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In her middle school years, Ryu Hye-Young was known as a model student, consistently ranking near the top of her class. Yet she couldn't imagine spending what she considered the happiest time of her life solely buried in books. When people around her advised, "Just endure three more years, then you'll have all the freedom you want in college," she thought otherwise. "Every day matters. How could I waste three whole years?" With that conviction, she chose to pursue acting at the Theater and Film Department of Kyewon High School of Arts.
During her time there, she auditioned for the short film 'High School Girls' (2008) at the suggestion of a senior. It was her first time in front of the camera, but her assured performance hardly felt like that of a beginner. The film won Best Short in Competition at the 10th Seoul International Women's Film Festival, and for Ryu, it was a defining moment - the spark that confirmed her path as an actress.
With her fresh look, distinctive aura, and an undefinable charm that resisted easy labels, Ryu quickly emerged as a striking presence in short and independent films. By 2013, she made her feature-length debut in the indie film INGtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls (2013) , establishing herself as a rising figure in the indie scene.
Her mainstream breakthrough came in 2015 with drama Reply 1988 (2015) , where she played the sharp-tongued yet compassionate eldest daughter, Sung Bo Ra. Ryu's layered performance - tough on the outside, tender within - resonated deeply with audiences. The role earned her a nomination for Best New Actress (TV) at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards in 2016, marking her as one of the most notable new talents of her generation.
After a three-year hiatus, she returned in 2018 as the lead in Dear My Room (2018). The once a week broadcast schedule gave her the rare chance to carefully build her character, and Ryu later reflected that the project brought her both "a sense of responsibility and a source of comfort." The series became not only her comeback work but also a reminder of why she chose acting in the first place. In 2021, she portrayed law school student Kang Sol-A in Law School (2021), embodying the frustrations and resilience of contemporary youth with a grounded performance that struck a chord across generations.
On the big screen, Ryu has navigated a range of genres: My Dictator (2014), Fatal Intuition (2015), Love, Lies (2016), and The Mayor (2017) all showcased her versatility and adaptability. Moving seamlessly between independent projects and commercial films, she has steadily expanded her repertoire and range.
Offscreen, Ryu is as understated as her acting. Even her periods away from work, she explains, were deliberate - a choice to pause rather than to rush. She focuses on the process rather than the outcome, refusing to let impatience dictate her path. That steady pace, she believes, is her greatest strength - an authenticity unshaken by exaggeration or pretense.
In June 2025, Ryu began a new chapter by signing with VAST Entertainment. Her steps may be calm and measured, but they are no less resolute. With every role, her sincerity deepens, leaving audiences eager to discover what stories she will bring to life next.
