ArtistKing Kong by Starship
Yoo Yeon-seok
Yoo Yeon-seok (유연석), born Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984 in Seoul, is a South Korean actor who began in Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy (2003) before military service and a degree in Film Arts at Sejong University. He resumed his career in 2008 and built steadily through supporting roles before breaking through as the antagonist in the back-to-back box-office hits Architecture 101 and A Werewolf Boy (both 2012).
His career-defining television role came with Reply 1994 (tvN, 2013), where his character Chilbongie sparked one of K-drama’s most debated love-triangle conclusions. He followed with the historical epic Mr. Sunshine (tvN, 2018), the acclaimed medical ensemble Hospital Playlist (tvN, 2020-2021), and the romantic thriller When the Phone Rings (MBC, 2024). Beyond acting, he runs a personal YouTube channel documenting his daily life and passions.
In 2026, he leads the SBS legal thriller Phantom Lawyer opposite Esom, playing Shin Yi-rang, a top criminal defense attorney who takes on cases others refuse. Managed by King Kong by Starship.
1 articles8 creditsDebut: January 1, 2003South Korean
Gallery
뉴스인스타 / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons, May 2019
CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons, Bean Pole Campaign 2015
Fans Also Ask
What is Yoo Yeon-seok best known for?
Yoo Yeon-seok is best known for his role as Ahn Jeong-won in the ensemble medical drama Hospital Playlist (2020-2021), his breakout performance in Dr. Romantic (2016), and his recent lead in the legal thriller Phantom Lawyer (2026). He first appeared on screen in Park Chan-wook's Oldboy (2003) as the younger version of Yoo Ji-tae's character.
What is Phantom Lawyer (2026)?
Phantom Lawyer is a 2026 JTBC legal thriller in which Yoo Yeon-seok plays the title role -- an enigmatic attorney whose unorthodox methods challenge the boundary between legal genius and moral compromise. The drama follows a string of high-profile cases that expose hidden mechanisms of Korean legal and political power.
Who did Yoo Yeon-seok play in Hospital Playlist?
In Hospital Playlist (2020-2021), Yoo Yeon-seok played Ahn Jeong-won, a warm and eccentric pediatric surgeon at Yulje Medical Center whose long-held dream is to become a Catholic priest. His slow-burn romance with fellow doctor Jang Gyeo-wool (Shin Hyun-bin) became one of the drama's most beloved storylines across both seasons.
What was Yoo Yeon-seok's breakthrough?
Yoo Yeon-seok gained mainstream recognition through the 2012 box office hits Architecture 101 and A Werewolf Boy, playing charming antagonists in both. His lead role in Reply 1994 (2013) made him a household name in Korea and laid the groundwork for a career built on critically acclaimed ensemble and lead dramas.
What is Yoo Yeon-seok's real name and agency?
Yoo Yeon-seok was born Ahn Yeon-seok (안연석) on April 11, 1984, in Seoul, South Korea. He adopted his stage name at the suggestion of his management. He studied Film Arts at Sejong University and has been represented by King Kong by Starship throughout his career.
