Meet Hwang In-youp, star of Netflix’s The Sound of Magic: he rose to fame in True Beauty with Cha Eun-woo, started out as a fashion model – and loves Pokémon

May 6 , 2022

Hwang In-youp is one of Korea’s hottest rising stars right now. Photo: @hi_high_hiy/Instagram

Released on May 6, K-drama The Sound of Magic stars Hwang – one of Korea’s most-followed actors on Instagram – as the male lead alongside Choi Sung-eun, Ji Chang-wook and Nam Da-reum

The former model walked for Hera Seoul Fashion Week with brands like Noirer, Blanc de Noirs and Royal Layor, landed early roles in Why and 18 Again, and is skilled in taekwondo

Best known for his role as the protective bad boy Han Seo-jun in True Beauty, Hwang In-youp is back – to fans’ delight – with his next big project, Netflix’s The Sound of Magic, which just came out on May 6.

The 31-year-old heartthrob will play Na Il-deung, a high school student who competes academically with classmate Yoon Ah-yi (played by Sung-eun Choi), leading to a playful romance between the duo. Together, they meet a magician, Lee Eul (Ji Chang-wook) and discover the enchanting world of magic.

So what else do we know about the rising star?

1. He overcame his shyness to become a model

Hwang In-youp is a naturally optimistic person, and used to be really shy before he started his career. Photo: @hi_high_hiy/Instagram

Hwang knew that he wanted to become an actor for a long time, often looking up to Jo In-sung for inspiration. But initially he wanted to become a fashion designer and studied the discipline at the Women’s College of Davao in the Philippines.

A piece of advice from his father has stuck with him since he was a child: “I live while doing what I want to do, so I am happy,” he said per Channel Korea. It’s what inspired him to pursue acting and modelling.

“I don’t want to regret this. I don’t want to hold back any longer. And I felt like I was going to challenge my dream of becoming an actor,” he told An An magazine.

He began his modelling career with YG Kplus under YG Entertainment in 2017, at age 26. He walked runways for the autumn/winter Hera Seoul Fashion Week for brands like Noirer, Blanc de Noirs and Royal Layor.

A year later, he made his acting debut in TV drama Why (2018). He quickly caught attention and landed a supporting role in 18 Again (2020). In his next lead role in True Beauty (2020-2021), although he was thought to be too old for a schoolboy, he successfully proved that he was well-adapted for it – and fans seemingly agreed. His Instagram reached one million followers a week after the drama was aired, according to K-pop Map. Now, it has over 13.2 million followers, making him one of the top 15 most-followed Korean actors on the platform.

2. He goes with the flow

Hwang In-youp was a runway model before he joined the acting world. Photo: @hi_high_hiy/Instagram

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x