As you immerse yourself in the captivating world of K-dramas, it's not uncommon to encounter an actor whose face seems oddly familiar. And when it comes to that uncanny sense of déjà vu, Ryu Seung Ryong is a name that readily comes to mind. With over three decades of stellar contributions to the Hallyu entertainment industry, including prominent roles in hit series like the action-horror sensation Kingdom and the record-breaking Moving—currently the most-watched Korean original series on Disney+ worldwide—Ryu Seung Ryong has likely graced your screen more times than you realize.
Curious to know more about the talented K-drama actor? Here are 10 things to know about Ryu Seung Ryong:
10 Things to Know About South Korean Actor Ryu Seung Rong
1. Ryu Seung Ryong is a Sagittarius.
Ryu Seung Ryong was born on November 29, 1970, in a coastal county in Korea called Seocheon.
2. Ryu Seung Ryong is famed for his portrayal of Yong-Goo in the original "Miracle in Cell No. 7."
Moving isn't the first time Seung Ryong plays the role of a loving dad. If you're still wondering where you've seen him before, maybe this will help jog your memory. With several adaptations, including a Pinoy version starring Aga Mulach and Bela Padilla, who hasn’t watched or at least heard of the tearjerker film Miracle in Cell No. 7? In the original Korean movie, Ryu Seung Ryong plays the lead character, Yong-Goo, the mentally-impaired father of Ye-seung. He even won Best Actor at the 50th Grand Bell Awards for his excellent performance in this film.
3. Ryu Seung Ryong started acting at 15 years old.
Ryu Seung Ryong made his acting debut at the young age of 15 in a stage musical back in 1985. However, his first on-screen debut didn’t happen until 2004, 19 years later, when he appeared in the rom-com film Someone Special. As of writing, Ryu Seung Ryong is currently 52 years old, which means he’s been acting for over three decades with more than 20 film and TV show credits under his name. With that much experience, it’s no wonder he’s become known for being one of the most versatile and reliable actors in Korea.
4. Ryu Seung Ryong teaches at Seoul Art College's School of Acting Arts.
Aside from being a gifted actor, he also happens to teach at one of the most prominent art colleges in Korea–Seoul Art College (SAC). SAC has one of the most star-studded faculties in the country, with dozens of actors, singers, directors, and other industry names as their professors, including Seung Ryong who is a part-time professor at the college. Aside from having celebrities as their instructors, SAC has also produced stars, with T.O.P of K-pop boy band Big Bang and Fei of K-pop girl band Miss A being some of their alumni.
5. Ryu Seung Ryong has won multiple acting awards.
Since the start of his on-screen acting career, he has won over 13 awards, his most recent win being the Best from the East Award at the 21st New York Asian Film Festival in 2022 for his performance in the 2021 comedy-drama film Perhaps Love. He also won Best Actor at the 8th Korea Best Star Award for his role in Extreme Job (2019), a Korean action-comedy film that is (as of writing) the second highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea.
6. Ryu Seung Ryong has two sons.
Like most Korean actors, Seung Ryong likes to keep his relationships private. Although it is unclear if the actor is married, he does have two sons named Gang Ryoo and Geon Ryoo, who occasionally make appearances on his Instagram.
7. Ryu Seung Ryong has been to the Philippines.
Back in 2018, Seung Ryong posted a photo on Instagram with the geolocation tag Tanauan, Batangas, Philippines. He didn’t include many details about his trip to the Philippines, but it’s clear that the actor has a love for traveling and adventure, sharing pictures of his trips from Japan, Africa, and Russia.
8. Ryu Seung Ryong is an artist.
If you search the tag #RSRartspace on Instagram you will find photos and videos of the actor working on different art projects. He especially loves to work with wood, clay, and leather, crafting everything from furniture, kitchenware, and sculptures to wallets, card holders, bags, and so many more items he can think of.
9. Ryu Seung Ryong loves the outdoors.
Aside from traveling in general, it appears that he prefers outdoor trips over staying in the city. His Instagram is full of photos of beautiful landscapes, endless ocean horizons, and serene forests.
10. Ryu Seung Ryong is the first Korean actor to star in four movies that have drawn over 10 million viewers each.
The first movie was Masquerade which was shown in 2012. Then in 2013, Miracle in Cell No. 7 became the third highest-grossing Korean film of all time. In 2014, he starred in The Admiral: Roaring Currents, a historical film that is still the highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea. Extreme Job, which he headlined in 2019, also happens to be the second highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea. That makes him the first Korean actor to star in four movies that have drawn over 10 million viewers each.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
