The movie *When The Phone Rings* (Vietnamese title: *Khi Điện Thoại Đổ Chuông*) is taking the industry by storm thanks to the sweet “chemistry” and explosive visuals of the lead couple, Baek Sa Eon (played by Yoo Yeon Seok) and Hong Hee Joo (played by Chae Soo Bin). With his youthful and handsome looks, it’s easy to forget that Yoo Yeon Seok is actually 40 years old in real life.
The trailer for *When The Phone Rings* has created quite a buzz.
Yoo Yeon Seok’s success in the film is partly attributed to his resemblance to the character Baek Sa Eon, both in terms of family background and career. This has earned him titles like the “Perfect Man” and the “Dream Man of Girls.”
Yoo Yeon Seok as Baek Sa Eon in *When The Phone Rings*.
Even before *When The Phone Rings*, Yoo Yeon Seok was already well-known for his roles in popular dramas such as *Reply 1994, Warm And Cozy, Mr. Sunshine*, and *Hospital Playlist*.
Born in 1984, Yoo Yeon Seok’s real name is Ahn Yeon Seok. He comes from an academic family: his father is a professor of engineering at Kyungsang National University, his mother is an artist, and his older brother is a math teacher.
Supported by his family in pursuing his passion for acting, Yoo Yeon Seok enrolled in the Department of Film Arts at Sejong University. He shared, *”Perhaps because I was the youngest, and smaller than my older brother, I was allowed to do what I wanted. That doesn’t mean I didn’t study. When I was in Jinju, I was in the honor class, so I often studied extra after school.”*
Yoo Yeon Seok is indeed a “real-life CEO.”
Yoo Yeon Seok made his acting debut in 2003 with a role in the film *Oldboy*. However, he took a break from acting to complete his studies at Sejong University’s Department of Film Arts and to fulfill his military service.
In 2008, he returned to the small screen and adopted the stage name Yoo Yeon Seok.
With his family’s support and his own capabilities, Yoo Yeon Seok has built an impressive career and amassed a significant fortune.
He is estimated to have a net worth of around 250 billion VND.
In 2021, Korean media reported that the actor had a net worth of about $10 million (approximately 250 billion VND). In 2024, Han Cinema revealed that the 1984-born actor had purchased a house in Itaewon, one of the most bustling areas of Seoul. The property is said to be worth about $3.3 million (around 83 billion VND).
It’s no wonder that Yoo Yeon Seok is considered a “real-life CEO,” and interestingly, he often portrays similar roles on screen.
He often plays the role of a CEO in his dramas.
**Involved in Some Unnecessary Scandals**
Despite his brilliant career and impressive background, Yoo Yeon Seok has also been embroiled in some unnecessary scandals. In 2023, he was accused of making disrespectful remarks to a security guard at his residence.
The guard felt humiliated and decided to quit his job. Yoo Yeon Seok’s management company denied the accusations, stating that they were baseless. They also announced that they would take strong measures against those who spread such claims.
Yoo Yeon Seok was accused of making disrespectful remarks to a security guard.
The person who spread this information later apologized, saying, *”I wrote this out of jealousy. I didn’t know it would become so big. I apologize to Yoo Yeon Seok. I’ve never met him in person, but I think he’s an actor with a good personality and a lot of consideration.”* Dispatch also stepped in and concluded that Yoo Yeon Seok was falsely accused.
However, prior to this incident, the actor had made controversial remarks about women’s clothing choices. Specifically, during the promotion of the film *Mood of the Day* in 2016, Yoo Yeon Seok shared his thoughts on what women should wear on dates. He suggested that women should wear see-through clothes to make their dates feel that they care about them.
The actor went on to say that if a woman dressed too conservatively in a turtleneck and long pants, he would think that she didn’t care about him.
When his co-star, Moon Chae Won, mentioned that she usually wears turtlenecks and long pants on dates, Yoo Yeon Seok replied, *”That’s why you don’t have a boyfriend.”* This comment was deemed rude and sparked criticism for being disrespectful to women.
Aside from these controversies, Yoo Yeon Seok also gained public attention for his past relationships. According to Kbizoom, when he enlisted in the military, he joined as a driver. However, because his girlfriend at the time lived in Seongnam, she advised him to join the Air Force (which has a three-month longer service) in that area so she could visit him frequently.
Following her advice, he joined the Air Force but received a breakup letter from her just three months into his service, which left him shocked and devastated.
In 2016, he was rumored to be dating actress Kim Ji Won. In 2015, Korean media reported that Yoo Yeon Seok and Kim Ji Won started dating after working together in the film *Horror Stories*. Several reporters claimed that the couple had introduced each other to their families.
The magazine *Woman Sense* even quoted Yoo Yeon Seok’s mother as saying to an acquaintance, *”My son’s girlfriend is Kim Ji Won.”* However, their agencies quickly denied these reports.
Yoo Yeon Seok and Kim Ji Won were rumored to be dating.
In 2016, Yoo Yeon Seok and Kim Ji Won were spotted together by *Sports Chosun* at a lamb skewer restaurant in Cheongdam, Gangnam. The media speculated that it was a date.
However, to this day, there has been no concrete evidence to confirm the relationship between Yoo Yeon Seok and Kim Ji Won, nor is there any information about whether they are still together or have parted ways.
