In 1998, the year he turned 28, he joined the non-verbal show Nanta as an original member and performed for five years. In 2004 he entered film with a bit part as a robber in Someone Special, by director Jang Jin, who was a year ahead of him at Seoul Institute of the Arts. He married that year.
In 2005 he appeared in Murder, Take One, and his first child was born. In 2006 he appeared in Righteous Ties. In 2007 he led the play Clumsy People to sold-out houses for all 137 performances and took the lead in the cable drama Chosun Police.
In 2008 he appeared on terrestrial TV in SBS’s Painter of the Wind, and his second child was born. In 2009 he had substantial supporting roles in Secret and Possessed. In 2010 he took the lead in the low-budget film The Recipe.
The breakthrough yearIn summer 2011, the year he turned 41, War of the Arrows was released. He played Jyuushinta, head of the Qing army’s elite unit, and 7.32 million people saw it in a run of nearly two months. That November he won best supporting actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
In 2012 he drew 4.6 million admissions as Jang Sung-ki in All About My Wife, and won best supporting actor at the Grand Bell Awards for Heo Gyun in Masquerade and at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for All About My Wife. In 2013, Miracle in Cell No. 7 passed 10 million admissions, and he won the Baeksang Arts Awards grand prize in film and best actor at the Grand Bell Awards. In 2014 he played the Japanese commander Kurushima in The Admiral: Roaring Currents.
In 2015 he played Shin Jae-hyo in The Sound of a Flower. In 2018 he appeared in Psychokinesis. In January 2019, Extreme Job and Netflix’s Kingdom came out two days apart.
In 2021 he played the lead in Perhaps Love. In 2022 he appeared in the jukebox musical film Life Is Beautiful. In 2023 he played Jang Joo-won in Disney+’s Moving. In 2024 Netflix’s Chicken Nugget and Amazon Bullseye came out.
In 2025 he appeared in Low Life and JTBC’s The Dream Life of Mr. Kim. In 2026, the year he turned 56, he won the Baeksang Arts Awards grand prize in television for The Dream Life of Mr. Kim, and Portrait of a Family opened in September.
Ryu Seung-ryong (born Nov 29, 1970) debuted in 2004, the year he turned 34, with a bit part in the film Someone Special, and became known as Jyuushinta in War of the Arrows, which opened on Aug 10, 2011, the year he turned 41. In 2013, the year he turned 43, he became the lead of his first 10 million film, Miracle in Cell No. 7.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
After graduating from the theater department at Seoul Institute of the Arts he acted in plays in Daehangno, and from that year he performed for five years as an original member of Nanta.
Source 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · From character actor to box-office star · opens in a new tabIn a film by director Jang Jin, who was a year ahead of him at Seoul Institute of the Arts, he played a robber in a bit part.
Source 02 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · From character actor to box-office star · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tab The release date was not confirmed.He married a woman outside the entertainment industry.
Source 34 · MHN Sports (Korean) · Marriage and two sons · opens in a new tab Only the year of the marriage was confirmed.He appeared in another work by director Jang Jin.
Source 02 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · From character actor to box-office star · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabA son was born.
Source 34 · MHN Sports (Korean) · Marriage and two sons · opens in a new tab Only the year of the birth was confirmed.He had a substantial part in another work by director Jang Jin. Around this time he was called part of the “Jang Jin group.”
Source 02 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · From character actor to box-office star · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabHe played Jang Deok-bae, a clumsy thief, and the show sold out every seat for all 137 performances.
Source 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabThe series aired on MBC Dramanet and MBC Every1 and recorded a 4% rating. Segye Ilbo wrote that he made his face widely known to the public as the chief detective in this drama.
Source 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabSource 36 · OhmyNews (Korean) · Chosun Police · opens in a new tab The first airing date was not confirmed.A second son was born.
Source 34 · MHN Sports (Korean) · Marriage and two sons · opens in a new tab Only the year of the birth was confirmed.He played Kim Jo-nyeon, who tries to hide his low-born origins. Moon Geun-young played Shin Yun-bok and Park Shin-yang played Kim Hong-do.
Source 35 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Painter of the Wind premieres · opens in a new tabHe had substantial supporting roles that were close to leads.
Source 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabHe took the lead in the low-budget film The Recipe.
Source 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabSegye Ilbo wrote that from Battlefield Heroes he established himself as a leading-level actor in commercial films, though not as the sole lead.
Source 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · From character actor to box-office star · opens in a new tabHe played Jyuushinta, head of the Qing army’s elite unit, and the film drew 7.32 million admissions in total through Oct. 5. Segye Ilbo wrote that it fixed his name in the minds of seven million viewers.
He won for War of the Arrows at the ceremony held at the Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace.
Source 05 · Edaily (Korean) · 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards best supporting actor · opens in a new tabHe played Jang Sung-ki, a legendary Casanova. The film drew 4.6 million admissions.
