Chosun Ilbo. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
33. Conran, Pierce (13 May 2014). "YOO Ah-in and MOON Geun-young Confirmed for SADO". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
34. Jin, Eun-soo (14 August 2015). "New take on King Yeongjo and Prince Sado". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
35. "Yoo Ah-in, Shin Se-kyung reunite as lovers in Six Flying Dragons". The Korea Times. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
36. Kim, Jae-heun (2 October 2015). "Yoo Ah-in seeks another success". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
37. http://www.dramabeans.com/2016/07/kang-dong-won-yoo-ah-in-up-for-new-film-from-director-of-poetry/
38. "Lee Mi-yeon, Choi Ji-woo, Kim Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ah-in gear up for 'Like for Likes'". Korea Herald. 2015-12-28. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
39. Lee, Hye-ji (19 July 2012). "BoA partners with Yoo Ah-in in Only One music video". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
40. Hong, Grace Danbi (24 July 2012). "BoA Releases Drama Version of Only One Featuring Yoo Ah In". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
41. Garcia, Cathy Rose A. (10 December 2008). "Ha, Kong Win Director's CUT Awards". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
42. Lee, Nancy (8 June 2012). "20's Choice Awards Nominees Announced, Voting Open". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
43. "SBS Drama Awards 2013 Nominees". Hancinema. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
44. Hicap, Jonathan M. (30 April 2014). "Nominees in 50th Baeksang Art Awards revealed". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
45. "Stars Come Together for Annual Blue Dragon Awards". The Chosun Ilbo. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
46. Also known as Golden Film Festival.
47. "52th Baeksang Arts Awards Nominees". Baeksang Arts Awards.
48. http://www.seouldrama.org/EN/Seoul International Drama Awards
49. "16th Korea World Youth Film Festival".

External links

• Yoo Ah-in on Twitter
  
• Yoo Ah-in on Instagram
• Yoo Ah-in on Cyworld
• Yoo Ah-in Fan Cafe at Daum
• Yoo Ah-in at HanCinema
  
• Yoo Ah-in at the Korean Movie Database
• Yoo Ah-in at the Internet Movie Database