View text source at Wikipedia

Yu Oh-seong

In this Korean name, the family name is Yu.
Yu Oh-seong
Born (1966-09-11) September 11, 1966 (age 58)
Yeongwol County, South Korea
Other namesYoo Oh-sung
Yoo Oh-seong
EducationHanyang University - Theater and Film
OccupationActor
Years active1992-present
FamilyYu Sang-beom
Korean name
Hangul
유오성
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYu Oh-seong
McCune–ReischauerYu Osŏng

Yu Oh-seong (born September 11, 1966) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in Beat (1997), Attack the Gas Station (1999), Friend (2001) and Champion (2002).

Career

[edit]

Yu Oh-seong made his stage debut in 1992, and throughout the mid-1990s, he complemented a career in television with minor roles in film. With his success playing a young gangster in the hit movie Beat (1997), Yu's face became familiar to a new generation of moviegoers. The year 1999 was somewhat of a breakthrough for Yu, as he took the lead role in Jang Jin's acclaimed cult comedy, The Spy and also starred in Kim Sang-jin's hugely successful Attack the Gas Station.[1]

His career reached its peak in 2001. Appearing as Jang Dong-gun's co-star in Kwak Kyung-taek's smash hit Friend, which sold an unprecedented 8 million tickets, Yu won effusive critical praise for his hard-edged performance as a ruthless gangster and enjoyed a tremendous degree of exposure.[1][2]

This fame would carry over somewhat when he took the lead in director Kwak's fourth feature Champion, a 1980s-set biopic of boxer Kim Deuk-gu, who dominated the Korean boxing scene until his death after the World Boxing Association lightweight championship in 1982. However, even though Yu was praised for his body makeover and acting skills, the film failed to deliver on the high expectations that preceded it.[1] Later that year, a series of highly public disagreements with Kwak, believed to stem from money problems, made headlines and served to cool some of the public's interest in the actor.[3]

Yu's next two films, the melodrama Star with actress Park Jin-hee and the patriotic/historical drama Thomas An Jung-geun about the titular independence activist, bombed badly at the box office.[1]

He returned to television in 2004, headlining his first historical drama series (sageuk) Jang Gil-san. Set in the Joseon period during the reign of King Sukjong, Jang Gil-san was born of a female servant, raised by gypsies, then rises politically.[4]

For the contemporary drama Invisible Man in 2006, he played a man in his thirties battling early-onset Alzheimer's disease with the support of his loving family (his wife is played by Chae Shi-ra).[5] Yu said his character Choi Jang-soo was closest to his real-life personality.[6] This was followed by a leading role in adultery drama Dear Lover (2007) with Yoon Son-ha, a remake of 1995 Japanese drama Koibito Yo.[7]

In 2009, Yu and Song Seon-mi played a gangster and doctor who fall in love in the stage play Turn Around and Leave, which was previously dramatized onscreen in the 1998 film A Promise and the 2006 TV series Lovers.[8] Later that year, he played a supporting role in Potato Symphony, about a man who moves back to his hometown with his daughter, and faces unresolved conflicts with his old high school friends (the protagonist is played by Jeon Yong-taek, who also wrote, directed and produced the film). Jeon and Yu are close friends in real life, and the film is set in their hometown Yeongwol County. Despite winning the Grand Prix at the 4th Festival Franco-Coréen du Film, Potato Symphony was little seen domestically.[9]

After the underwhelming box office and TV ratings of past projects he'd headlined, Yu stuck to supporting roles. He starred opposite Kim Dong-wook in buddy comedy Happy Killers (2010), in which Kim played a slacker cop assigned to investigate a serial killer case, while Yu played an unemployed man with natural instincts as a detective who gets in the way by trying to catch the killer as well.[6] Yu also appeared in action series Swallow the Sun (2009) which was filmed in Las Vegas, South Africa and Jeju Island, two horse-based human comedy films -- Lump Sugar (2006) starring Im Soo-jung and Champ (2011) starring Cha Tae-hyun,[10] and the crime drama Don't Cry Mommy (2012).[11]

More recently, he played villains in the 2010 historical drama Kim Su-ro, The Iron King, and the 2012 fantasy Faith in which he played a fictionalized version of Empress Gi's older brother.[12]

