Yoo was born as Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984, in Seoul, South Korea as a son of Professor of Engineering . In his junior year in high school, Yoo decided to take up acting and followed his brother, who was studying another year to enter university, to Seoul and they lived together near the district of Samseong-dong.[1]
While taking acting classes, Yoo met a friend who would later work on the costume staff of film director Park Chan-wook. Remembering that he resembled actor Yoo Ji-tae, he gave him a call about auditioning for a role. Without having to pass out his resume, he made his acting debut as Yoo Ji-tae's younger counterpart in the acclaimed 2003 film Oldboy.[1][2]
After appearing in Oldboy, spent a solid amount of time preparing before becoming a full-fledged adult actor, including entering the Department of Film Arts at Sejong University and serving in the military. Upon graduation from Sejong University with a degree in Film Arts, he resumed his acting career in 2008, and appearing in the plays In The Burning Darkness and Understudy. He began using his agency's recommendation stage name, Yoo Yeon-seok.[3]
After an extended hiatus from acting, Yoo made his return in the medical drama General Hospital 2.[4]
Yoo took on supporting roles on television, such as the haughty student body president in the horror series Soul and more appealing characters in medical dramaMidnight Hospital and Tasty Life.[5][6][7] But Yoo received his best reviews yet for playing a sensitive ex-boyfriend searching for his child in the independent filmRe-encounter.[8][9]
In 2015, Yoo was cast in his first leading role on network television as a chef and restaurateur in the romantic comedy series Warm and Cozy, written by the Hong sisters and set on Jeju Island.[22] He also starred in the thriller Perfect Proposal (a remake of Woman of Straw), and The Beauty Inside (adapted from the social film of the same title).[23][24] Later in the year, Yoo played the protagonist in Le Passe-Muraille ("The Man Who Walked Through Wall"); this was his first stage musical since his professional acting debut (Yoo had previously appeared in theatrical productions while still in university).[25]
In 2018, Yoo starred in romance melodrama Mr. Sunshine penned by Kim Eun-sook.[29] He then appeared in the musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.[30]
In 2020, Yoo starred in the critically acclaimed and hit medical drama Hospital Playlist, playing Ahn Jeong-won, an assistant professor of pediatric surgery[31] and reprised his role in season 2 in 2021.[32]
^Jung Hwa (March 3, 2020). "[단독]유연석, '007'올가 쿠릴렌코와 佛영화 '고요한 아침' 호흡" [[Exclusive] Yoo Yeon-seok, '007' Olga Kurylenko and French movie 'Silent Morning' Breathing]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abJang, Jin-ri (April 18, 2023). "[단독]유연석, '낭만닥터 김사부3' 특별출연...6년 만에 금의환향" [[Exclusive] Yoo Yeon-seok, special appearance in 'Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 3'...Return of gold after 6 years] (in Korean). SpoTV News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jo Ji-young (February 23, 2022). "[공식] 유연석X올가 쿠릴렌코 韓·佛 프로젝트 '배니싱', 3월 개봉 확정" [[Official] Yoo Yeon-seok X Olga Kurylenko Korean-French project 'Banishing' confirmed for release in March] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Myung-mi (October 6, 2022). "사랑의 이해' 유연석-문가영-금새록-정가람 출연확정[공식]" [Yoo Yeon-seok, Moon Ga-young, Geum Sae-rok, and Jeong Ga-ram confirmed for 'Understanding Love' [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Na-yeon (August 8, 2022). "하정우X황정민→장첸 '수리남', 9월 9일 넷플릭스 공개 확정 [공식]" [Ha Jung-woo X Hwang Jung-min → Jang Chen 'Suriname', confirmed to be released on Netflix on September 9 [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Do-gon (February 8, 2023). "이성민X유연석X이정은, '운수 오진 날' 캐스팅[공식]" [Lee Seong-min X Yoo Yeon-seok X Lee Jung-eun cast in 'The Day of Misfortune' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kang Jin-ah (September 17, 2021). "슬의생' 99즈가 떠나는 우정 여행…'슬기로운 산촌생활" [Friendship Journey of 'Life of Despair' 99z... 'Wise mountain village life']. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021 – via Naver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (February 14, 2023). "[공식] 이승기·이동휘·지석진→규현..'브로마블' 상반기 공개" [[Official] Lee Seung-gi, Lee Dong-hwi, Ji Seok-jin → Kyu-hyun...'Bromarble' first half release] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim Na-Yul (November 25, 2020). "김혜수X유연석, '제41회 청룡영화상' MC..3년 연속 호흡[공식]" [Kim Hye-soo X Yoo Yeon-seok, '41st Blue Dragon Film Awards' MC.. 3 years in a row [Official]]. Herald POP (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
^Kim Ji-hye (November 18, 2022). "김혜수X유연석, 5년 연속 '청룡영화상' MC…김혜수는 29회 진기록" [Kim Hye-soo X Yoo Yeon-seok, 5 years in a row 'Blue Dragon Film Awards' MC... Kim Hye-soo broke the record in episode 29] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Chang-hyun (November 24, 2023). "김혜수-유연석 '청룡영화상 MC'[★포토]" [Kim Hye-soo and Yoo Yeon-seok ‘Blue Dragon Film Awards MC’ [★Photo]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
"Only Feeling You" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. December 15–21, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Gaon Chart.
"To You" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. August 8–14, 2021. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Gaon Chart.
^"응답하라 1994 OST Part 7" [Reply 1994 OST Part 7] (in Korean). Stone Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Melon.
^"슬기로운 의사생활 시즌2 OST Part 7" [Hospital Playlist Season 2 OST Part 7] (in Korean). Stone Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Melon.
^"유연석 "뮤지컬 , 운명이라 생각했다" | 예스24 채널예스" [Yoo Yeon-seok "Musical, I thought it was destiny" | Yes 24 channel yes]. Yes24 (in Korean). Retrieved May 6, 2024.
^"뮤지컬 '젠틀맨스 가이드' 캐스팅 공개…김동완·유연석·서경수 트리플 캐스팅" [Musical 'Gentleman's Guide' casting released... Kim Dong-wan, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Seo Kyung-soo triple casting]. 뉴스컬처 (NEWSCULTURE) (in Korean). September 27, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
^Lee, Jae-hoon (September 11, 2020). "[리뷰]유연석을 타고온 첫사랑의 추억…뮤지컬 '베르테르'" [[Review] Memories of first love riding Yoo Yeon-seok... Musical 'Werter']. n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved May 18, 2024.
^Jeong Ji-eun (September 27, 2021). "유연석부터 이상이까지, '젠틀맨스 가이드' 캐스팅 공개" [From Yoo Yeon-seok to Lee Sang, casting for 'Gentleman's Guide' revealed]. KBS Media (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via Naver.
^"'세일즈맨의 죽음' 수원SK아트리움서 공연" ['The Death of the Salesman' performance at Suwon SK Atrium]. news.suwon.go.kr. January 6, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
^Lee Sun-myung (September 22, 2022). "유연석-한보름-백예린, 서울동물영화제 홍보대사 위촉" [Yoo Yeon-seok, Han Bo-reum, and Baek Ye-rin appointed as ambassadors for Seoul Animal Film Festival] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024). 60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024 – via Naver.
^"청룡영화상, '남산 부장'과 '다만 악에서' 혈투". news.naver (in Korean). November 11, 2020. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
^Kim, Min-soo (April 23, 2019). 파워 셀럽 40인은 누구? [Who are the 40 power celebrities?]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via Joins.