Yoo Jun-sang
Yoo Jun-sang | |
---|---|
Born |
November 28, 1969 |
Alma mater | Dongguk University |
Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
Years active | 1995–present |
Agent | Namoo Actors |
Spouse | Hong Eun-hee (m. 2003) |
Children | 2 |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 유준상 |
Hanja | 劉俊相 |
Revised Romanization | Yu Jun-sang |
McCune–Reischauer | Yu Chunsang |
Yoo Jun-sang (born November 28, 1969) is a South Korean actor and singer. Yoo is best known for starring in the Hong Sang-soo films Ha Ha Ha (2010), The Day He Arrives (2011), and In Another Country (2012). He was also praised for his supporting roles in Wide Awake (2007) and Moss (2010), and gained newfound popularity in 2012 because of the TV drama My Husband Got a Family. Aside from film and television, Yoo is also active in musical theatre, notably in The Three Musketeers, Jack the Ripper and The Days. He is also one of the main characters in The Uncanny Counter seasons 1 and 2
Career
Yoo Jun-sang graduated from Dongguk University with a bachelor's degree in Theater and Film and a master's degree in Theater Arts. Having kicked off his career in 1995 through SBS's open auditions, Yoo built a stable acting career through films and TV series. He also stars in stage musicals, notably Claws of Angel, The Three Musketeers, Jack the Ripper, Rebecca, Kim Kwang-seok jukebox musical The Days, and Frankenstein. Additionally, Yoo has been a full-time faculty member at the Korea Arts Institute since 2010.
He gave a memorable supporting turn as a cynical prosecutor in 2010's Moss, the blockbuster mystery film based on a popular online comic series. His performance garnered him Best Supporting Actor wins at the Buil Film Awards and Chunsa Film Art Awards. He also won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards for the 2007 medical thriller Wide Awake.
But Yoo is best known as a regular in the films of auteur Hong Sang-soo. He headlined The Day He Arrives in 2011, which netted him the Best Actor prize at the Busan Film Critics Awards. He also starred in Ha Ha Ha, which won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, at which Yoo and his fellow cast members walked the red carpet. When asked to describe the actor, Hong said that "Yoo is... a kind person." [...] I just... like him. I like him a lot. He is someone with a drive that doesn't irritate me. His honesty doesn't irritate me either and I like his energy. His energy has a clean color. And I think he's a lot of help when we work together." The director cast him opposite renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert in Hong's first English-language film In Another Country. He described Huppert as "a real joy" to work with, while she praised him as "kind and charismatic." Yoo was singled out in The Hollywood Reporter review as the film's scene-stealer.
After a five-year absence from television, he returned in the series My Husband Got a Family (also known as Unexpected You) co-starring Kim Nam-joo. The drama was a big hit, it not only consistently topped its timeslot throughout its long run, but ranked number one on the 2012 yearly TV ratings chart. As a result, Yoo enjoyed his biggest surge of mainstream popularity since his debut, landing commercial contracts and gaining the nickname "Nation's son-in-law".
In 2012, he published his memoir titled The Invention of Happiness. Yoo said he began writing diaries back in university when his professor recommended that he try filling up at least one journal each year with personal reflections. The book contained highlights from his 20 years of journaling life—from his days as a college student, moments on the set of several productions to his travels and vacations—as well as poems and sketches made by the actor in his everyday life. He donated all of the proceeds from the book to charity, especially to impoverished children.
For the aerial action blockbuster R2B: Return to Base, Yoo along with the rest of the cast had to undergo months-long physical training for their role as jet fighter pilots. The actors also had to pass mandatory tests for actual pilots to be able to get into the cockpit—in a low-pressure chamber, emergency escape routine, simulated flight as well as training to develop tolerance for acceleration. Yoo reportedly passed out twice before he passed his 6G test, only passing on his third attempt.
Yoo underwent knee surgery after an injury to his cruciate ligament while filming Fists of Legend. The action movie revolved around a group of middle-aged men who fight on a reality show for a cash prize. On December 19, 2013, he released his first album, titled Junes; besides singing, Yoo composed, wrote the lyrics and produced all the seven songs included. Yoo's second album, J N Joy 20: Travel Project One, Just Travel... Walking... and Thinking..., was a collaboration with guitarist Lee Jun-hwa and released on November 13, 2014, followed by his first concert.
Personal life
Besides acting, singing and writing, Yoo can also play several musical instruments including guitar, saxophone, violin and the piano. In December 2012, he showcased 20 of his artwork at the Art Asia fair.
