Kim began his career as a fashion model at the 2007 Seoul Fashion Week and for jeans brand Evisu in 2008. He made his acting debut in the queercoming-of-age filmJust Friends? in 2009 under the stage name Seo Ji-hoo. His management agency later changed his stage name to Yeon Woo-jin.[2]
After playing a teacher in 2010 daily drama All My Love,[3] he started to gain recognition as the youngest brother in hit 2011 family drama Ojakgyo Family.[4] Then in his first lead role, Yeon's character falls in love with the daughter of his brother's murderer in the 4-episode Drama SpecialJust an Ordinary Love Story.[5][6][7]
In 2012, he was cast as a mysterious villain in the period fantasy-romance Arang and the Magistrate.[8][9][10] Yeon reunited with Arang director Kim Sang-ho in 2013, to again play the protagonist's rival in the gangster melodrama When a Man Falls in Love.[11]
This was followed by leading roles in two romantic comedy series: as a commitment-phobic plastic surgeon in Marriage, Not Dating (2014) and as a vengeful office manager-turned-attorney in Divorce Lawyer in Love (2015).[12][13][14]
In 2022, Yeon appeared in romantic drama film, Serve the People written and directed by Jang Cheol-soo opposite Ji An. The film based on the eponymous novel by Yan Lianke, drew wide attention and Yeon was praised for his performance as a model soldier.[21] Later in March 2022, Yeon confirmed that on the 10th of Yeon Woo-jin's official Japanese website, an announcement was posted under the heading 'About the schedule of the 2022 visit to Japan event'. They held fan meetings in Tokyo on August 11 and Osaka on August 13.[22]
^Chun Joo-young (March 11, 2022). "연우진, 8월 일본 팬미팅 개최 결정" [Woojin Yeon, decided to hold a fan meeting in Japan in August] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeon Hyung-hwa (November 30, 2021). "박소담 원톱 액션영화 '특송' 2022년 1월 5일 개봉 확정" [Park So-dam's one-top action movie 'Special Song' to be released on January 5, 2022] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Naver.
^Jo Ji-young (January 19, 2022). "[공식] 연우진X지안 파격 멜로 '인민을 위해 복무하라', 2월 개봉 확정" [[Official] Yeon Woo-jin X Ji-an's extraordinary melodrama 'Serve the People', confirmed for release in February] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^'신언니' 연우진 "문근영은 천사였다"(인터뷰). Star News (in Korean). April 13, 2010. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
^Moon Ji-yeon (July 30, 2020). "[공식] 연우진X한선화→유선호, '언더커버' 라인업 완성" [[Official] Woojin Yeon X Sunhwa Han → Seonho Yoo, 'Undercover' lineup complete] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jung Han-buyl (August 6, 2021). "연우진·이무생·이태환, '서른, 아홉' 합류...손예진 만난다" [Yeon Woo-jin, Lee Mu-saeng, and Lee Tae-hwan join 'Thirty, Nine'... Meet Son Ye-jin]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
^Ahn So-yun (July 21, 2022). "[공식] 박보영·연우진·장동윤·이정은, '정신병동에도 아침이 와요' 출연 확정" [[Official] Park Bo-young, Yeon Woo-jin, Jang Dong-yoon, and Lee Jung-eun confirmed to appear in 'Morning Comes to the Mental Hospital'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Kyung-ho (July 25, 2023). "[단독]김하늘X연우진X장승조, '멱살 한번 잡힙시다'로 뭉쳤다..주연 발탁 [종합]" [[Exclusive] Kim Ha-Neul, Yeon Woo-Jin, and Jang Seung-Jo team up for 'Let's Catch a Smackdown'...they're set to star in the film [Total]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yun, Sang-geun (July 25, 2024). "김소연X연우진X김성령, JTBC '정숙한 세일즈' 합류[공식]" [Kim So-yeon, Yeon Woo-jin, and Kim Seong-ryeong join JTBC's 'Quiet Sales']. Starnews – via daum.
^Lee Mi-ji (October 11, 2021). "강릉 출신' 연우진, 제3회 강릉국제영화제 개막식 오프닝 호스트 확정(공식)" ['From Gangneung' Yeon Woo-jin confirmed as the opening host for the opening ceremony of the 3rd Gangneung International Film Festival (official)] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Naver.