With multiple hit movies and TV shows, actor Ryu Jun-yeol has established himself as one of the most successful faces in the South Korean entertainment industry. Here we take a look at some of the career-defining projects of the K-sensation.
Ryu Jun-yeol started his acting career with independent films in 2012. However, it was only after his debut feature film, Socialphobia in 2015, that Ryu became a household name in South Korea. The Korean film debuted at the Busan International Film Festival, earning him the Rising Star award at the KAFA Film Festival.
Following this, Ryu Jun-yeol landed leading roles in an array of movies and TV shows in the coming years. These include Reply 1988 (2015), The King (2017), Believer (2018), The Battle: Roar to Victory (2019), Alienoid (2022) and Alienoid: Return to the Future (2024).
The genre-bending Korean flick Alienoid: Return to the Future amassed over USD 10,332,034 and 1,429,965 ticket admissions and is among the highest-grossing Korean movies released in 2024. Meanwhile, its prequel Alienoid became the 9th highest-grossing Korean film of 2022. It recorded over 11.2 million and 1.5 million admissions, according to the Korean Film Council.
Not to forget A Taxi Driver, which is directed by the famous Korean director Jang Hoon. One of the best Ryu Jun-yeol movies, it was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.
Ryu Jun-yeol, who is of late grabbing headlines for his relationship with Korean drama actor Han So-hee, portrays the role of Jin Soo in the Netflix original The 8 Show. Co-starring Chun Woo-hee and Park Jeong-min, The 8 Show is reported to premiere in 2024.
The best Ryu Jun-yeol movies and TV shows that will keep you hooked
Directed by: Choi Dong-hoon
Other stars: Kim Tae-ri, Kim Woo-bin
Synopsis: After locating a divine sword, Lee Ahn (Kim Tae-ri) and Mureuk (Ryu) race through time to battle an evil alien commander’s haava (an alien substance) detonation that has the power to destroy mankind.
Directed by: Ahn Tae-jin
Other stars: Yoo Hae-jin, Choi Moo-sung, Kim Sung-cheol
Synopsis: Kyung-soo (Ryu) is blind, but his acupuncture skills earn him work at the king’s (Yoo) royal palace in the Joseon Injo period. One day, Kyung-soo witnesses the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon (Kim) and realises that he can faintly see in the dark. He then tries to get to the truth of the murder, all the while putting his life at risk.
Directed by: Choi Dong-hoon
Other stars: Kim Tae-ri, Kim Woo-bin
Synopsis: In a timeline of the past, Taoists in the Goryeo dynasty are trying to locate a divine sword. In the present, however, aliens appear on Earth. When a mysterious door connecting the Goryeo period and the present day appears, chaos ensues.
Directed by: Hur Jin-ho and Park Hong-soo
Other stars: Jeon Do-yeon, Park Ji-young, Park Byung-eun
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Kang-jae (Ryoo) is a man withering away in self-doubt. Lee Bu-jung (Jeon) is a ghostwriter struggling to publish an original work. When circumstances lead the duo to cross paths, they try to find the courage to face the bitterness of life together.
About the show: One of the best Ryu Jun-yeol dramas, the Korean romance was released as a part of the country’s local TV channel JTBC’s tenth-anniversary special project.
Directed by: Won Sin-yun
Other stars: Yoo Hae-jin, Jo Woo-jin, Sung Yoo-bin
Synopsis: It’s the 1920s and the Korean independence militias are fighting a fierce battle against imperialist Japanese forces in Manchuria, China. Among the Korean militias are master swordsman Hwang Hae-cheol (Yoo) and an expert marksman Jang-ha (Ryu).
About the film: This Korean-Japanese period action film is based on the Battle of Feng Wudong between Korean independence militias and Japanese forces in the 1920s, during the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Directed by: Im Soon-rye
Other stars: Kim Tae-ri, Jin Ki-joo, Moon So-ri
Synopsis: Hye Won’s (Kim) life gets messed up in the city and moves back to her hometown in the countryside. There, she seeks peace and heals herself with the help of nature and her childhood friend Jae Ha (Ryu).
About the show: It is adapted from the manga series of the same name by Igarashi Daisuke.
Directed by: Jang Hoon
Other stars: Song Kang-ho, Yoo Hae-jin, Thomas Kretschmann
Synopsis: Kim Man-sub (Song) is a widowed taxi driver raising his young daughter. One day, he is offered a huge sum of money by a foreigner (Kretschmann), who wants Man-sub to drive him from Seoul to Gwangju City and back. What Man-sub is unaware of is that the foreigner is a German journalist eager to know about the 1980s Gwangju Uprising. Helping the duo communicate is a university student Goo Jae-shik (Ryu).
About the film: It is based on the true story of German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter’s interactions with Korean driver Kim Sa-bok.
Directed by: Shin Won-ho and Yoo Hak-chan
Other stars: Lee Hye-ri, Go Kyung-pyo, Park Bo-gum
Episodes: 20
Synopsis: It’s the 1980s, and Kim Jung-hwan (Ryu) is leading a quiet life in the small Ssangmundong neighbourhood in Korea. Soon, Jung-hwan and his friends find it challenging to navigate their teen years. Over time, the group decides to lean on each other and their families to help them set a path for the future.
The post <i>Alienoid</i>, <i>Reply 1988</i> and other best Ryu Jun-yeol movies and TV shows to watch appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Singapore.
