Yoo Ji-tae

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Yoo Ji-tae
File:190502 유지태.jpg
Born (1976-04-13) April 13, 1976 (age 47)
South Korea
Education Chung-Ang University Graduate School of Advanced Imaging Science, Multimedia & Film
Catholic University of Korea Graduate School of Social Work
Occupation
  • Actor
  • film director
  • screenwriter
Years active 1998–present
Agent
Spouse(s) Kim Hyo-jin (m. 2011)
Children 2
Website http://www.yoomovie.co.kr/
Korean name
Hangul
Revised Romanization Yu Ji-tae
McCune–Reischauer Yu Jit‘ae

Yoo Ji-tae (born April 13, 1976) is a South Korean actor, film director and screenwriter. After a stint as a fashion model, Yoo launched his acting career in 1998 then rose to fame through the films Attack the Gas Station (1999) and Ditto (2000). In the succeeding years, he gained acting recognition by working with acclaimed directors such as Hur Jin-ho in One Fine Spring Day (2001), Park Chan-wook in Oldboy (2003), and Hong Sang-soo in Woman is the Future of Man (2004). Yoo began directing short films in 2003, which were well received in the film festival circuit. His feature directorial debut Mai Ratima was released in 2012.

Career

Yoo Ji-tae began his career as a fashion model, and he walked the runway for the Seoul Fashion Artist Association collections in 1995. Then in 2000, with a series of hit films and widely seen TV appearances, Yoo was more constantly in the limelight than any other actor, and in a very short time, rose to become a major actor in Korean film.[1]

His first brush with fame came in the role of "Paint" in his second feature, the 1999 hit Attack the Gas Station. His sensitive and artistic image in this film and the warm character he displayed as a guest on TV talk shows helped to propel him to stardom. With the surprise success of his third film Ditto in spring 2000, Yoo's star status was secured. He also appeared in the successful firefighting film Libera Me. In this early part of his career, he was known particularly for the wild colors that he would dye his hair (white in Attack the Gas Station, blue in Ditto, blonde in Libera Me).[1]

In 2001, however, he dyed his hair black and took on a more subdued, serious role in Hur Jin-ho's One Fine Spring Day. Although it wasn't a big hit with audiences, his performance in this film opened many critics' eyes and drew widespread praise, while officially launching the second stage of his career.[1]

For the next two years, Yoo didn't appear in any new films, because Natural City took an unusually long time to progress from shooting to a commercial release. He then appeared in three works in 2003: Natural City (which bombed, despite its big budget and special effects), the horror/suspense film Into the Mirror, and Park Chan-wook's acclaimed Oldboy. Yoo's memorable role in the latter film as a wealthy eccentric fixated on revenge would make his face well known to international audiences.[1]

Yoo has stated that he believes Oldboy to be an original Korean story.

As Yoo's career established itself he began to appear in many high-profile projects, such as in well-known arthouse director Hong Sang-soo's Woman is the Future of Man (which, like Oldboy, screened at Cannes in 2004);[2] Yim Pil-sung's big-budget Antarctic Journal, shot in New Zealand;[3] and the action/noir Running Wild with Kwon Sang-woo.[1][4] He also established his own production company Yoo Movie in 2005.

As soon as he finished shooting the 2007 period film Hwang Jin-yi about a Joseon-era gisaeng,[5] Yoo chose to act in the play Come to the Ghost House. A graduate of Dankook University with a major in Theater and Film, he also established a theater to put on one play a year. Almost all the money for the theatrical productions comes from his own wallet. "I work on stage because it's there that I find the challenge and the stimulus an actor needs through continuous creative work," he said.[6]

Yoo returned to the screen with 2008 romantic drama film, Hello, Schoolgirl, based on the manhwa Soonjeong Manhwa.[7]

In 2009, he lent his voice as narrator for the track "I’m Sorry" (미안해) in singer Jinju's album Pearlfect.[8]

Yoo then returned to the melodrama genre, starring in his first TV drama Star's Lover opposite Choi Ji-woo,[9][10] as well as a couple of romance-themed films, notably Secret Love which reunited him with Oldboy costar Yoon Jin-seo.[11] Afterwards he played another villain in the real-time suspense thriller Midnight FM.[12][13]

After getting his master's degree in 2008 from Chung-Ang University's Graduate School of Advanced Imaging Science, Multimedia & Film, in recent years Yoo has focused more on his passion for directing. To him, "Making films is like taking drugs. Actors feel a pleasure when they deliver well but directors feel they have poured out everything they have in the sole fact that they have completed a movie. It's impossible to compare the pleasure you get from it."[14] He has helmed a number of award-winning short films that have screened in festivals around the world.[15] In addition to directing his fourth short film Invitation, Yoo wrote the script and plays the main character alongside leading lady Uhm Ji-won.[16]

