Ryu Jun-yeol

Ryu Jun-yeol (; born September 25, 1986) is a South Korean actor, activist, and photographer. Ryu began his acting career in independent films, and then rose to prominence through his breakthrough role in the critically acclaimed television series Reply 1988 (2015–2016), the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time, which also led to him winning various Best New Actor Awards in South Korea. Known as a prolific Chungmu-ro actor, since then he has starred in the box-office hit films The King (2017), A Taxi Driver (2017), Little Forest (2018), Believer (2018), Money (2019), The Battle: Roar to Victory (2019), and The Night Owl (2022). Ryu has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including nominations 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. In addition to his film work, Ryu actively engages in social and environmental activism. He has been recognised by Forbes Korea as one of the most powerful celebrities in South Korea, placing on the listing for three consecutive years, fourteenth in 2017, thirty-sixth in 2018, and eleventh in 2019. Early life and education Ryu was born on September 25, 1986, in Suwon, South Korea. He is the eldest and has a sister who is two years his junior. He graduated from University of Suwon majoring in Film under a scholarship. While studying at the university, Ryu took on many part-time jobs, working as a pizza delivery person, a day labourer, an after-school tutor, and more. Ryu was conscripted before debuting as an actor. He registered as a public officer in 2007 and completed his duties in 2009. Career