Yoo Hae-jin (Korean: 유해진; born January 4, 1970) is a South Korean actor. After graduating with a Theater degree fromSeoul 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.
Yoo's passion for acting started in childhood when he would sneak into a nearby cultural center inCheongju to watch performances. In eighth grade, he saw amonologue 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.[1]
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 theSeoul Institute of the Arts in 1995.[1]
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.[5] 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.[6][7][8]
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.[27]
Yoo and actressKim Hye-soo first met in 2001 after shooting the movieKick the Moon and became close in 2006 after appearing together inTazza: 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,[28][29] and the couple officially confirmed their relationship.[30][31][32][33][34] Yoo and Kim broke up in 2011.[35][36][37]
^Yeon Hwi-seon (October 26, 2021)."유해진, 국경없는영화제 개막작 '에고이스트' 목소리 재능기부...또 '선한 영향력'" [Yoo Hai-jin, voice talent donation for 'Egoist', the opening film of Film Festival Without Borders... Another 'good influence] (in Korean). OSEN.Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. RetrievedOctober 26, 2021 – viaNaver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (February 18, 2022)."[SC현장] "박찬욱 만남 영광"..유해진·김옥빈·박정민 '일장춘몽', 애플 만난 新프로젝트 (종합)" [[SC on-site] "The honor of meeting Chan-wook Park".. Hai-jin Yoo, Ok-bin Kim, Jung-min Park, 'Sunset Dreams', a new project that met Apple (comprehensive)] (in Korean).Sports Chosun.Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kwak Hyun-soo (January 22, 2021)."'공조2' 현빈·유해진→다니엘 헤니 캐스팅 [공식]" ['Cooperation 2' Hyun Bin, Yoo Hai-jin → Daniel Henney Casting [Official]].sports.donga (in Korean).Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 22, 2021.
^Kim Ji-hye (August 1, 2022)."'공조2', 현빈X유해진에 다니엘 헤니도 가세…9월 개봉 확정" ['Cooperation 2', Hyun Bin X Yoo Hai-jin joins Daniel Henney... September release confirmed] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News.Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. RetrievedAugust 1, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jeon Hyung-hwa (August 26, 2021)."[단독]유해진, 드디어 王이다..'올빼미' 인조役으로 류준열과 호흡 [종합]" [[Exclusive] Hai-jin Yoo, finally the king.. Breathing with Jun-yeol Ryu as an artificial character in 'Owl' [Comprehensive]].Star News (in Korean).Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. RetrievedAugust 26, 2021 – viaNaver.
^Kim Da-eun (October 4, 2022)."유해진X류준열 사극 스릴러 '올빼미' 11월 23일 개봉확정" [Yoo Hai-jin X Ryu Jun-yeol's historical thriller 'Owl' confirmed for release on November 23rd] (in Korean).Ilgan Sports.Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. RetrievedOctober 13, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jeong Han-byeol (July 5, 2023)."유해진, '달짝지근해'로 로코 첫 도전…8월 개봉" [Yoo Hai-jin, first challenge in Loco with 'Sweet Sea'... open in August] (in Korean).Hankook Ilbo.Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. RetrievedJuly 5, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Kim Bo-ra (November 3, 2021)."[단독] 유해진, '도그 데이즈' 캐스팅…윤여정x김윤진 연기 호흡" [[Exclusive] Yoo Hai-jin, cast for 'Dog Days'... Yoon Yeo-jeong x Kim Yun-jin Acting Breath] (in Korean). OSEN.Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. RetrievedNovember 3, 2021 – viaNaver.
^Kim Na-ra (April 28, 2022)."'도그데이즈', 크랭크업…윤여정 "웃음+공감 있는 영화" [공식]" ['Dog Days', crank up... Yoon Yeo-jeong "Laughter + Sympathetic Movie" [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily.Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. RetrievedApril 28, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Park Jin-young (September 27, 2022)."[단독] '공조2' 대박 낸 유해진, '파묘' 합류…'믿보' 라인업 완성" [[Exclusive] Yoo Hai-jin, who hit the jackpot in 'Confidential Cooperation 2', joins 'Pamyo'... Completed the line-up of 'Believe].JoyNews24 (in Korean).Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023.
