A MODERN
BIOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
THE COLLECTION / Film & TVARCHIVE № 381
1980 —   ACTOR

RYOOSEUNG-BUM

Aug 9, 1980South Korea

What happened at what age?
Where were they at your age?

The year he turned 20, he debuted in Die Bad, an omnibus film directed by his brother Ryoo Seung-wan. In 2001, he won best new actor at the Grand Bell Awards and appeared in the film Waikiki Brothers and SBS’s Wonderful Days.

The breakthrough yearIn December 2002, the year he turned 22, he played his first lead role in the film Conduct Zero. Newsen describes it as the film in which the public began to clearly recognize Ryoo Seung-bum.

In 2004, he starred in Arahan, directed by his brother Ryoo Seung-wan. In 2005, he appeared with Choi Min-sik in Crying Fist. In 2006, he reunited with Hwang Jung-min in Bloody Tie.

In 2007, he won best actor in the film category at the Baeksang Arts Awards for Bloody Tie. That same year he traveled to Europe and then lived abroad, away from Korea, for about ten years. The film The Unjust was released in 2010, and the next year he won best actor at the Buil Film Awards for it. In 2012, he lived in France and appeared in the film Perfect Number.

The Berlin File, released in 2013, drew a cumulative 7.1 million viewers. In 2016, he appeared in Kim Ki-duk’s The Net. In 2019, he returned to the screen in Tazza: One Eyed Jack, and his debut film was re-released in a 20th anniversary remaster.

In June 2020, his daughter was born. In March 2023, he signed an exclusive contract with Y1 Entertainment. In May he appeared on You Quiz on the Block, his first variety show in 15 years, and he played Frank in Disney+’s Moving.

In 2024, he appeared in Coupang Play’s Family Matters. The year he turned 45, he played the KCIA director in the Netflix film Good News. In May 2026, his exclusive contract with Y1 Entertainment ended.

Ryoo Seung-bum (born Aug 9, 1980) debuted on Jul 15, 2000, the year he turned 20, in the film Die Bad, directed by his brother Ryoo Seung-wan, and became known when he played his first lead role in Conduct Zero on Dec 27, 2002, the year he turned 22. He won best new actor at the Grand Bell Awards in 2001, the year he turned 21.

Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.

Full timeline · 27 records2000 — 2026   ＋
AGE / YEAR

  1. 20 · 2000
  2. 21 · 2001
  3. 21 · 2001
  4. 21 · 2001
  5. 24 · 2004
  6. 24 · 2004
  7. 25 · 2005
  8. 26 · 2006
  9. 27 · 2007
  10. 27 · 2007
  11. 30 · 2010
  12. 31 · 2011
  13. 32 · 2012
  14. 32 · 2012
  15. 33 · 2013
  16. 36 · 2016
  17. 37 · 2017
  18. 39 · 2019
  19. 39 · 2019
  20. 40 · 2020
  21. 43 · 2023
  22. 43 · 2023
  23. 43 · 2023
  24. 44 · 2024
  25. 45 · 2025
  26. 46 · 2026

END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2000–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.

02 / QUICK ANSWERS

Q & AFrequently asked

How old was Ryoo Seung-bum when he debuted?
In 2000, the year he turned 20. Die Bad, a film directed by his brother Ryoo Seung-wan, was released on Jul 15, 2000.
How old was Ryoo Seung-bum when he became famous?
In 2002, the year he turned 22, he played his first lead role in the film Conduct Zero. Newsen describes it as the film in which the public began to clearly recognize Ryoo Seung-bum. OhmyNews says he began to draw attention in 2001 with SBS’s Wonderful Days.
How old was Ryoo Seung-bum when he won best new actor at the Grand Bell Awards?
In 2001, the year he turned 21. He won on Apr 25, 2001 at the 38th Grand Bell Awards for Die Bad.
When did Ryoo Seung-bum live abroad?
In 2007, the year he turned 27, he traveled to Europe, and the articles say he was away from Korea for about ten years afterward. He lived in France in 2012 and in Spain in 2017.
How old is Ryoo Seung-bum?
Born in 1980, he turns 46 in 2026 (46 as of Oct 3, 2026).
04 / ABOUT THE ARCHIVE

A LIFE,
IN CHAPTERS.

What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.

COLLECTION381Ryoo Seung-bum / RYOO SEUNG-BUM

Film & TV · South Korea
Aug 9, 1980 —

Sources and method36 SOURCES   ＋

Ages are counted from the birth year 1980: the year of the event minus 1980, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.

