The year he turned 19, he won the encouragement prize at the first KBS college comedy contest and joined KBS as a comedian in its seventh open recruitment. Around 1994 he did his military service in the reserve force, in the same unit as the actor Lee Jung-jae.
In 1997, the year he turned 25, he appeared in a sketch on KBS’s Comedy Sesang Mansa. A year later he wore a grasshopper mask on the Saturday variety show Jayu Seoneon Oneureun Toyoil. The producer at the time said no one recognized him on the street, so he needed a character. In 1999, his storytelling in the Talk Box segment of the Seo Se-won Show drew attention.
The breakthrough yearIn 2000, the year he turned 28, he became a lead host for the first time, on MBC’s Star Survival Donggeodongnak. The actor Choi Jin-sil, whom he had never met, recommended him. He calls the years up to this point his nine years as an unknown.
He appeared on KBS’s word-chain game show Gongpoui Kungkungtta in 2002. In 2003, he started on SBS’s X-Man and joined KBS’s Happy Together. MBC’s Come to Play, which he hosted with Kim Won-hee, followed in 2004.
In 2005, the year he turned 33, Mumohan Dojeon (“Reckless Challenge”) began in the spring, and at year’s end he won his first entertainment Grand Prize, at KBS, 14 years after his debut. In 2006, Infinite Challenge became a standalone show, and he won a Grand Prize at MBC as well. He married in 2008, the year he turned 36, and that December won the Grand Prize at SBS, giving him the top prize at all three terrestrial broadcasters. His son was born in 2010, the same year SBS’s Running Man began.
In 2013, he won the Grand Prize in the TV category at the Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2015, he signed an exclusive contract with FNC Entertainment. Infinite Challenge ended in 2018, the year he turned 46, after 13 years. That year he also began You Quiz on the Block, and his daughter was born.
In 2019, he started Hangout with Yoo and released songs as the trot singer Yoo San-seul. In 2020, he performed with Lee Hyori and Rain as SSAK3. In 2021, the year he turned 49, he won his second Baeksang Grand Prize and moved to the agency Antenna. In 2022, he started the YouTube talk show Pinggyego.
In 2025, the year he turned 53, he won his 20th Grand Prize in January and his 21st in December. In 2026, Netflix released Jae Seok’s B&B Rules!, and he began a new season of KBS’s Happy Together.
Yoo Jae-suk (born Aug 14, 1972) debuted on May 5, 1991, the year he turned 19, at the first KBS college comedy contest, and became known when he became lead host of MBC’s Donggeodongnak in 2000, the year he turned 28. He won his first entertainment Grand Prize in 2005, the year he turned 33.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Entered as a team with Choi Seung-kyung and won the encouragement prize. Joined KBS as a comedian through its seventh open recruitment, along with Kim Yong-man, Park Soo-hong, Kim Gook-jin, Nam Hee-suk and Kim Su-yong.
Source 01 · YTN (Korean) · 30th anniversary of the KBS college comedy contest · opens in a new tabSource 02 · OhmyStar (Korean) · Yoo Jae-suk’s first stage · opens in a new tabServed as a short-term soldier in the reserve force, in the same unit as the actor Lee Jung-jae.
Source 03 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Days in the reserve force · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab The service is confirmed in a news article. The year of enlistment is from Wikipedia and not confirmed in news reports.Played the husband in the sketch, whose title means “My Husband Is a Grasshopper,” on the sketch comedy show Comedy Sesang Mansa.
Source 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab Based on Wikipedia’s account; not confirmed in news reports.Wore a grasshopper mask in a segment of the Saturday variety show Jayu Seoneon Oneureun Toyoil, and the grasshopper later became his nickname. The producer at the time said no one recognized him on the street and he needed a character.
Source 04 · OhmyStar (Korean) · The producer who put a grasshopper mask on him · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab The program began in October 1998 (Wikipedia). The first time he wore the mask is not confirmed.Drew attention for his storytelling in the Talk Box segment. The broadcast is often cited as what got him out of obscurity.
Source 05 · Newspim (Korean) · How talk shows have changed · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab The year of the appearance is from Wikipedia and not confirmed in news reports.Became lead host of a program for the first time, on Star Survival Donggeodongnak, a segment of MBC’s Saturday show Mokpyo Dalseong! Toyoil. He said the actor Choi Jin-sil, whom he had never met, recommended him to the production team. That year he won a special award in the host category at the MBC Entertainment Awards.
Appeared on the word-chain game show with Kang Ho-dong, Lee Hwi-jae and Kim Han-seok. He said he was on the show from January to October 2002.
Source 09 · Newsis (Korean) · Gongpoui Kungkungtta · opens in a new tabAppeared first as a team leader and later became the lead host.
Source 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab Date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Took over as host with Kim Je-dong, after Shin Dong-yup and Lee Hyori. The program ran until 2020.
Source 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab Date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Hosted with Kim Won-hee.
Source 11 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · End of Come to Play · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab The 2004 start is confirmed in a news article. May 8 is from Wikipedia.In the first episode he played tug of war against a bull. The program became Infinite Challenge the following year.
Source 12 · Media Today (Korean) · April 23, 2005 · opens in a new tabWon his first year-end entertainment Grand Prize for Happy Together Friends, 14 years after his debut.
Source 13 · News1 (Korean) · Twenty years since the first Grand Prize · opens in a new tabSource 14 · Edaily (Korean) · 2014 KBS Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tab The date of the ceremony is not confirmed.The segments Mumohan Dojeon and Murihan Dojeon (“Reckless Challenge” and “Unreasonable Challenge”) became a standalone program, Infinite Challenge.
Source 12 · Media Today (Korean) · April 23, 2005 · opens in a new tabWon his first Grand Prize at MBC. The following year he shared it with the members of Infinite Challenge.