In 2013, Yu reprised his most memorable role in the sequel Friend: The Great Legacy, in which he faces the grown-up son of the friend he'd given orders to be killed (Kim Woo-bin), interspersed with scenes of his own father's gangster past in Busan (Joo Jin-mo).[13]

Yu made a return to the sageuk genre with the 2014 drama series Gunman in Joseon, in which he plays the main antagonist. His performance as Choi Won-sin, a villainous and powerful merchant and the archenemy of Lee Joon-gi's character, was widely praised and earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2014 KBS Drama Awards.[14][15]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role
1991 Love, Love: Han Hee-jak's Love Stories Dal-shik
1993 First Love
1994 I Wish for What Is Forbidden to Me Hwang Nam-gi
1995 Dr. Bong On-dal
Terrorist Jeom-pyo
Man? Seong Chung-do
1996 Kill the Love Baek Joon
1997 Poison
Beat Tae-soo
1998 Saturday, 2:00 pm Dal-soo
Spring in My Hometown Sung-min's uncle
1999 The Spy Rhee Cheol-jin
Attack the Gas Station Mu Dae-po ("Bulldozer")
2001 Friend Lee Joon-seok
2002 Champion Kim Deuk-gu
2003 Star Yeong-woo
2004 Thomas An Jung-geun An Jung-geun
2006 Lump Sugar Yun-jo
2009 Potato Symphony Jin-han
2010 Happy Killers Kim Young-seok
2011 Champ Trainer Yoon
2012 Don't Cry Mommy Detective
2013 Friend: The Great Legacy Lee Joon-seok
2015 Shoot Me in the Heart Choi Ki-hoon
2018 The Great Battle Yeon Gaesomun
2021 Tomb of the River Gil-seok[16]

Television series

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1998 Aim for Tomorrow Kang Dae-ho
2000 Some Like It Hot Kang Man-ho
2004 Jang Gil-san Jang Gil-san
2006 Invisible Man Choi Jang-soo
2007 Dear Lover Go Dong-woo
2009 Swallow the Sun Jackson Lee
Invincible Lee Pyung Kang Policeman Cameo
2010 Kim Su-ro, The Iron King Shingwi Ghan / Tae-gang
2012 KBS Drama Special:
"Missing Case of National
Assembly Member Jung Chi-sung"		 Jung Chi-sung
Faith Ki-Chul
2013 KBS Drama Special:
"Mother's Island"		 Lee-Tan
KBS Drama Special:
"The Devil Rider"		 Moon-Bok
2014 Gunman in Joseon Choi Won-shin
2015 Spy Hwang Ki-chul
The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 Gil So-gae
2016 Uncontrollably Fond Choi Hyeon-joon
2018 Are You Human?[17] Seo Jong-gil
2019 My Country: The New Age Seo Geom Cameo
2021 The Veil Baek Mo-sa [18]
2023 Welcome to Samdal-ri Jo Sang-tae
TBA Sweet Home Tak In-hwan Season 2–3 [19][20]

Variety show

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2009 Billion Won Mystery with Yu Oh-seong Host
2021 Law of the Jungle – Pent Island: Island of Desire Cast Member [21][22]

Music video

[edit]
Year Song title Artist
2011 "Goodbye" Seo Yoon
2013 "Baby I'm Sorry" (2013)[23][24] MY NAME

Theater

[edit]
Year Title Role
1992 Blood
2005 Story of an Old Thief[25]
Tape Vince
2006 Oedipus
2009 Turn Around and Leave Gong Sang-du

