Chang Ryul

Chang Ryul is a South Korean actor known for his versatile performances in television dramas and films, often portraying intense antagonists as well as more sympathetic or romantic leads. ^{[1] [2]} Born on February 14, 1989, in South Korea, he earned a bachelor's degree in Arts from the Korea National University of Arts, specializing in acting. ^[3] He has appeared in a wide range of projects, gaining recognition through supporting roles in high-profile series including My Name (2021), where he played the villainous Do Gang-jae, Stranger Season 2 (2020), Arthdal Chronicles (2019), and Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023), in which he portrayed the compassionate doctor Hwang Yeo-hwan. ^{[1] [2] [3]} His work in these and other productions such as Bargain (2022) and The Golden Spoon (2022) has highlighted his ability to bring depth to complex characters. ^{[1] [3]} More recently, Chang Ryul has taken on lead roles in dramas like Love Me (2025) and The Scandal of Chunhwa (2025), further expanding his presence in Korean entertainment. ^{[1] [3]} He has also appeared in films such as Master (2016) and Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead (2018), contributing to both television and cinematic projects. ^[1] His career reflects a steady progression in the industry, with frequent collaborations on Netflix and major Korean network productions. ^[2]

Early life and education

Birth and background

Chang Ryul was born on February 14, 1989, in Seoul, South Korea. ^[4] He holds South Korean nationality. ^[3] He has an older brother and an older sister. ^[5] Public information regarding his early background or family is limited. ^[1]

Education

Chang Ryul received his formal acting education at the Korea National University of Arts, where he majored in the Acting Department and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. ^{[3] [6]} Prior to university, he graduated from Kaywon High School of Arts. ^[5]

Career

Early career and supporting roles

Chang Ryul began his screen acting career in the mid-2010s after earning a bachelor's degree in Arts from the Korea National University of Arts. ^[3] His earliest credited film role came in 2016 with a bit part as a Won Network male employee in the action thriller Master. ^[1] He followed this with a supporting role as Chang Beom in the 2017 independent film Coffee Noir: Black Brown. ^[3] In 2018, Chang Ryul expanded into television with several guest appearances in popular dramas. ^[6] He played an assistant director in episodes 5–6 of the tvN series My Mister ^[3] and a detective in episodes 4–5 of Lawless Lawyer. ^[2] That same year, he took on a supporting role as Choi Jae-kyung in the film Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead. ^[1] By 2019, his roles grew more substantial and recurring in higher-profile productions. ^[3] He appeared as Asa Yon in the fantasy epic Arthdal Chronicles across its multiple parts ^[2] and portrayed city council member Lee Joo-ho in the 16-episode SBS series Secret Boutique. ^[1] Additional credits that year included a guest role as a man in Welcome to Waikiki Season 2 ^[3] and a minor position as an investigation team member in the film Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage. ^[2] This progression reflected his shift from brief bit parts and guest spots to more visible supporting characters in ensemble casts. ^[6]

Breakthrough and recognition

Chang Ryul achieved wider recognition in the early 2020s through a series of intense supporting and main roles that highlighted his ability to portray complex antagonists. ^[3] In 2020, he appeared as detective Yoo Jeong-o in all 16 episodes of Stranger season 2 and had a guest role as Park Tae-kyung in Train. ^[3] His breakthrough arrived with the role of Do Gang-jae in the Netflix thriller My Name (2021), where he played a vengeful former gang enforcer turned drug kingpin across the series' 8 episodes. ^[3] The performance was described as his breakout role and one that "stole the show," earning praise for his chilling portrayal of a terrifying villain that contrasted sharply with his gentle off-screen personality, as noted by co-star Han So-hee who expressed amazement at how convincingly he embodied such cruelty. ^{[7] [8]} This role brought him a nomination for Best New Actor at the 2022 Blue Dragon Series Awards. ^[9] He continued to build on this momentum with the main role of Ko Geuk-ryul in the intense thriller miniseries Bargain (2022), appearing in all 6 episodes. ^[3] That same year, he played Seo Jun-tae in the 16-episode fantasy drama The Golden Spoon. ^[3] Through these projects, Chang Ryul developed a reputation for excelling in intense and villainous characters while demonstrating range in more layered supporting parts. ^{[8] [7]}