He married actress Hong Eun-hee in 2003, and they have two sons named Yoo Dong-woo and Yoo Min-jae. Dong-woo appeared in the 2011 short film Modern Family.
In the talk show Healing Camp, he spoke about his love for his widowed mother, who suffered a cerebral hemorrhagic stroke in 2011.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1999 | Tell Me Something | Kim Gi-yeon | |
2000 | Nightmare | Jung-wook | |
2001 | Go Back, Red Peter's Confession | ||
2003 | Show Show Show | San-hae | |
2005 | Wedding Campaign | Hee-chul | |
2007 | Wide Awake | Kang Wook-han | |
2009 | Like You Know It All | Mr. Go | |
Where is Ronny... | In-ho | ||
2010 | Ha Ha Ha | Bang Joong-sik | |
Moss | Prosecutor Park Min-wook | ||
2011 | The Last Blossom | Kim Geun-deok | |
List | short film | ||
The Day He Arrives | Seong-jun | ||
2012 | In Another Country | Lifeguard | |
R2B: Return to Base | Lee Cheol-hee | ||
Touch | Park Dong-sik | ||
Adventures in Zambezia | Tendai the Peregrine Falcon | (voice, Korean dubbed) | |
2013 | Nobody's Daughter Haewon | Joong-sik | |
Fists of Legend | Lee Sang-hoon | ||
2014 | The Target | Song Gi-cheol | |
2015 | A Matter of Interpretation | Detective | |
Angry Painter | Painter | ||
Right Now, Wrong Then | Ahn Seong-gook | ||
The Map Against The World | Heungseon Daewongun | ||
2017 | Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds | Dead firefighter | |
2019 | Hotel by the River | Byung Soo | |
2022 | Honest Candidate 2 | President of the Republic of Korea | Special appearance |
The Boys | Choi Woo-seong | Premiere at BIFF |
Television series
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Kka-chi-ne | ||
1995 | Agatha Christie | ||
1996 | Expedition of Men | ||
MBC Best Theater "Man Opening the Refrigerator Door" |
Jae-min | ||
When the Salmon Returns | Han Jae-joon | ||
1997 | Wedding Dress | ||
MBC Best Theater "Tricycle" | Min-soo | ||
MBC Best Theater "Until You Fall Asleep" | Man | ||
1998 | Hope Inn | ||
Sunday Best "April Concerto" | Joon-ho | ||
I Love You, I'm Sorry | |||
Stranger | Beom-soo | ||
White Nights 3.98 | Kim Jin-seok | ||
1999 | Young Sun | Yoon Je-hyuk | |
We Saw a Lost Little Bird | |||
Sunday Best "A Thirty-one-year-old's First Kiss" |
|||
Cello | Park Ki-tae | ||
The Last War | Kim Tae-joong | ||
Goodbye My Love | Song Dae-ho | ||
Magic Castle | Lee Poong-jin | ||
2000 | Butcher's Daughter | ||
The Full Sun | Kang Min-ki | ||
2001 | How Should I Be? | Na Ki-chan | |
Life Is Beautiful | Nam Jung-woo | ||
Fox and Cotton Candy | Bong Kang-chul | ||
2002 | Affection | Jo Byung-soo | |
Inspector Park Mun-su | Park Mun-su | ||
2004 | The Woman Who Wants to Marry | Shin Joo-ho | |
2005 | Land | Kim Gil-sang | |
Young-jae's Golden Days | Eom Joong-seo | ||
2007 | Catching Up with Gangnam Moms | Seo Sang-won | |
2012 | My Husband Got a Family | Bang Gwi-nam/Terry Kang | |
2013 | The Secret of Birth | Hong Gyung-doo | |
My Love from the Star | Section chief Yoo | Cameo (Eps. 2–3) | |
2015 | Heard It Through the Grapevine | Han Jeong-ho | |
2016 | Working Mom Parenting Daddy | Lee Moon-han | Cameo |
Pied Piper | Yoon Hee-Sung | ||
2017 | Distorted | Lee Seok-min | |
2019 | Liver or Die | Lee Poong-sang | |
2020 | Graceful Friends | Ahn Goong-chul | |
2020–present | The Uncanny Counter | Ga Mo-tak | Season 1–2 |
2021 | The Penthouse: War in Life | Jung Doo-man | Cameo, Season 2 |
2022–2023 | Alchemy of Souls | Park Jin | |
TBA | We Will Replace the Trip | Oh Sang-sik |
Music video
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2003 | "Can't I?" | Wheesung |
2007 | "Oh, You Beautiful Woman" | Yoo Jun-sang |
Theater
Year | Title | Role | Reprised |
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1995 | Foes of Women | ||
1998 | Grease | ||
2001 | The Play | ||
Love & Luve | |||
2004 | Two Men | ||
2005 | Passion of the Rain | ||
2007 | Claws of Angel | Il-du/Idu | |
2008 | The Life | Sonja | |
2008–2009 | The Happy Life | Beom-jin | |
2009 | The Three Musketeers | Athos/D'Artagnan | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018 |
Jack the Ripper | Anderson | 2010, 2011, 2012 | |
2013 | Rebecca | Maxim de Winter | |
The Days | Jung-hak | 2014, 2015, 2016–2017 | |
2014 | Frankenstein | Victor Frankenstein | 2015 |
2015 | Robin Hood | Robin Hood | |
2017 | Ben Hur | Judah Ben Hur | |
2018 | Barnum | P.T. Barnum | |
2018–2019 | The Days | Cha Jung-hak | |
2021 | Beetlejuice | Beetlejuice |