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year presented, name of the award ceremony, award category, nominated work and the result of the nomination
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1994 32nd Grand Bell Awards Best New Actor I Wish for What Is Forbidden to Me Nominated
1997 35th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor Beat Nominated
1998 MBC Drama Awards Best New Actor Aim for Tomorrow Won
1999 Korean Most Popular Entertainment Awards Most Popular Actor Won
2001 46th Asia Pacific Film Festival Best Actor Friend Won
9th Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actor Won
38th Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Nominated
22nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actor Nominated
2002 38th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (Film) Nominated
Most Popular Actor (Film) Won
1st Korean Film Awards Best Actor Champion Nominated
2003 40th Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Nominated
2007 44th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor Lump Sugar Nominated
2009 SBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Special Swallow the Sun Nominated
2012 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Faith Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Best Actor in a One-act Drama Missing Case of National Assembly
Member Jung Chi-sung		 Nominated
2013 KBS Drama Awards Best Actor in a One-act Drama Mother's Island, The Devil Rider Won
2014 KBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actor Gunman in Joseon Nominated
2015 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in Mid-length Drama The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 Nominated
2018 KBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actor Are You Human? Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Yoo Oh-sung". Koreanfilm.org. Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  2. ^ Hwang, Hee-yeon (22 March 2001). "Buddies tells story of lost youth, friendship". The Dong-a Ilbo. Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  3. ^ Hong, Chan-shik (3 November 2002). "Friends". The Dong-a Ilbo. Archived from the original on 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  4. ^ Kim, Sun-woo (4 April 2004). "Yoo Oh-sung to Star in Drama Jang Gil-san". The Dong-a Ilbo. Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  5. ^ Chung, Ah-young (31 July 2006). "Traditional Dramas Beat Trendy Ones". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Archived from the original on 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  6. ^ a b "All That Star: Genuine Actor, Yu Oh-seong is back with the comedic flick Happy Killers, looking more cheerful and easygoing than before". Arirang News. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  7. ^ "Fresh Japanese Wave Threatens Korean Pop Culture". The Chosun Ilbo. 26 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  8. ^ "Events Calendar". The Korea Herald. 7 February 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  9. ^ "New Films". Korean Film Council. 1 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  10. ^ "Champ (2011)". The Chosun Ilbo. 16 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  11. ^ Park, Eun-jee (2 November 2012). "Three films zero in on the limitations of legal system". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  12. ^ "Lee Min-ho, Kim Hee-seon unveils teaser for new TV series". Asiae. July 10, 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  13. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (8 November 2013). "12 years later, an iconic Friend returns". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  14. ^ "'조선 총잡이' 유오성, 소름 끼치는 두 얼굴?…역대급 악역 변신 '눈길'" (in Korean). imaeil.com. July 24, 2014. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  15. ^ "'조선총잡이' 전혜빈, 유오성과 부녀 호흡 "선배님은 최고의 배우"". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). May 23, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  16. ^ Jeon Hyung-hwa (September 16, 2021). "유오성x장혁 액션 느와르 '강릉' 11월 개봉 확정 [공식]" [Yoo Oh-seong x Jang Hyuk action noir 'Gangneung' confirmed for November release [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Naver.
  17. ^ "[단독] 유오성, '너도 인간이니' 출연…서강준과 대립각". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). June 5, 2017. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  18. ^ Kim Ji-won (June 8, 2021). "유오성, '검은 태양' 출연 확정…3년 만의 드라마 복귀 [공식]". Naver (in Korean). TenAsia. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  19. ^ Hwang So-young (January 18, 2022). "[단독] 유오성, 넷플릭스 '스위트홈2' 합류…송강·이진욱과 호흡" [[Exclusive] Oh-seong Yoo joins Netflix's 'Sweet Home 2'... Breathing with Song Kang and Lee Jin-wook] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  20. ^ Kang Hyo-jin (June 15, 2022). "스위트홈' 시즌2·3 동시제작→송강부터 유오성까지 캐스팅 확정" [Sweet Home' season 2 and 3 simultaneous production → Casting confirmed from Song Kang to Yoo Oh-seong] (in Korean). spoTV News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022 – via Naver.
  21. ^ Kim Je-ni (May 18, 2021). "정글의 법칙', 국내 편 마지막 시즌 방송... 유오성→설인아 출격". Star Daily News (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  22. ^ Jin Joo-hee (May 21, 2021). "정글의 법칙' 유오성·설인아, 화려한 정글 재입성기[MK★TV컷]". MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  23. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (5 July 2013). "MYNAME Unveils its Powerful Yet Violent MV for Baby I'm Sorry". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  24. ^ "This Could Be a Movie: MYNAME Releases Blockbuster Baby I'm Sorry MV". Soompi. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
  25. ^ "Events Calendar". The Korea Herald. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2014-08-21. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
[edit]