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Ryoo Seung-bum
★ Acting

Ryoo Seung-bum

Born 1980 · Seoul, South Korea · Active 2000–2025

Ryoo Seung-bum, a prominent figure in South Korean cinema, is known for his compelling performances in films that explore complex themes of morality and vengeance. In Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), he plays the role of Ryu, a desperate man driven to extreme measures in the pursuit of justice for his kidnapped sister. This film, directed by Park Chan-wook, is a cornerstone of the revenge thriller genre, showcasing Ryoo's ability to convey deep emotional turmoil. His work in this film contributes significantly to the ongoing conversation around the ethics of revenge in cinema.

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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

2002 ★ 7.5
as Person with Cerebral Palsy

Ryu is a deaf-mute man who works in a factory. His ailing sister is in desperate need of a kidney transplant, but Ryu's is not a match. After he loses his job, Ryu contacts a group of black market organ dealers to exchange one of his kidneys for one that his sister can use. However, the dealers disappear after taking Ryu's kidney and severance money. A legitimate kidney donor is found, but after having been conned by the organ dealers, Ryu is unable to afford the operation. To raise money, Yeong-mi, Ryu's radical anarchist girlfriend, suggests kidnapping the daughter of the executive that fired Ryu. They observe the executive with company president Park Dong-jin arriving at the latter's home one day, where one of Dong-jin's employees, Peng, attempts to commit harakiri in front of them. Ryu and Yeong-mi change their plan, deciding to kidnap Dong-jin's young daughter Yu-sun. Yu-sun stays with Ryu's sister, who believes that Ryu is babysitting her. Ryu and Yeong-mi send a request for ransom to Dong-jin, and he obliges. Upon returning home with the ransom money, Ryu discovers that his sister learned that Yu-sun was kidnapped and not wanting to be a burden any longer, has committed suicide. Ryu takes Yu-sun and his sister's body to a riverbed they frequented as children to bury her. Distracted by the burial and unable to hear, Ryu is unaware when Yu-sun slips into the river, and she drowns. After Yu-sun's body is discovered by authorities, a deeply mournful Dong-jin hires an investigator to find her kidnappers. Dong-jin finds Ryu's sister's corpse by the riverbed, interacts with a mentally disabled man who witnessed Ryu burying his sister, and begins to piece together the identities of Ryu and Yeong-mi. Ryu, armed with a baseball bat, locates the organ traffickers and murders them, receiving a stab wound in the process. Meanwhile, Dong-jin finds Yeong-mi and tortures her with electricity, also killing a deliveryman who comes to her apartment. She apologizes for Yu-sun's death but warns Dong-jin that her terrorist friends will kill him if she dies. Unfazed, Dong-jin electrocutes her to death. Ryu returns to Yeong-mi's apartment and sees the police removing her corpse. Dong-jin knocks Ryu unconscious with a booby trap. He takes Ryu to the riverbed where his daughter died and drags him into the water. Dong-jin slashes Ryu's Achilles tendon and waits for him to drown. After Dong-jin dismembers Ryu's corpse, Yeong-mi's anarchist associates arrive. They stab Dong-jin, pin a note to his chest with a knife, and leave him to die.

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Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB

Filmography

44 credits
2020s 4 credits
2025
Good News as Park Sang-hyeon
Movie ★ 6.9
2024
Family Matters as Baek Cheol-hee
TV ★ 8.3
2023
Moving as Frank
TV ★ 8.5
2021
Movie ★ 6.8
2010s 16 credits
2019
Movie ★ 6.3
2018
Movie ★ 5.5
2018
TV ★ 8.3
2016
The Net as Nam Chul-woo
Movie ★ 7.4
2015
Movie ★ 5.2
2013
The Berlin File as Dong Myung-soo
Movie ★ 6.7
2013
New World as Police Constable Kang Chul-hwa
Movie ★ 7.4
2012
Over My Dead Body as Ahn Jin-oh
Movie ★ 6.5
2012
Doomsday Book as Yoon Seok-woo
Movie ★ 6.2
2012
Movie ★ 6.6
2012
A Brave New World as Yoon Seok-woo
Movie
2011
The Suicide Forecast as Bae Byeong-woo
Movie ★ 6.7
2010
The Unjust as Joo Yang
Movie ★ 6.6
2010
The Servant as Lee Mong-ryong
Movie ★ 5.7
2010
No Mercy as Lee Sung-ho
Movie ★ 7.4
2010
Foxy Festival as Sang-doo
Movie ★ 5.8
2000s 23 credits
2009
Movie
2008
Radio Dayz as Lloyd Park
Movie ★ 6.4
2008
Dachimawa Lee as Border Lynx
Movie ★ 5.9
2008
TV ★ 4.0
2007
Movie ★ 6.0
2006
Aachi & Ssipak as Aachi (voice)
Movie ★ 6.2
2006
Bloody Tie as Oh Sang-do
Movie ★ 6.2
2006
Family Ties as Joon-ho
Movie ★ 6.3
2005
Crying Fist as Yoo Sang-hwan
Movie ★ 7.3
2005
Movie ★ 6.2
2004
Arahan as Sang-hwan
Movie ★ 6.6
2004
Shining Days as Kim Min-ho
TV ★ 4.5
2002
Conduct Zero as Park Jung-pil
Movie ★ 6.7
2002
No Blood No Tears as Chae Min-su
Movie ★ 6.1
2002
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance as Person with Cerebral Palsy
Movie ★ 7.5
2002
Movie ★ 7.0
2002
고독 as Min Young-Woo
TV
2001
Movie ★ 6.7
2001
Movie ★ 6.8
2001
Splendid Days as Jang Cheol-jin
TV
2000
Die Bad as Sang-whan
Movie ★ 6.1
2000
Dachimawa Lee as Washington
Movie ★ 8.5
s 1 credit
The Dealer as Hwang Chi-su
TV