Yeo Jin-goo

Yeo Jin-goo (born August 13, 1997, Gwanak District, Seoul) is a South Korean actor who built one of the most impressive careers in Korean entertainment, starting as a child and growing into a versatile lead by his mid-twenties. Nicknamed "Nation's Little Brother" for his endearing screen presence, he debuted in the film Sad Movie (2005) at age eight after being chosen from 150 candidates despite zero prior acting experience. His early years were defined by playing the younger versions of leading characters in prestige productions: A Frozen Flower (2008), Giant (2010), Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), and Missing You (2012). These roles cemented his reputation as the industry's most dependable child actor. The transition to lead came with Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), a tense action thriller in which he played the titular role and earned the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best New Actor. Yeo came into his own on the small screen with The Crowned Clown (2019, tvN), playing dual roles as both King Lee Hun and a court jester in a demanding period drama that required him to inhabit two opposite personalities simultaneously. That same year, Hotel del Luna (2019, tvN) opposite IU cemented his status as a top-tier romantic lead. Beyond Evil (2021, JTBC) marked a dramatic pivot, pairing him with Shin Ha-kyun in what critics called one of the finest crime dramas of its era. In 2024, Yeo made his boldest career choice yet: Hijack 1971, a disaster thriller in which he played a terrorist and plane hijacker -- his first-ever villainous role in nearly two decades of acting. He has studied theater at Chung-Ang University. In May 2023, he signed with J-Full Entertainment to begin a new chapter of his solo career.