Ryeo Un

Who Is Ryeo Un?

Ryeo Un (려운) is a South Korean actor who is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about names in Korean television. Born Go Yoon-hwan (고윤환) on August 26, 1998, in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, he is represented by Lucky Company (럭키컴퍼니).

He debuted in 2017. Since then, he has built a diverse and impressive portfolio across romance, thriller, fantasy, and crime dramas.

He is best known for his roles in 18 Again (2020), The World of My 17 (2020), Adult Trainee (2021), Twinkling Watermelon (2023), and Weak Hero Class 2 (2025).

Early Life: A Boy From Jeonju With a Soldier’s Dream

Growing Up in Jeonju

Go Yoon-hwan, professionally known by the stage name Ryeo Un, was born on August 26, 1998, in Wansan District, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea.

Raised by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Go, alongside an older sister, he grew up in a supportive family environment.

From Soldier to Actor: A Life-Changing Decision

Ryeo Un did not always dream of acting. In fact, his first dream was military service.

Originally aspiring to become a soldier, Ryeo Un shifted his career goal to acting after being inspired by a friend who enrolled in acting classes during his first year of high school. He decided to pursue acting and focused on preparing for university entrance exams to major in the field.

That single decision changed everything. He relocated to Seoul alone, entered an acting academy, and prepared to compete for one of Korea’s most selective performing arts programs.

School Life in Jeonju and Seoul

His education began at Jeonju Yongheung Elementary School and Jeonju Haesung Middle School. He then attended Jeonil High School in Jeonju before moving to Seoul.

After dreaming of becoming an actor in his first year of high school, he devoted himself to preparing for college entrance exams to major in acting. After entering college, he moved to Seoul and started living on his own, and the Lucky Company management team took note of Ryeo Un’s SNS and cast him, leading to a contract.

Education at Seokyeong University

He graduated from the Department of Performing Arts at Seokyeong University, majoring in acting. Seokyeong University is located in Seoul and is well respected for its performing arts programs.

His stage name also carries a special meaning. His real name is Go Yun-hwan. He said the company suggested he change his name, and his mother received some names from a naming agency. After discussion, he decided to work as Ryeoun — from Areumdaul Ryeo (麗, meaning beautiful) and Unchiun (韻, meaning rhyme or rhythm).

Career Journey: Nine Years of Steady Growth

Debut Year: 2017

Ryeoun made his acting debut in 2017 with appearances in MBC’s You’re Too Much and in SBS’s Temperature of Love.

In March 2017, the romance drama You Are Too Much aired, where he played the role of music show MC Lee Kyung-soo. In September, he made his official debut by appearing in the workplace romance drama Temperature of Love, playing the role of the youngest cook.

Building Momentum: 2018–2019

In 2018, he starred in the web dramas Doo Teob’s Pretty Easy School Life and Instant Romance. In 2019, he portrayed Kwon Nara’s younger brother in the KBS2 medical series Doctor Prisoner.

Gaining Recognition: 2020–2021

2020 was a turning point. Ryeo Un appeared in several productions at once.

In April 2020, he starred in the web series Girl’s World. In September, he gained recognition for his role as Hong Si-woo in the fantasy drama 18 Again.

18 Again was a major production. It starred top actors and attracted a wide audience. His performance there introduced him to a much larger fan base.

Moreover, he was nominated for Best New Actor at the 2020 KBS Drama Awards for Homemade Love Story.

In 2021, he starred in the romance drama Adult Trainee. His reputation as a dependable, emotionally nuanced actor continued to grow.

Breakthrough: The 2022 SBS Best New Actor Award

He won the Best New Actor award at the SBS 2022 Drama Awards — a milestone that confirmed his arrival as one of the most promising young actors in the Korean entertainment industry.

This recognition came through his work in Through the Darkness (2022), a dark and atmospheric crime thriller. It proved he could handle heavy, serious material with skill and conviction.

The Star-Making Year: 2023

2023 was the year Ryeo Un became a leading man.

In 2023, he had his first and second television lead roles in The Secret Romantic Guesthouse and Twinkling Watermelon.

First, he starred in The Secret Romantic Guesthouse as the mysterious scholar Kang San. The role earned him the Excellence Award at the 2023 SBS Drama Awards. Additionally, he was nominated for Best Couple Award alongside co-star Shin Ye-eun.

Then came Twinkling Watermelon — the drama that truly skyrocketed his career. Twinkling Watermelon is a 2023 South Korean television series directed by Son Jong-hyun, starring Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, and Shin Eun-soo. It aired on tvN from September 25 to November 14, 2023, every Monday and Tuesday for 16 episodes.

Before he was an actor, Ryeoun was like what he acts in the Watermelon show: busking with his guitar in Jeonju, dreaming of his music career. Undoubtedly, Twinkling Watermelon was the K-drama that skyrocketed his career.

Playing Ha Eun-gyeol — a time-traveling musician — drew directly on his real love of music. It was his most personal performance yet.

