Yoo Jae-myung

Yoo Jae-myung is a South Korean actor known for heavy, believable supporting roles and unforgettable villains. He worked in film and theatre for years before television made him a star in his forties. Global fans know him as chairman Jang Dae-hee in Itaewon Class (2020) and from Stranger (2017) and Reply 1988 (2015).

Yoo Jae-myung is 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) tall.

Early life

Yoo Jae-myung was born on June 3, 1973, in Busan, South Korea. He studied at Pusan National University and stayed in his home city for years, acting on stage and in small film parts. He made his film debut in The Last Witness (2001) and slowly built one of the strongest character careers in Korean cinema.

Career and breakthrough

His breakthrough came with Reply 1988 (2015), where he played Ryu Jae-myung, a kind school principal and father. In Stranger (2017), he played Lee Chang-jun, a brilliant and dangerous chief secretary whose story drives the whole drama. He won the Best Supporting Actor prize at the APAN Star Awards for Life (2018), confirming his place at the top level.

Popular roles

In Itaewon Class (2020), Yoo Jae-myung plays Jang Dae-hee, the cold chairman of the Jangga food company and one of Korean drama's most hated and respected villains. His quiet voice and proud eyes made every scene tense. In Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017), he played Do Chil-goo, showing he could join a light comedy just as naturally.

Recent work and why fans love him

He won the Best Supporting Actor prize at the 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards for the film Land of Happiness. Fans love Yoo Jae-myung because he never overacts. His characters feel like real powerful men, with pride, fear and regret all visible in one look. Every drama he joins gains weight and truth from his presence alone.