^Choi Na-young (November 29, 2023)."'파묘' 최민식∙김고은∙유해진∙이도현, 오컬트로 만났다..내년 2월 개봉 [공식]" ['Breakfast' Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun meet through the occult... to be released in February next year [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN.Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. RetrievedNovember 29, 2023.
^Park Jin-young (February 9, 2023)."[단독] 유해진, 차기작은 '모럴해저드'…흥행 역사 또 쓴다" [[Exclusive] Yoo Hai-jin's next work is 'Moral Hazard'... Rewrite box office history].JoyNews24 (in Korean).Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023.
^Park Seo-hyun (April 7, 2023)."유해진X이제훈 '모럴해저드'(가제) 캐스팅 확정..첫 연기 호흡(공식)" [Yoo Hai-jin X Lee Je-hoon's 'Moral Hazard' (tentative title) cast confirmed... First acting breath (official)] (in Korean).Herald POP.Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. RetrievedApril 7, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Kim Bora (June 7, 2023)."강하늘x유해진x박해준, '야당'으로 만났다…올 하반기 크랭크인[공식]" [Kang Ha-neul x Yoo Hai-jin x Park Hae-joon met as 'opposition'... Crank-in in the second half of this year [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN.Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. RetrievedJune 7, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Park Soo-in (June 9, 2022)."유해진, 유럽서 캠핑한다 "tvN 예능 '텐트 밖은 유럽' 출연"[공식입장]" [Yoo Hai-jin, camping in Europe "Appeared in tvN's 'Europe Outside the Tent'" [Official Position]] (in Korean). Newsen.Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. RetrievedJune 11, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim Na-ra (June 15, 2022)."해외여행 새 패러다임 제시"…유해진X진선규X윤균상, '텐트 밖은 유럽' 출연 확정 [공식]" [Propose a new paradigm for overseas travel"... Yoo Hai-jin X Jin Seon-kyu X Yoon Kyun-sang confirmed to appear in 'Europe Outside the Tent' [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily.Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. RetrievedJune 15, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"'1등끼리 만나는 더러운 세상'이라면서" [It's said that it's a dirty world where first place meets each other.].PD저널 (in Korean). 2010-01-07.Archived from the original on 2023-03-12. Retrieved2023-03-12.
^"춘풍의 처" [Chunpoong's Wife].DA-arts (in Korean).Archived from the original on 2023-02-02. Retrieved2023-03-09.
^"(제2회) (1999) 오태석 연극제 - 우리 소리 · 색깔 · 몸짓" [(2nd) (1999) Oh Tae-seok Theater Festival - Our Sound, Color, and Gesture].DA-arts (in Korean).Archived from the original on 2023-03-12. Retrieved2023-03-09.
^Kim, Bo-young (February 9, 2023)."제21회 '디렉터스컷 어워즈', 3년 만에 오프라인 개최 [공식]" [The 21st 'Director's Cut Awards' held offline for the first time in 3 years [Official]] (in Korean). E-Daily.Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 17, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Nam, Yoo-jung; Lee, Woo-young (2023-08-27)."누가 받아도 될 정도로 훌륭한 후보들, 그중 최고는 누구?" [Great candidates to anyone can accept, who is the best of them?].Busan Ilbo (in Korean).Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved2023-08-27 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Yu-jin (November 6, 2023)."제44회 청룡영화상 후보 발표…'밀수'·'콘크리트 유토피아' 11개 부문 최다 노미네이트" [44th Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominations Announced...'Smuggling'-'Concrete Utopia' Receive Most Nominations in 11 Categories].X-ports News (in Korean).Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. RetrievedNovember 6, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024).60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC News.Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. RetrievedApril 23, 2024 – viaNaver.
^"[한국세정신문] '납세보국'-세금 잘 냈다고 상 받은 연예인은 누구?" [[Korea Sejeong Newspaper] 'Taxation Bureau' - Who is the celebrity who received the award for paying taxes well?].www.taxtimes.co.kr (in Korean).Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved2023-10-28.
^"2009~2019 한국영화 배우 흥행 파워 2위~10위" [2009~2019 Korean movie actor box office power 2nd to 10th].thescreen.co.kr.Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved2023-10-30.
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