In 2012, Yoo directed his first feature film Mai Ratima, based on a synopsis he wrote 15 years ago in college.[17] It portrays the unlikely love affair of a Korean man in his 30s living on the bottom rung of society and a mail-order bride from Thailand in her 20s.[18][19][20] Shooting began in Gyeonggi Province on January 26, 2012,[21][22] and it premiered at the Busan International Film Festival on October 5, 2012.[23] Yoo said he plans to continue producing or directing movies based on strong social issues as he is interested in the plight of the less privileged.[24][25] Mai Ratima won the Jury Prize at the 2013 Deauville Asian Film Festival.[26][27][28]

He then co-starred with Kōichi Satō and Vincent Gallo in Junji Sakamoto's 2013 suspense thriller Human Trust.[29]

For the biopic The Tenor - Lirico Spinto, Yoo practiced singing for four hours every day for more than a year, and took private English and Japanese lessons to portray Bae Jae-chul, an internationally acclaimed tenor who loses his voice to thyroid cancer.[30][31] Afterwards, he starred in another TV series Healer, written by Song Ji-na.[32]

In 2016, Yoo starred in the bowling-themed film, Split.[33] He returned to television in the South Korean remake of The Good Wife.[34]

In 2017, Yoo starred in The Swindlers along with Hyun Bin. The movie is about a prosecutor who plans to catch a con man who has swindled a large sum of money.[35][36] The same year, he was cast in the Danish film The House That Jack Built by Lars Von Trier.[37] He also had a starring role in the crime drama, Mad Dog.[38]

In January 2018, Yoo signed with new management agency BH Entertainment.[39]

In 2019, Yoo is set to star in the espionage melodrama Different Dreams.[40]

In 2020, Yoo starred in the melodrama When My Love Blooms.[41]

Personal life

Early life

Yoo was raised by a single parent. "My mother, who worked as a nurse for a long time, wants to run a hospital for the elderly someday. I want to financially help her realize her dream, and then establish an orphanage," said Yoo.[42] He is friends with comedian Kim Joon-ho, having lived together as roommates during college and briefly acting together onstage.

Currently a student at the Catholic University of Korea Graduate School of Social Work, Yoo is very active in philanthropic efforts. He joins charity photo shoots and auctions,[43][44] has helped set up a kindergarten in Nepal,[45] has donated to Haiti earthquake relief,[46] has donated funds for building schools in Myanmar, has joined a charity photo shoot to benefit victims of facial burns,[44] has volunteered in a campaign to deliver free lunches to underprivileged people,[47] has promoted the adoption of abandoned dogs, and has campaigned against domestic violence towards migrant wives.[48] His advocacies are World Vision, Compassion Korea, DAIL Community, Social Welfare Society Inc., YWCA of Korea,[49] Nanum House of Sharing and Korean Association of Cinematheques.[50]

Relationships and married

Yoo first met actress Kim Hyo-jin in 2003 when they were models for a clothing brand, and the two became friends after continuously meeting in photo shoots. Their romantic relationship began in 2006, and they were among the very few Korean star couples who openly admitted their dating status.[51] They announced their engagement in August 2011,[52][53][54][55][56] and subsequently released pre-wedding photos.[57][58] Their minimalist invitation was made from environmentally friendly paper and had the number 1,825 written on it, the exact number of days the two had spent together as a couple.[59][60] They were married at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on December 2, 2011.[61][62][63] The wedding date marked the couple's fifth anniversary together and was booked by Yoo one year in advance despite landing on a Friday – an unusual day for a wedding.[60] The ceremony was officiated by the president of World Vision Korea; Yoo and Kim are the organization's honorary ambassadors,[64] and they donated a portion of their monetary wedding gifts to World Vision to help build a primary and middle school in Myanmar.[65][66][67] Their first child, a son, was born on July 5, 2014.[68] They welcomed their second son on April 15, 2019.[69]

Philanthropy

On March 8, 2022, Yoo donated 10 million won to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the massive wildfire that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk and has spread to Samcheok, Gangwon.[70]

On May 16, 2022, Yoo donated 10 million won to the 9th Wildflower Film Awards.[71]

