Yoon Seok-hyun (Korean: 윤석현; born September 4, 1983) is a South Korean actor. Yoon started acting on stage with musicals and plays, then ventured into small screen in 2021. He is best known for his role in television drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) and Big Mouth (2022).

Yoon Seok-hyun was born on September 4, 1983, in Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea.^[2][3] He attended Wonkwang High School, where he was a member of the baseball club. At the same time, an acting academy opened in the city, and Yoon enrolled in the academy to learn acting and pursue his dream of becoming a singer. Following his graduation from high school, Yoon enrolled in the department of acting arts at Digital Seoul University of Culture and Arts. After graduation, he went to the department of music at Kyungmin University in Gyeonggi Province, where he earned a bachelor's degree in music.^[4]

In 2004, while attending Kyungmin University, Yoon made his debut as rapper Mingyu in the premiere of the musical Sonagi, also known as Rain Shower. Although it was a small role, his performance left a strong impression. The musical, which is based on the novel of the same name by Hwang Soon-won and directed by Yoo Hee-seong, tells the story of a vague memory of first love. Yoon also landed small roles in the MBC musical I Forgot His Name.^[5][6] In 2005, he was cast in the musical Love Quilt.^[5][6]

Two years later, in 2007, Yoon joined the children's play The Dwarf Who Loved Snow White. He played dual roles as both the prince and the dwarf Flower Dew. Since its premiere in May 2001 at the Seoul Children's and Youth Performing Arts Festival, the play has been well-received by audiences and critics, and has sold out all seats every year. As a repertoire of the U Theater Company, it was directed by Park Seung-geol, who is also the co-author of the novel The Dwarf who Loved Snow White.^[7]

In 2008, Yoon was cast in an ensemble role in the musical Sound Thief. He worked consistently as a musical actor for four years, with other significant credits including supporting roles in the musicals Hello Francesca (2008), The Brothers Were Brave (2009), Singles (2009), Oh! While You're Asleep (2010), Bachelor's Vegetable Shop 2.0 (2010), Monte Cristo (2011), and Special Letter (2011).^[8]

In 2012, Yoon finally landed his first leading role after a fierce audition for the musical Proposal. Along with fellow actor Jung Uk-jin, Yoon won the role of Min-ho, a non-regular sports center instructor, beating out 200 other contestants for the part.^[9][10] In the same year, he also won an audition to play the lead role of Kim Jong-wook in the sixth season of the open-run musical Finding Mr. Destiny.^[11][12]

After six years, Yoon returned to the theater for his second play, Puzzle (2013), which is a Korean adaptation of the play Point of Death by British writer Michael Cooney. Yoon played the supporting role of Travis in alternating performances with two fellow actors, Won Jong-hwan and Park Ki-duk. The play was performed from September 7 to November 17, 2013, at the Daehak-ro Happy Theater.^[13]

In 2015, Yoon debuted in television with minor roles in JTBC drama Last.^[4] In 2017, he got his first role in thriller film Missing 2 as Koo Sang-woo.^[14]

In 2018, Yoon auditioned for Musical Dwarf directed by Kim Dong-yeon. He got role as Dwarf Charlie.^[15]

A few years later, in 2021, Yoon landed his first supporting role through an audition for the tvN drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. He played the role of Choi Geum-cheol, the owner of a tool shop in Gongjin, who is also Du-sik's best friend and Bo-ra's father.^[16][17] After the drama, Yoon signed an exclusive contract with D-Plan Entertainment, signaling the start of his active career on the small screen.^[18]

Yoon and announcer Jung In-young, who have been in a relationship for a year, announced on January 17, 2023, that they will be tying the knot in Seoul on July 8.^[19]