Yoo Hae-jin

Yoo Hae-jin (born January 4, 1970) is a South Korean actor. After graduating with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Arts, he became a member of Theater troupe The Mokwha Repertoire Company. He has established himself as one of the top actors in the country, playing both supporting and lead roles.

Early life
Yoo's passion for acting started in childhood when he would sneak into a nearby cultural center in Cheongju to watch performances. In eighth grade, he saw a monologue play that inspired him to pursue acting in the future. It was a powerful and impactful experience during his puberty. He aspired to attend an arts high school, but due to financial constraints and lack of support from his conservative parents, he couldn't. However, he pursued his passion by joining a theater troupe after participating in a summer acting camp during high school. Initially, he assisted other actors and observed their techniques from afar, gradually honing his acting skills despite his introverted personality.

Yoo applied to university acting and film programs for two consecutive years but failed the auditions due to his appearance. He initially planned to enlist in the military but his father suggested he pursue a different path. Yoo chose fashion, believing it could benefit his acting career. Apart from the time he spent in mandatory military service, He gave priority to theater over fashion studies. As a result, he barely managed to graduate. However, his father's advice proved beneficial, as there was a special selection process for college graduates that admitted students based solely on their grades. This is how he gained acceptance to the Seoul Institute of the Arts in 1995.

Career
In 1997, a pivotal moment in his life occurred in New York, USA when he accompanied his professor, Professor Kang Man-hong, and Ryu Seung-ryong to the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. The performances they saw in New York included shows like Stomp, Blue Man Group, and Tube.

After graduating with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Arts, he was active in Dongrang Repertory Theater Company and became a member of Theater troupe The Mokwha Repertoire Company. Met in a bakery by chance, Yoo received a part-time job offer from a bidet factory owner. Yoo mentioned that he was asked to bring a friend for that job because he seemed inadequate. He then brought along his fellow theater group member, Ryu Seung-ryong. Later, they rented a room in country side for a month and assembled bidets together.

Yoo then began doing bit roles in films, graduating to supporting roles where he acquired a reputation as a scene stealer. Despite a short screen time, his performances made a strong impression on audiences and critics. As Korean films became more diverse in terms of genre, Yoo found opportunities in increasingly weighty roles, and now has become a bonafide marquee name in the box office. He has since established himself as one of the top character actors in the country, notably in King and the Clown, Small Town Rivals, Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard, Moss, The Unjust, The Pirates, The Classified File, Minority Opinion, Veteran, and Public Enemy and its sequels.

Yoo also began to take up lead roles. His first lead starring film, Luck Key, was released in 2016 and surpassed 5 million viewers. 2017 was a successful year for Yoo - he had co-lead in Confidential Assignment, and had supporting roles in A Taxi Driver and 1987: When the Day Comes. All three were among the highest grossing Korean films of that year. In addition, A Taxi Driver earned him a Best Supporting Actor award at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and a nomination at the Asian Film Awards. In 2018, he starred in family comedy Love+Sling, and Intimate Strangers, a remake of the Italian comedy film Perfect Strangers. That year, he also was cast in the historical war film The Battle: Roar to Victory. He reprised his role in Confidential Assignment 2: International, which was the third highest grossing Korean film in 2022.

He has also appeared as a regular cast member in two reality shows: 2 Days & 1 Night from March to November 2013,  and Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village in January 2015.

In November 2023, Yoo signed with new agency Awesome ENT.

Endorsements
Yoo Hae-jin has become a popular choice as an advertising model for the food industry following the success of his film with 10 million viewers. Nongshim chose Yoo and Song Kang-ho as models for their new Shin Ramyun commercial. In the commercial, Song Kang-ho is seen boiling the noodles while singing about their enhanced flavor, and Yoo is shown enjoying the ramen with a humorous expression.

Personal life
Yoo and actress Kim Hye-soo first met in 2001 after shooting the movie Kick the Moon and became close in 2006 after appearing together in Tazza: The High Rollers. Rumors of the two dating surfaced starting 2008 although both continuously denied any romantic involvement until early 2010 when paparazzi photographs of the two were released, and the couple officially confirmed their relationship. Yoo and Kim broke up in 2011.