Recent and upcoming work

In 2023, Chang Ryul portrayed psychiatrist Hwang Yeo-hwan in the Netflix series Daily Dose of Sunshine, a medical drama centered on mental health care in a hospital psychiatric department. ^{[1] [3]} He appeared as a supporting character and friend to the lead nurse, contributing to the show's exploration of empathy and professional challenges across its 12 episodes. ^[3] In 2025, Chang Ryul transitioned to leading roles in television, beginning with the historical romance miniseries The Scandal of Chunhwa on TVING, where he played Choi Hwan, a wealthy merchant and suitor to the princess amid themes of scandal, erotic art, and personal secrets. ^[10] The 10-episode series aired from February 6 to March 6, 2025. ^[10] Later that year, he starred as Ju Do-hyeon in the JTBC romance drama Love Me, premiering December 19, 2025, portraying a gentle music director whose innocent charm and sensitivity help the female lead confront loneliness and emotional barriers. ^[11] Chang Ryul prepared for the role by learning guitar and noted the character's instinctive ability to offer comfort, emphasizing the drama's theme that everyone deserves to love and be loved. ^[11] He also took main roles in films, including Love Letter to the Dog in 2024 and the upcoming Day and Night to Each Other in 2025. ^[3] Chang Ryul is set to reprise his role as Go Geuk-ryul in Bargain Season 2 on TVING, though the project remains TBA with no confirmed release date. ^[12]

Filmography

Television

Chang Ryul has built his television career primarily in South Korean dramas, transitioning from early guest and supporting appearances to more prominent roles in high-profile series. He gained wider attention for his supporting performance as Do Gang-jae in the 2021 Netflix action thriller My Name. ^[3] In 2022, he took on the main role of Ko Geuk-ryul in the TVING miniseries Bargain, appearing in all 6 episodes. ^{[3] [13]} The following year, he portrayed the supporting character Hwang Yeo-hwan, a psychiatric doctor, in the Netflix series Daily Dose of Sunshine, appearing in all 12 episodes. ^[3] His earlier television credits include supporting and recurring roles such as Asa Yon in Arthdal Chronicles (2019), Detective Yoo Jeong-oh in Stranger Season 2 (2020), and Seo Joon-tae in The Golden Spoon (2022), along with various guest appearances in series like Lawless Lawyer (2018) and Train (2020). ^{[3] [2]} Chang Ryul is scheduled to star in upcoming projects, including the main role of Ju Do-hyeon in the JTBC drama Love Me (2025) and the main role of Choi Hwan in The Scandal of Chunhwa (2025). ^{[3] [1]}

Film

Chang Ryul's film career has consisted primarily of supporting and bit roles in feature films during his early years, with more prominent opportunities emerging recently in short films and upcoming projects. Although his screen presence has been more prominent in television, his film appearances showcase a range of characters in thrillers, comedies, and dramas. He debuted on the big screen with a bit part as a One Network employee in the 2016 action thriller Master. ^[3] In 2018, he played Choi Jae-kyung in the period comedy Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead. ^[1] The following year, he appeared as a violent crimes investigation team member in the action crime film Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage. ^[1] In 2024, Chang Ryul took on a leading role as the ex-boyfriend in the short melodrama Love Letter to the Dog, a 13-minute film directed by Han Hye-in that premiered at the Seoul Yeongdeungpo International Short Film Festival. ^[14] He is slated to star in a main role in the upcoming feature Day and Night to Each Other. ^[15]

Awards and nominations

Chang Ryul has received the following nominations: No wins or other awards were identified in available sources.