Grace Libero

10 Things to Know About Hwang In-youp, the Star of Dream to You

Article (news)

Lance Joseph Martinez

<p style="text-align:left">A recently concluded Korean drama series has been filling our screens with plenty of laughter, romance, and <em>kilig</em>. South Korean romantic comedy<strong><em> Dream to You</em></strong>, which streamed on <strong>Viu</strong>, brought together a charming story and a star-studded cast led by <strong>Hwang In-youp</strong> and <strong>Hyeri</strong>.</p><p>The series follows Woo Soo-bin, who returns to Korea in search of himself, and Joo Yi-jae, a once-fearless and ambitious woman who has grown more cautious after facing life’s challenges.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504210201[image] - 1904863.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Hwang In-youp and Hyeri for &#x27;Dream To You&#x27; | Photo from @hi_high_hiy<strong></strong></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>Hwang In-youp takes on the role of Woo Soo-bin, a film director who returns to Korea after making a major breakthrough at international film festivals. The role also marks the actor’s return to leading a drama series since<strong><em> Family by Choice</em></strong> in 2024—a comeback that fans have undoubtedly been looking forward to.</p><p>Since captivating audiences with his breakthrough role in <strong><em>True Beauty</em></strong>, Hwang In-youp has continued to charm viewers with his undeniable screen presence. As fans get to know more about the actor behind Woo Soo-bin, here are 10 things to know about Hwang In-youp, the lead star of Viu’s <strong><em>Dream to You</em></strong><em></em><em>.</em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong></p><div><strong></strong><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504329239[image] - 8247226.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @hi_high_hiy</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>He is 35 years old.<br/></strong></div><p>Hwang In-youp, who also goes by the English name <strong>Ryan Leon</strong>,<strong> </strong>was born on January 19, 1991, and raised in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.</p><p>Beyond his acting career, the star also gives fans a glimpse into his life off-camera through his active Instagram account, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hi_high_hiy?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsi=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw=="><strong>@hi_high_hiy.</strong></a></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>He has a younger brother.<br/></strong></div><p>Growing up in Uijeongbu, Hwang In-youp is the eldest son in his family, with a younger brother who is also making his mark in the entertainment industry.</p><p>Three years younger than the actor, his brother is a South Korean producer and singer-songwriter who goes by the name <strong>Inof</strong>. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504683399[image] - 5235554.jpg" style="width:700px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504421318[image] - 1828268.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photos from @knstudio_official</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>He spent part of his childhood in Davao.<br/></strong></div><p>Although details about this chapter of his life remain limited, it was revealed during the height of <strong><em>True Beauty</em></strong><em></em><em>’s </em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong>popularity in 2020 and 2021 that Hwang In-youp spent part of his childhood in the Philippines.</p><p>Going by his English name, Ryan Leon, the actor attended <strong>Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School</strong> in Davao City. He also made a memorable mark during his school years, having been crowned <strong>Mr. Intrams in 2008</strong>.<strong></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>He is a Fashion Design graduate.<br/></strong></div><p>After completing high school in Davao, Hwang In-youp chose to remain in the Philippines for college, earning his bachelor’s degree in<strong> Fine Arts</strong>, major in <strong>Fashion Design</strong>,<strong></strong> from the <strong>Philippine Women’s College of Davao</strong>.<strong></strong></p><p>In a 2022 interview, the actor also opened up about his plans to return to Davao, which he considers a second home. While acknowledging his busy schedule, Hwang In-youp shared his hopes of making a low-key trip back to the city.</p><p>“I really, really want to go to Davao, but the schedule can be a little tight. However, I plan that within the year, I will make a secret trip to Davao,” he shared.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504490397[image] - 3300789.jpg" style="width:700px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504506699[image] - 5895005.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photos from @hi_high_hiy</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>He began his entertainment career as a model in 2017.<br/></strong></div><p>After completing his studies in the Philippines and earning his degree in Fashion Design, Hwang In-youp eventually returned to South Korea to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.</p><p>He officially entered showbiz in 2017 as a runway model, marking the beginning of his journey before making the transition to acting. At the time, he was reportedly signed under<strong> YG KPlus</strong>, a modeling agency affiliated with<strong> YG Entertainment.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>He made his acting debut in 2018.<br/></strong></div><p>A year after making his modeling debut, Hwang In-youp took his first steps into acting through the 2018 <strong>Naver</strong> <strong>TV </strong>web series <strong><em>Why</em></strong>. The experience soon led him to pursue acting more seriously, eventually signing with South Korean entertainment agency <strong>KeyEast</strong>, an affiliate of<strong> SM Entertainment.