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Ahn Hyo-seop
Canadian actor and singer (born 1995) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ahn Hyo-seop (Korean: 안효섭; born April 17, 1995) is a Canadian actor and singer based in South Korea.[3] He debuted as a singer in 2015 with the group One O One, releasing the debut single "Love You". He then gained recognition as an actor for his performances in the second and third seasons of Dr. Romantic (2020–2023) dramas Lovers of the Red Sky (2021) and Business Proposal (2022), and the animated musical film KPop Demon Hunters (2025).
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Early life and education
Ahn was born on April 17, 1995, in Seoul, South Korea as the youngest of three siblings.[4] When he was six years old, his family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he grew up.[5] Ahn later moved back to South Korea when he was 17, while his family stayed in Canada.[6] He later attended and graduated from Kookmin University, in the Department of International Business.[7]
Career
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Pre-debut activities
After moving back to South Korea, Ahn was scouted by JYP Entertainment and became a trainee for three years, and lived in a dorm with members of the K-pop boy band Got7.[8] Although he enjoyed singing and dancing, once it became a job, the stress grew. Eventually, he felt it might be better to keep music as a hobby, so he left the company.[9]
2015–2016: Beginnings with One O One and acting debut
On October 1, 2015, Starhaus Entertainment launched the project group One O One, releasing their debut single "Love You". The group consisted of Ahn together with fellow Starhaus actors Kwak Si-yang, Song Won-seok and Kwon Do-kyun.[10] However, the group presumably disbanded due to inactivity since January 2019. Ahn made his acting debut in the MBC drama, Splash Splash Love. He then became a cast member of the music variety show Always Cantare. He had supporting roles in One More Happy Ending, Happy Home and Entertainer in 2016.[11]
2017–2020: Rising popularity
His popularity rose after his first ever lead role in Queen of the Ring in 2017. He then transitioned to lead roles thereafter.[12] In 2018, Ahn starred in Still 17, playing passionate high school student Yoo Chan – the captain of the high school rowing club.[13] For his performance, he won Best New Actor Award and was nominated for the "Character of the Year" Award at the 2018 SBS Drama Awards alongside Jo Hyun-sik and Lee Do-hyun.[14] And later in the same year, Ahn acted in the drama Top Management which aired on YouTube Red.[15] In 2019, Ahn starred alongside Park Bo-young in the romantic comedy fantasy crime drama Abyss, where he played rich yet unattractive heir to a cosmetics empire who transforms into a handsome young man as he is revived by a mysterious orb after his death.[16] In late 2019, Ahn became an MC at the 4th Asia Artist Awards with Leeteuk, Lim Ji-yeon and Nancy.[17]
In 2020, Ahn starred in the second season of the hit medical drama Dr. Romantic, playing general surgeon Seo Woo-jin with Lee Sung-kyung as his leading lady.[18] The show was a success, with both Ahn and Lee keeping their promise of singing for the fans as it crossed the double-digit mark for ratings.[19] His performance in the drama earned him the Best New Actor Award in television at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.[20] He also received Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Action/Genre Drama at 2020 SBS Drama Awards.[21]
2021–present: Transition to lead roles
In 2021, Ahn starred in the historical-fantasy drama Lovers of the Red Sky adapted from the novel written by Jung Eun-gwol, playing the role of Ha Ram, a blind astrologer who reads the stars, while living a disguised life as Ilwolseong – chief of an information organisation and whose body is possessed by Ma Wang (the Demon King) since childhood, alongside Kim Yoo-jung as Hong Cheon-gi, a female painter.[22][23][24] For his portrayal of multiple roles as Ha Ram, Ilwolseong and Ma Wang, he received Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Genre/Fantasy Drama and won Best Couple Award with Kim Yoo-jung at 2021 SBS Drama Awards.[25][26]
In 2022, Ahn starred in the SBS-broadcast and Netflix-distributed romantic comedy drama Business Proposal adapted from the webtoon with the same title, with Kim Se-jeong.[27][28] He played the role of Kang Tae-mu, a third generation chaebol and CEO.[29] In March 2022, he was cast in the Netflix series A Time Called You, South Korean adaptation of the Taiwanese drama Someday or One Day.[30] In May 2022, Ahn signed with The Present Company, the agency he co-founded with a manager who worked with him before his debut.[31]
In 2023, Ahn reprised his role as Seo Woo-jin in the third season of the hit medical drama Dr. Romantic.[32] In 2024, he was cast in his first film, the live-action fantasy Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, an adaptation of the web novel Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint by Sing Shong. Directed by Kim Byung-woo, the film features Ahn as Kim Dok-ja, a character who finds himself in a world where a web novel he read has become reality. He partners with the novel's protagonist, Yoo Joong-hyuk (Lee Min-ho), to alter their destiny and avert the world's destruction.[33]
In June 2025, Ahn made his voice acting debut as Jinu, a member of the fictional K-pop boy band Saja Boys, in the Netflix animated musical film KPop Demon Hunters. The film quickly rose to the top of Netflix's global charts for three consecutive days, achieving the No. 1 ranking in 31 countries. This gives Ahn wider international recognition.[34] Ahn appeared in his first music show as a guest in The Seasons: Park Bo-gum's Cantabile in July 2025.[35]
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Other ventures
Endorsements
Following his successful dramas, Ahn became a model for various brands, including cosmetics,[36] fashion, and food and beverages.[37] In March 2024, he was officially announced as a brand ambassador for Lacoste.[38]
Philanthropy
In September 2020, he donated 160,000 face masks (worth about ₩100 million) to the National Fire Agency to help fight COVID-19.[39] In August 2022, he donated ₩50 million to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association[a] to help with recovery from heavy rain damage.[41] In October 2023, he volunteered his voice for an audio guide at the special art exhibition for disabled artists, "Your World That I Live In," hosted by the Seoul Arts Center and the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture.[42] In May 2024, in celebration of Children's Day, he donated ₩50 million to the Korean Committee for UNICEF to support children around the world.[43] He later joined the "UNICEF Team" campaign as a talent donor, along with Lee Jung, Park Wi, Shim Eu-ddeum, Cha Jun-hwan, and Cha Hyun-seung.[44]
Filmography
Film
Television series
Web series
Television shows
Music video appearances
Hosting
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Discography
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Awards and nominations
Listicles
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Notes
- The Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association, established in 1961 by a coalition of media and social organizations, began in 1959 as the 'Korea Flood Damage Response Committee' to aid victims of Typhoon Sarah. Renamed the 'Korea Disaster Response Association' in 1964, it spearheaded the development of a donation culture in Korea. Following the 2001 amendment of the Disaster Relief Act, it became the nation's only government-designated relief organization authorized to collect and distribute donations for domestic natural disasters.[40]
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References
External links
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