He aspired to attend an arts high school, but due to financial constraints and lack of support from his conservative parents, he couldn't.

However, his father's advice proved beneficial, as there was a special selection process for college graduates that admitted students based solely on their grades.

As Korean films became more diverse in terms of genre, Yoo found opportunities in increasingly weighty roles, and now has become a bonafide marquee name in the box office.

[9] He has since established himself as one of the top character actors in the country, notably in King and the Clown, Small Town Rivals, Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard, Moss, The Unjust, The Pirates, The Classified File, Minority Opinion, Veteran, and Public Enemy and its sequels.

[26] Yoo Hae-jin has become a popular choice as an advertising model for the food industry following the success of his film with 10 million viewers.

In the commercial, Song Kang-ho is seen boiling the noodles while singing about their enhanced flavor, and Yoo is shown enjoying the ramen with a humorous expression.

[27] Yoo and actress Kim Hye-soo first met in 2001 after shooting the movie Kick the Moon and became close in 2006 after appearing together in Tazza: The High Rollers.

Rumors of the two dating surfaced starting 2008 although both continuously denied any romantic involvement until early 2010 when paparazzi photographs of the two were released,[28][29] and the couple officially confirmed their relationship.