Discography
Album information | Track listing |
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Oh, You Beautiful Woman
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Track listing
7. 오, 그대는 아름다운 여인 (Oh, You Beautiful Woman) – Yoo Jun-sang
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Don't Turn Off the Lights
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Track listing
8. 꺼지지 않는 불빛 (Don't Turn Off the Lights) – Yoo Jun-sang
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Gray City / I Hate This City
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Track listing
11. 회색도시 (Gray City) – Ensemble, Yoo Jun-sang 22. 이 도시가 싫어 (I Hate This City) – Ensemble, Yoo Jun-sang |
Ce Song
|
Track listing
2. Ce Song – Yoo Jun-sang (feat. Kwak Dong-yeon and Kim Sang-ho)
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Junes
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Track listing
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Travel Project One: Just Travel... Walking... And Thinking...
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Track listing
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Book
Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | The Invention of Happiness | Yolimwon | ISBN 9788970637426 |
Ambassadorship
- Public Relations Ambassador for the Park Kyung-ri Literature Awards (2022)
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor | How Should I Be? | Won |
Popularity Award | Won | |||
2002 | 8th Korea Musical Awards | Best Actor | The Play | Won |
MBC Drama Awards | Popularity Award | Fox and Cotton Candy | Won | |
2005 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Land | Won |
2006 | 40th Taxpayer's Day | Prime Minister's Commendation | — | Won |
2007 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Catching Up with Gangnam Moms | Won |
2008 | 45th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Wide Awake | Won |
2009 | 3rd Daegu International Musical Festival | Popular Star Award | Won | |
2010 | 18th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Won |
19th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ha Ha Ha | Won | |
31st Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Moss | Nominated | |
2011 | 12th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | The Day He Arrives | Won |
2012 | 5th Style Icon Awards | Top 10 Style Icons | — | Won |
Korea Advertisers Association Awards | Good Model Award | — | Won | |
21st Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | In Another Country | Nominated | |
49th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
1st K-Drama Star Awards | Excellence Award, Actor | My Husband Got a Family | Won | |
Top Popularity Award | Won | |||
KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Won | ||
Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Nominated | |||
Netizen Award, Actor | Nominated | |||
Best Couple Award with Kim Nam-joo | Won | |||
2013 | 49th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (TV) | Nominated | |
50th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Fists of Legend | Nominated | |
25th Korean PD Awards | Best Performer, TV Actor category | — | Won | |
SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | The Secret of Birth | Nominated | |
2014 | 8th Daegu International Musical Festival | Star of the Year Award | — | Won |
2015 | 9th Daegu International Musical Festival | — | Won | |
4th Yegreen Musical Awards | Actor of the Year | — | Won | |
8th Korea Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Heard It Through the Grapevine | Nominated | |
4th APAN Star Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Nominated | ||
SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Won | ||
2016 | 3rd Wildflower Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Matter of Interpretation | Nominated |
2018 | 12th Daegu International Musical Festival | Star of the Year Award | — | Won |
2019 | MBC Entertainment Awards | Multi-tainer Award | Funding Together | Won |
KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Liver or Die | Won | |
Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Nominated | |||
Netizen Award, Actor | Nominated | |||
Best Couple Award with Shin Dong-mi | Won |
Listicles
Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Forbes | 2013 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 12th | |
2014 | 29th |