</strong></p><p>In 2019, he continued building his acting résumé with a role as Seo Kyo-won in the web series <strong><em>Freshman</em></strong>. That same year, he made his television debut with a supporting role in <strong>KBS2</strong>’s historical drama <strong><em>The Tale of Nokdu.</em></strong></p><div><strong></strong><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504739238[image] - 9228112.jpg" style="width:700px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504779437[image] - 1072803.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Hwang In-youp as Han Seo-jun for &#x27;True Beauty&#x27; | Photos from @hi_high_hiy</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>His career breakthrough came with <em>True Beauty.</em><br/></strong></div><p>After gaining recognition for his supporting role in the 2020 drama <strong><em>18 Again,</em></strong> Hwang In-youp landed the role that would catapult him to widespread stardom.</p><p>He starred in the hit webtoon adaptation <strong><em>True Beauty </em></strong>alongside <strong>Moon Ga-young</strong>,<strong> Cha Eun-woo</strong>,<strong> </strong>and <strong>Park Yoo-na</strong>.<strong></strong> Hwang In-youp portrayed Han Seo-jun, a popular and handsome student at Saebom High School who initially appears tough and intimidating but is actually kind-hearted and affectionate, especially toward his mother and younger sister.</p><p>Fueled by the popularity of its source webtoon and its star-studded cast, <strong></strong><em>True </em><strong></strong><strong></strong><em>Beauty </em><strong></strong>became one of the most talked-about Korean dramas of 2020 and 2021, further cementing Hwang In-youp’s rising status as a breakout star.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>He is trained in martial arts.<br/></strong></div><p>According to reports, including <strong></strong><em>W Korea,</em> Hwang In-youp has always maintained an active and athletic lifestyle, with a particular background in martial arts.</p><p>The actor has trained in several disciplines, including <strong>Taekwondo</strong>, where he holds a third-degree black belt, as well as <strong>Hapkido </strong>and <strong>Kendo</strong>, also known as <strong>Kumdo </strong>in South Korea.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHa0nvNp-cC/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=485&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1199159.699999988%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>He is ambidextrous.<br/></strong></div><p>In an interview with<strong> </strong><em>W Korea</em>, Hwang In-youp revealed an interesting fact about himself: he is <strong></strong>ambidextrous<strong> </strong>and can comfortably use both hands for different activities.</p><p>The actor shared that he was naturally left-handed as a child, but his parents encouraged him to use his right hand for writing and kicking a ball. As a result, he now uses his left hand for activities like eating and throwing, while writing and kicking with his right. He can even use either hand to cut with scissors.</p><p>“This is something only people close to me know!” Hwang In-youp said, adding that he enjoys questions like these that reveal little-known details about himself.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>He got a motorcycle license for his role in <em>True Beauty</em>.<br/></strong></div><p>In the same interview, Hwang In-youp revealed the extra lengths he went to in order to portray Han Seo-jun convincingly in <em>True Beauty</em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong>. Since the character frequently rides a motorcycle, the actor even obtained a motorcycle license specifically for the drama.</p><p>“I got a motorcycle license for this drama. Since I had never ridden a motorcycle before, I even received private coaching from a company representative who is a bike enthusiast. They told me that because I am tall, I should ride with my posture low and close to the bike. Even when taking off the helmet, you have to shake your head and toss it out in all directions. That way, your styled hair can naturally get messed up (laughs),” he explained.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504810438[image] - 1584915.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @hi_high_hiy</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>And for a bonus one, most importantly, Filipino fans should know that Hwang In-youp is coming back to Manila.<br/></strong></div><p>This October, Hwang In-youp is set to return to his beloved second home, the Philippines, as part of his 2026<strong> “To You” Fanmeeting Tour</strong>.<strong></strong> The actor will meet Filipino fans on <strong>October 31, 2026</strong>, at 7:00 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City, with the event presented by<strong> L-Squared Productions PH.</strong></p><p>Tickets will officially go on sale on August 30 at 12 noon via Ticketnet’s official website and outlets. All ticket prices are inclusive of ticketing charges.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787504556078[image] - 8518207.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Hwang In-youp during his previous fan meet in the Philippines | Photo from @hi_high_hiy</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Photos from <strong>@hi_high_hiy</strong></p>

<p>Get to know "Dream to You" actor Hwang In-youp better, as he prepares to return to the Philippines this October for his “To You” Fanmeeting Tour!</p>

Get to know "Dream to You" actor Hwang In-youp better, as he prepares to return to the Philippines this October for his “To You” Fanmeeting Tour!

10 Things to Know About Swoon-Worthy K-Drama Star Hwang In-youp

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

People

10 Things to Know About Swoon-Worthy K-Drama Star Hwang In-youp

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published August 24, 2026 12:45 PM PHT

|

Updated August 24, 2026 12:54 PM PHT

Read More:

Hwang In-youp

Han Seo-jun

Dream To You

True Beauty

Actor

South Korean Actor

K-drama

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.