Ryu Jun-yeol looks beyond acting, to film production

Ever since his breakout role in the cable phenomenon "Reply 1988," Ryu Jun-yeol has steered his filmography toward increasingly complex, psychologically charged territory. From exploring human greed in Netflix’s "The 8 Show" — once tipped as a potential successor to "Squid Game" — to confronting twisted faith in director Yeon Sang-ho’s "Revelations," the 39-year-old actor has spent recent years probing the rawest aspects of human nature.

Continuing this dive into the human condition, Ryu’s latest project shifts from asking how we behave to questioning who we are on a fundamental, philosophical level.

Released Aug. 28, the Netflix Korean original "Mousetrap" stars Ryu as Moon-jae, a man whose life is upended when a mysterious doppelganger named Mouse (also played by Ryu) usurps his identity. The psychological thriller examines how society authenticates an individual when conventional systems can no longer distinguish the original from the copy.

When asked during a roundtable interview on Tuesday how he would prove his own existence if stripped of all official records, Ryu placed his trust in human connection.

"I think other people have to prove who I am for me," he said. "The most authentic version of myself comes out when I’m with my friends."

He noted that his long-time companions have witnessed his most unvarnished moments, making them equipped to spot an impostor.

"If I ever found myself unable to prove my identity, I would just show up in front of my friends," he said. "I feel they are the ones who would truly recognize me."

For the actor, taking on the dual role represented a major career milestone, forcing him into uncharted territory that tested the limits of his 14-year career.

"I think this was probably the most challenging role I’ve taken on," Ryu said. "I was trying to do something I hadn’t done before, and there were moments when I didn’t trust myself."

For Ryu, stepping outside his comfort zone meant letting go of the technical confidence he had spent years honing. Unmoored from his usual acting instincts, he channeled the vulnerability into his performance.

"It was frightening to see myself acting without that confidence," he said. "It felt like taking an exam without having studied at all. Or like studying really hard, only to show up and realize that the questions were completely outside the material I had prepared for. And to add to what I said earlier, I think there was also a fear of trying something I hadn’t done before."

Rather than letting those anxieties undermine his work, Ryu leaned into the discomfort.

"I think I managed to overcome it, and in that sense, I’m trying to think of it as having taken one step forward as an actor," he said.

Beyond the psychological strain of the performance, "Mousetrap" also presented a whole new set of technical challenges for Ryu — starting with what was behind the camera.

Directorially, the series eschews standard television visual conventions, employing an ambitious array of nearly 50 different lenses, including specialized setups that create extreme close-ups and a claustrophobic visual language that heightens the narrative’s central tension.

"The camera lens was one we rarely use, it filmed the actor right in front of his face, so every scene felt a little uncomfortable," Ryu said. "Usually, if a lead actor says they’re uncomfortable, the director will make adjustments. But he kept saying, ‘Just trust me.’"

"(Ultimately), I thought it was a really interesting way to express the character’s anxiety and the problems the story was dealing with," he said.

This deeper engagement with both the technical and narrative sides of filmmaking reflects a broader evolution in Ryu’s approach to his craft. As he has gained experience, he says he has begun taking a more active role in the creative process, engaging with directors and producers from the early stages of development rather than limiting himself to the role of performer.

"As I’ve become more interested and curious about the production process, I’ve naturally started sharing more of my opinions as well," he said.

That creative curiosity is expanding beyond the set and into the executive side of the industry. Ryu is laying the groundwork to venture into film acquisition and production, aiming to champion independent and smaller-scale projects that might struggle within traditional commercial pipelines.

"I’d like to acquire and produce the kinds of films that I want to see myself," he said.

At its core, his move into producing is driven by a desire to foster meaningful cinematic moments for audiences.

"If you ask why I want to do it, I think the biggest reason is that I want to watch the movies I want to see with other people and share that experience with them," he said.

Ryu has already begun navigating international film markets, taking meetings and building industry partnerships. While keeping specific details confidential for now, he confirmed that the venture is actively moving forward.

"There are already some projects in progress," he said. "Hopefully I’ll be able to talk about them little by little in the future."