Source 06 · Nocut News (Korean) · All About My Wife interview · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabHe won for Heo Gyun in Masquerade at the ceremony held at KBS Hall in Yeouido. The film drew 12 million admissions.
Source 07 · TV Report (Korean) · 49th Grand Bell Awards best supporting actor · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · How he became a box-office king in Chungmuro · opens in a new tabHe won for All About My Wife at the ceremony held at Sejong Center.
Source 08 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards best supporting actor · opens in a new tabHe was the sole lead as the intellectually disabled Yong-gu. On Feb. 23 it reached 10,000,911 admissions in total, becoming the eighth 10 million film in Korean film history.
Source 09 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Miracle in Cell No. 7 passes 10 million · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Edaily (Korean) · Miracle in Cell No. 7, the eighth 10 million film of all time · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · From character actor to box-office star · opens in a new tabHe won for Miracle in Cell No. 7 at the ceremony held at the Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace.
Source 11 · Herald Business (Korean) · 49th Baeksang Arts Awards grand prize in film · opens in a new tabSource 32 · Dispatch (Korean) · First to win both film and TV grand prizes at the Baeksang awards · opens in a new tabHe won for Miracle in Cell No. 7 at the ceremony held at KBS Hall in Yeouido. It came a year after his best supporting actor award.
Source 12 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · 50th Grand Bell Awards best actor shared · opens in a new tabHe played Kurushima, the Japanese commander who faces Yi Sun-sin, played by Choi Min-sik. It passed 17 million admissions on Sept. 5.
Source 13 · Hankyoreh (Korean) · Summer blockbuster lineup · opens in a new tabSource 14 · SBS Entertainment News (Korean) · The Admiral: Roaring Currents passes 17 million · opens in a new tabHe played Shin Jae-hyo, the teacher who trained the female pansori singer Jin Chae-seon.
Source 15 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · The Sound of a Flower opens Nov. 25 · opens in a new tabIn director Yeon Sang-ho’s film he played Suk-hun, a father who suddenly gains superpowers.
Source 16 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Psychokinesis release set for the 31st · opens in a new tabHe played Squad Chief Go, and his lines in the trailer drew attention before the release. On Oct. 4 that year he joined the cast at a Busan International Film Festival open talk about the film passing 16 million.
Source 18 · Sports Donga (Korean) · Extreme Job opens today · opens in a new tabSource 20 · My Daily (Korean) · Extreme Job open talk at Busan International Film Festival · opens in a new tabHe played Cho Hak-ju. The six-episode series was first released in 190 countries worldwide.
Source 17 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Kingdom first released Jan. 25, 2019 · opens in a new tabSource 19 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Kingdom interview with Ryu Seung-ryong · opens in a new tabIn the feature directing debut of the actor Jo Eun-ji he played the lead, the writer Kim Hyun. It ranked first at the box office on its opening weekend.
Source 21 · TV Daily (Korean) · Perhaps Love opens in November · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Newsis (Korean) · Perhaps Love first on opening weekend · opens in a new tab Only the month of the release was confirmed.In Korea’s first jukebox musical film, he played Jin-bong, husband of Se-yeon, who has been given a terminal diagnosis.
Source 23 · MBC Entertainment (Korean) · Life Is Beautiful release confirmed for Sept. 28 · opens in a new tabSource 24 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Life Is Beautiful interview · opens in a new tabThe series is based on a webtoon by Kang Full. He played Jang Joo-won, a secret agent of the National Intelligence Service who heals instantly from injuries.
Source 25 · Dailian (Korean) · Moving to be released Aug. 9 · opens in a new tabSource 26 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Moving press conference · opens in a new tabIt is a Netflix series released worldwide.
Source 27 · Star News (Korean) · Chicken Nugget to be released March 15 · opens in a new tabIn director Kim Chang-joo’s comedy he played Jin-bong, a former national archery team member.
Source 28 · Asia Economy (Korean) · Amazon Bullseye opens in October · opens in a new tab Only the month of the release was confirmed.He starred with Yang Se-jong and Im Soo-jung.
Source 29 · Sports Hankook (Korean) · Low Life to be released July 16 · opens in a new tabHe played Kim Nak-soo. It aired on Saturdays at 10:40 p.m.
Source 30 · Sports Seoul (Korean) · The Dream Life of Mr. Kim to premiere Oct. 25 · opens in a new tabHe won for The Dream Life of Mr. Kim at the ceremony held at COEX Hall D, and the grand prize in film went to Yoo Hae-jin the same day. Dispatch wrote that he was the first winner to take both the film and television grand prizes.
Source 31 · TenAsia (Korean) · 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards · opens in a new tabSource 32 · Dispatch (Korean) · First to win both film and TV grand prizes at the Baeksang awards · opens in a new tabIt opened in theaters nationwide.
Source 33 · TV Daily (Korean) · Portrait of a Family opens · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1998–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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.
Film & TV · South Korea
Nov 29, 1970 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1970: the year of the event minus 1970, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.22 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.