Source 15 · Energy Times (Korean) · 2014 MBC Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tab The date of the ceremony is not confirmed.Won the Grand Prize together with the members of Infinite Challenge.
Source 15 · Energy Times (Korean) · 2014 MBC Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab The year of the award is confirmed in a news article. The shared award is from Wikipedia.Began as a segment of the SBS program Good Sunday.
Source 16 · Newsen (Korean) · Family Outing first broadcast · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tabMarried in a private ceremony at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. Byun Woong-jeon officiated and Lee Hwi-jae was the master of ceremonies.
Source 17 · Star News (Korean) · Wedding announcement · opens in a new tabSource 18 · Lady Kyunghyang (Korean) · The wedding · opens in a new tabWon the Grand Prize at SBS, after KBS (2005) and MBC (2006).
Source 19 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · 2008 SBS Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabHis second SBS Grand Prize in a row. He also won the Grand Prize at MBC that year.
Source 20 · SBS News (Korean) · 2009 SBS Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabSource 15 · Energy Times (Korean) · 2014 MBC Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabA son was born.
Source 21 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Birth of a son · opens in a new tabThe program marked its 15th anniversary in 2025.
Source 22 · Xportsnews (Korean) · 15th anniversary of Running Man · opens in a new tabReleased as the duo Sagging Snail with Lee Juck at the Infinite Challenge West Coast Highway Music Festival.
Source 10 · Korean Wikipedia · Yu Jae-seok · opens in a new tab Date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.The program ended after eight years.
Source 11 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · End of Come to Play · opens in a new tabReceived it at the ceremony held at the Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University.
Source 23 · Xportsnews (Korean) · 49th Baeksang Arts Awards · opens in a new tabHis first KBS Grand Prize since 2005, nine years earlier. Two days later he won the Grand Prize at the MBC Entertainment Awards as well.
Source 14 · Edaily (Korean) · 2014 KBS Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabSource 15 · Energy Times (Korean) · 2014 MBC Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabSigned an exclusive contract after working without an agency. The contract ran until July 2021.
Source 24 · eToday (Korean) · End of FNC exclusive contract · opens in a new tabReleased through SM STATION, with the proceeds donated. At the end of that year he won his 13th Grand Prize from the terrestrial broadcasters, at MBC.
Source 25 · Edaily (Korean) · Dancing King · opens in a new tabSource 46 · Xportsnews (Korean) · 2016 MBC Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabThe show had been off the air for 12 weeks because of the MBC general strike.
Source 26 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Infinite Challenge returns · opens in a new tabIt ended 13 years after the first broadcast of Mumohan Dojeon.
Source 27 · The People’s Sound (Korean) · End of Infinite Challenge · opens in a new tabBegan in a format of meeting ordinary people on the street, hosted with Jo Se-ho.
Source 28 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · You Quiz on the Block first broadcast · opens in a new tabA daughter was born.
Source 29 · YTN (Korean) · Birth of a second child · opens in a new tabAn MBC variety show that began one year and four months after Infinite Challenge ended.
Source 30 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Hangout with Yoo first broadcast · opens in a new tabReleased on Hangout with Yoo under the name of the trot singer Yoo San-seul.
Source 31 · Xportsnews (Korean) · Yoo San-seul songs released · opens in a new tabHis first SBS Grand Prize in four years.
Source 32 · Xportsnews (Korean) · 2019 SBS Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabThe program he joined in 2003 came to an end.
Source 33 · Xportsnews (Korean) · End of Happy Together 4 · opens in a new tabReleased as part of the mixed group SSAK3 with Lee Hyori and Rain. His stage name was Yu Du-rae-gon.
Source 34 · Star News (Korean) · SSAK3 song released · opens in a new tabHis 15th Grand Prize from the three terrestrial broadcasters.
Source 35 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · 2020 MBC Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabHis second Baeksang TV category Grand Prize. It came in the year of his 30th anniversary in the business.
Source 36 · eToday (Korean) · 57th Baeksang Arts Awards · opens in a new tabAnnounced one day before his contract with FNC Entertainment ended.
Source 37 · eToday (Korean) · Exclusive contract with Antenna · opens in a new tabSource 24 · eToday (Korean) · End of FNC exclusive contract · opens in a new tabStarted on the YouTube channel DdeunDdeun. The first guest was Jee Seok-jin.
Source 38 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · First episode of Pinggyego · opens in a new tabHis 19th Grand Prize, counting two Grand Prizes in the TV category of the Baeksang Arts Awards.
Source 39 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · 2022 SBS Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabHosts the program, Teumman Namyeon in Korean, with Yoo Yeon-seok.
Source 41 · Xportsnews (Korean) · Whenever Possible scheduled · opens in a new tabHis 20th Grand Prize, 20 years after his first.
Source 42 · News1 (Korean) · 2024 SBS Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabSource 13 · News1 (Korean) · Twenty years since the first Grand Prize · opens in a new tab The ceremony is named for 2024 but was held in January 2025. His age is calculated from the year it was held.His ninth Grand Prize at MBC.
Source 43 · Asia Economy (Korean) · 2025 MBC Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabAppeared with Lee Kwang-soo, Byeon Woo-seok and Ji Ye-eun.
Source 44 · Ajunews (Korean) · Netflix’s Jae Seok’s B&B Rules! · opens in a new tabHosts the new season, whose subtitle means “Glad I’m Not Alone,” with Jang Hang-jun and Yoon Jong-shin. It is the return of Happy Together after six years.
Source 45 · iMBC Entertainment (Korean) · New season of Happy Together · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1991–2026 · 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.
Comedy · South Korea
Aug 14, 1972 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1972: the year of the event minus 1972, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.21 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.