  1. OhmyNews (Korean) · Conduct Zero ↗Aug. 18, 2021: debuted in 2000 in an omnibus film made by his brother; began to draw attention in 2001 with SBS’s Wonderful Days; first lead role in Conduct Zero, 1.64 million viewers nationwide; The Berlin File drew 7.1 million in 2013
  2. The Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Director Ryoo Seung-wan interview ↗July 6, 2000: Die Bad to open on the 15th. Ryoo Seung-bum’s name does not appear in the text; used only to check the release date
  3. Sports Chosun (Korean) · Die Bad re-release ↗Sept. 9, 2019: Ryoo Seung-bum won the new actor award at the 38th Grand Bell Awards; Ryoo Seung-wan directed and starred
  4. The Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · 38th Grand Bell Awards ↗Apr. 26, 2001: ceremony held at 5 p.m. on the 25th at the Sejong Center Grand Theater; Ryoo Seung-bum won best new actor
  5. Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · Grand Bell winners ↗Apr. 25, 2001: best new actor Ryoo Seung-bum (Die Bad); ceremony on the evening of the 25th
  6. Money Today (Korean) · Youth film festival ambassadors ↗Oct. 27, 2004: named ambassador of the 1st Korea International Youth Film Festival with Im Eun-kyung; says he took his first steps as a top star by winning best new actor at the 2001 Grand Bell Awards
  7. MyDaily (Korean) · Waikiki Brothers alumni ↗Nov. 2, 2005: Park Hae-il, Hwang Jung-min and Ryoo Seung-bum all came out of Waikiki Brothers, released in 2001
  8. Golf Times (Korean) · Waikiki Brothers ↗Dec. 28, 2019: released in October 2001. The article does not give the day
  9. TopStarNews (Korean) · Wonderful Days ↗Aug. 19, 2019: aired Nov. 3, 2001 to Apr. 21, 2002; 50 episodes
  10. Kookmin Ilbo (Korean) · Broadcasts of the first week of November ↗Nov. 7, 2001: Wonderful Days first episode at 15.2%; Gong Hyo-jin and Ryoo Seung-bum as a pair
  11. TopStarNews (Korean) · Conduct Zero ↗Dec. 7, 2018: released Dec. 27, 2002; directed by Cho Geun-shik
  12. Newsen (Korean) · Gong Hyo-jin and Ryoo Seung-bum break up ↗Aug. 15, 2012: born Aug. 9, 1980; says the public began to clearly recognize Ryoo Seung-bum with Conduct Zero
  13. Newsculture (Korean) · Conduct Zero ↗Jan. 18, 2020: says it drew enough attention to be credited with making him who he is today
  14. Herald Business (Korean) · Arahan ↗May 3, 2004: released on the 30th of last month; directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, starring Ryoo Seung-bum
  15. Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · Arahan ↗July 16, 2004: released in April; audience of 2.05 million
  16. Star News (Korean) · Crying Fist, first week ↗Apr. 11, 2005: released Apr. 1; starring Choi Min-sik and Ryoo Seung-bum; directed by Ryoo Seung-wan
  17. Korea Lecturer News (Korean) · Bloody Tie ↗Aug. 31, 2024: released Apr. 27, 2006; starring Ryoo Seung-bum and Hwang Jung-min; directed by Choi Ho
  18. OhmyNews (Korean) · Hwang Jung-min and Ryoo Seung-bum ↗Nov. 14, 2023: reunited in Bloody Tie after Waikiki Brothers in 2001; the two were born in 1970 and 1980
  19. Sports Chosun (Korean) · Good News interview ↗Oct. 22, 2025: says he traveled in Europe in 2007 and moved to France in 2012 and Spain in 2017
  20. Sports Q (Korean) · You Quiz on the Block ↗May 18, 2023: aired on the 17th; first variety appearance in 15 years; says he was away from Korea for ten years after traveling in Europe in 2007
  21. Korea Lecturer News (Korean) · The Unjust ↗Released Oct. 28, 2010; directed by Ryoo Seung-wan; starring Hwang Jung-min, Ryoo Seung-bum and Yoo Hae-jin
  22. Newsen (Korean) · 20th Buil Film Awards ↗Oct. 7, 2011: won best actor for The Unjust at the ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center
  23. Korea Lecturer News (Korean) · Perfect Number ↗Released Oct. 18, 2012; directed by Bang Eun-jin; starring Ryoo Seung-bum, Lee Yo-won and Jo Jin-woong
  24. TV Daily (Korean) · The Berlin File, opening day ↗Jan. 31, 2013: opened on the 30th, 270,000 viewers on the first day; directed by Ryoo Seung-wan. The cast is not in the text
  25. Sports Chosun (Korean) · The Berlin File ↗Aug. 16, 2022: with Ha Jung-woo, Han Suk-kyu, Ryoo Seung-bum and Jun Ji-hyun; 7.1 million viewers
  26. Herald Muse (Korean) · Joins Management Soop ↗Dec. 28, 2016: plays North Korean fisherman Nam Chul-woo in Kim Ki-duk’s The Net, released last October
  27. Sports Seoul (Korean) · Tazza: One Eyed Jack ↗Sept. 3, 2019: opens Sept. 11; Ryoo Seung-bum plays Aekku
  28. Seoul Economic Daily (Korean) · Die Bad re-release ↗Sept. 19, 2019: re-released Oct. 10 in a 20th anniversary digital remaster; says he began acting at his brother’s urging
  29. Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Ryoo Seung-bum welcomes a daughter ↗June 22, 2020: daughter born to his Slovak girlfriend, ten years his junior, after three years together; wedding planned after the birth
  30. OSEN (Korean) · Ryoo Seung-bum’s agency statement ↗June 22, 2020: the agency said a daughter was born last weekend
  31. Financial News (Korean) · Moving released ↗Aug. 9, 2023: released worldwide at 4 p.m. on Disney+; Ryoo Seung-bum in the cast
  32. TenAsia (Korean) · Moving, Ryoo Seung-bum interview ↗Aug. 29, 2023: plays Frank
  33. Newsis (Korean) · Family Matters ↗Dec. 30, 2024: Coupang Play’s Family Matters, released Nov. 29; Bae Doona, Ryoo Seung-bum and Baek Yoon-sik in the cast
  34. Chosun Ilbo (Korean) · Netflix Good News ↗Oct. 20, 2025: released worldwide on Netflix on the 17th; Ryoo Seung-bum plays KCIA director Park Sang-hyun
  35. Xports News (Korean) · Y1 Entertainment contract ends ↗May 22, 2026: Y1 Entertainment announced the end of his exclusive contract
  36. Edaily (Korean) · Y1 Entertainment contract ends ↗May 22, 2026: says he signed an exclusive contract with Y1 Entertainment in 2023

Fact-checked: 2026.10.03 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.