Filmography

As actor

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Bye June Do-gi
1999 Attack the Gas Station Paint
2000 01412 Sect of the Magic Sword Ma-ko
Ditto Ji In
Nightmare Hyun-jun
Libera Me Kim Hyun-tae
2001 MOB 2025 K-one Short film
One Fine Spring Day Sang-woo
2003 Wonderful Days Voice
Into the Mirror Woo Young-min
Natural City R
Oldboy Lee Woo-jin
2004 Woman is the Future of Man Lee Moon-ho
2005 Antarctic Journal Kim Min-jae
Lady Vengeance Won-mo (adult) Cameo
2006 Running Wild Oh Jin-woo
Three Fellas Lee Chi-soo Cameo
Traces of Love Hyun-woo
2007 Hwang Jin-yi No-mi
2008 Hello, Schoolgirl Kim Yeon-woo
2009 Invitation Short film
2010 Secret Love Jin-woo / Jin-ho
Midnight FM Han Dong-su
Star of Hope: Ikhwezi Le Themba Documentary
2013 Human Trust Osamu Endo
2014 The Tenor – Lirico Spinto Bae Jae-chul
2016 Split Chul-jong
The Great Actor Himself Cameo
Old Days Himself Documentary
2017 The Swindlers Park Hee-soo
2018 The House That Jack Built Cameo
2019 Svaha: The Sixth Finger Kim Dong-soo
Money Beon Ho-pyo [72]

Television series

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Love Story Kang Yoon-seok Segment "Lost Baggage" episode 5-6
2008–2009 Star's Lover Kim Chul-soo
2014–2015 Healer Kim Moon-ho
2016 The Good Wife Lee Tae-joon
2017 Mad Dog Choi Kang-woo
Jugglers Choi Kang-woo episode 9
2019 Different Dreams Kim Won-bong
2020 When My Love Blooms Han Jae-hyun

Web series

Year Title Role Ref.
2022 Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area Professor / Park Seon-ho [73][74]
2023 Vigilante Jo Heon [75]
Villains Codename J [76]

As filmmaker

Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Bike Boy Director Short film
2005 How Does the Blind Dream? Director Short film
2008 Out of My Intention Director, screenwriter Short film
2009 Invitation Director Short film
2013 Mai Ratima Director, screenwriter
2017 The Man Only I Can See Director
TBA An Kai writer, Producer webtoon[77]

Theater

  • Ha-il (2004)
  • Six Out of Six (2005)[78]
  • Come to the Ghost House... (2007)

Other activities

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1993 현대무용시상식 Grand Prize N/A Won
1997 Model Center New Model Awards Grand Prize N/A Won
1998 Photographers' Association Best Model Award N/A Won
1999 20th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actor Attack the Gas Station Nominated
2000 21st Blue Dragon Film Awards Popular Star Award Ditto Won
Best Actor Nominated
8th Chunsa Film Art Awards Best New Actor Won
1st Busan Film Critics Awards Best New Actor Won
2001 38th Grand Bell Awards Best New Actor Nominated
22nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actor One Fine Spring Day Nominated
2003 20th Busan Asian Short Film Festival Audience Award The Bike Boy Won
2006 4th Korea Fashion World Awards Best Dressed (movie actor category) N/A Won
23rd Busan Asian Short Film Festival Fuji Film Award How Does the Blind Dream? Won
5th Korean Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Three Fellas Nominated
2008 5th Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia Special Contribution Award[89][90] Out of My Intention Won
25th Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards Best Dressed (movie actor category) N/A Won
2009 6th Seoul Women's Prize[91] N/A N/A Recipient
1st Korea Humanitarian Awards Special Prize N/A Recipient
2011 Asia Model Awards Asia Special Award[92] N/A Won
1st Ministry of Health and Welfare Minister's Award[93] N/A Recipient
2013 Deauville Asian Film Festival Jury Prize[94] Mai Ratima Won
2014 19th Chunsa Film Awards Best New Director Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Healer Nominated
2017 11th Cable TV Broadcasting Awards Best Actor[95] The Good Wife Won
KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Mad Dog Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Nominated
2019 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Miniseries Different Dreams Nominated
2021 Korea Good Donor Award[96] Received the Minister of Public Administration and Security Award N/A Recipient

References

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  12. Han, Sun-hee (10 August 2010). "MIDNIGHT FM, A Speedy Real Time Thriller" Archived March 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Korean Cinema Today.
  13. "Soo Ae: ‘I Felt Relieved After Filming Scenes Heaping Insults’". KBS Global. 20 September 2010.
  14. Lee, Ji-hye (7 April 2010). "Yoo Ji-tae's Movie Picks" Archived February 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. 10Asia.
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  90. "Yoo Ji-tae Awarded at Japan's 'Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia'". KBS Global. 23 June 2008.
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External links