Stepping Into Drama: 2024–2025

In 2024, he starred in Namib for 12 episodes as Yu Jin-woo. The role earned him a nomination for Best New Actor at the 2025 Korea Drama Awards, alongside his work in History of Scruffiness and Weak Hero Class 2.

In 2025, he took on two significant roles. He played Noh Jun-seok in History of Scruffiness (also released as A History of Losers) on Wavve. Then, he joined the Netflix series Weak Hero Class 2 as Park Hu-min.

Ryeoun made his acting debut in 2017 and got his start in romance and youth web series. He’s best known for his main roles in the 2023 fantasy drama Twinkling Watermelon and the 2024 melodrama Namib. His other credits include Doctor Prisoner, 365: Repeat the Year, 18 Again, and The Secret Romantic Guesthouse.

Additionally, he appeared in Cringy Romance (2025) as No Jun-seok, further expanding his range on streaming platforms.

A Bold New Era: 2026

In 2026, Ryeo Un made the boldest career move yet. He took on a villain role for the first time.

Bloody Flower is a mystery thriller that follows serial killer Lee Woo-gyeom (Ryeoun), who possesses the ability to cure all incurable diseases, and the people entangled with him, whose beliefs about law, justice, and ethics are shaken by his existence.

In newly released character stills, Ryeoun — dressed in a prison uniform — shows a calm, unwavering gaze that highlights Lee Woo-gyeom’s cold, hard-edged side. Bloody Flower aired on Disney+ from February 4 to February 25, 2026, releasing two episodes each week.

Later in 2026, he joined the film OK! Madam: Bon Voyage as Im Ji-hoon, confirmed to premiere on August 12, 2026, alongside Uhm Jung-hwa and Choi Sooyoung.

Personal Life: Music, Cats, and a Private Heart

Hobbies and Personality

Ryeo Un’s hobbies include working out, playing the guitar, reading scripts, watching movies, playing with his cats, and sleeping. His love of guitar is not just a hobby — it is part of who he is. Playing a guitarist in Twinkling Watermelon came naturally because he had been strumming his guitar since his days busking in Jeonju.

His favorite color is black. His MBTI type is ISTP — the “Virtuoso” personality, known for being calm, practical, and deeply observant. These traits match both his real-life reserved nature and his tendency to inhabit characters with quiet intensity.

His role models are Kim Nam-gil and Lee Byung-hun — two of the most respected actors in Korean cinema, both known for their fearless approach to complex, dark characters.

Family

Ryeo Un has a close-knit family. He has his parents and an older sister. He occasionally shares family moments online, giving fans warm glimpses into his personal world.

Relationship Status

Ryeo Un keeps his romantic life completely private. No confirmed information about a relationship or partner has been made public. He remains focused on his career and craft.

Full Filmography

Television Drama Series

Year	Title	Role	Network / Platform
2017	You Are Too Much	Lee Kyung-soo	MBC
2017	Temperature of Love	Youngest Cook	SBS
2018	Doo Teob’s Pretty Easy School Life	Kim Hak-jun	Studio Lululala
2018	Instant Romance	Jang Su-ho	WHYNOT
2019	In-Seoul	Yoon Seong-hyun	Web
2019	Doctor Prisoner	Han Bit	KBS2
2019–2020	365: Repeat the Year	—	MBC
2020	Girl’s World	—	Web
2020	The World of My 17	—	—
2020–2021	18 Again	Hong Si-woo	JTBC
2020–2021	Homemade Love Story	Lee Ra-hoon	KBS2
2021	Adult Trainee	Kim Nam-ho	—
2022	Through the Darkness	—	SBS
2023	The Secret Romantic Guesthouse	Kang San	SBS
2023	Twinkling Watermelon	Ha Eun-gyeol	tvN
2023–2024	Death’s Game	Youngest PD (cameo)	Coupang Play
2023	Borrowed Body	Yoon Ho-young	—
2024–2025	Namib	Yu Jin-woo	ENA / Genie TV
2025	History of Scruffiness (A History of Losers)	Noh Jun-seok	Wavve / Watcha
2025	Cringy Romance	No Jun-seok	—
2025	Weak Hero Class 2	Park Hu-min	Netflix
2026	Bloody Flower	Lee Woo-gyeom	Disney+

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2026	OK! Madam: Bon Voyage	Im Ji-hoon	Premiered August 12, 2026

Awards and Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2020	KBS Drama Awards	Best New Actor	Homemade Love Story	Nominated
2022	SBS Drama Awards	Best New Actor	Through the Darkness	Won
2023	SBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries	The Secret Romantic Guesthouse	Won
2023	SBS Drama Awards	Best Couple Award	The Secret Romantic Guesthouse (with Shin Ye-eun)	Nominated
2025	Korea Drama Awards	Best New Actor	Namib / History of Scruffiness / Weak Hero Class 2	Nominated