Person Biography:
Yoo was born in Incheon, South Korea, and raised by his family as the younger of two siblings. His mother sent a photo of him to an ad agency, which led to his debut in a cellphone commercial in 1999. He then began his acting career as a child actor, appearing in television dramas and films.
Early Success:
Yoo's breakthrough role came in 2002 with the film "The Way Home", where he played a city boy who learns to appreciate country life. The film was a surprise box office hit, drawing over 4 million admissions. He was affectionately labeled as "Nation's Little Brother".
Rise to Stardom:
Yoo continued to act in films and television, appearing in series such as "Magic Warriors Mir & Gaon" and "Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin". He also starred in films like "Heart Is..." and "Unforgettable". In 2009, he appeared in the films "City of Fathers" and "4th Period Mystery", as well as the period epic "Queen Seondeok".
Maturity and Experimentation:
In his teens, Yoo took on more mature roles, including "Master of Study" and "Flames of Desire". He also sang a duet with IU titled "Believe in Love" for the charity program "Love Request". In 2011, he trained in swordplay and martial arts for his role as an assassin in "Warrior Baek Dong-soo".
Leading Roles:
Yoo's first leading role was in the 2012 drama "Operation Proposal". He then starred in the fantasy-period drama "Arang and the Magistrate" and the melodrama "Missing You". In 2013, he was cast in the music video for So Ji-seob's single "Eraser" and published his first photo book, "Travel Letter, Spring Snow, And...".
Military Service:
Yoo enlisted for his mandatory military service in 2013, where he worked as a trainer of new recruits. He was discharged in 2014 and returned to acting with roles in the music video for Naul's "You From the Same Time" and the TV adaptation of webtoon "Imaginary Cat".
Recent Work:
Yoo has since appeared in the Joseon-era romance film "The Magician" and the legal thriller series "Remember-War of the Son". In 2016, he starred in the film "Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River", which received positive reviews. He is set to star in the historical melodrama "Ruler: Master of the Mask" in 2017.
