Yu or Yoo , or sometimes Ryu or Ryoo , is the English
transcription of several
Korean surnames written as 유 or 류 in
hangul . As of 2000, roughly a million people are surnamed Yoo in
South Korea , making up approximately 2% of the population. Of those, the most common is Ryu (Hanja: 柳 , Hangul: 류 ),
[1] with more than six hundred thousand holders, whereas Yoo (Hanja: 兪 , 余 Hangul: 유 ) accounts for about one hundred thousand.
The family name Yoo can be represented by any of the four
hanja : 柳 (류 ), 劉 , 兪 and 庾 , each with a different meaning. In Korean, the characters 劉 and 柳 refer to 유 (Yoo) or 류 (Ryu) and are spelled as such because of the first
initial sound rule (두음 법칙 ) in Korean, whereas the characters 兪 and 庾 refer only to 유 (Yoo). Some of these characters are used to write the
Chinese surnames
Liu (劉 or 柳 ) and
Yu (兪 ,余).
Notable 柳 (Ryu)
clans include the
Munhwa Ryu clan and the
Pungsan Ryu.
History
In Korea, the Yoo lineage traces to the
Xia ,
Han , and
Joseon
dynasties . Holders of the surname Yoo had a reputation for charity and diligence.
The largest Ryu (which is a separate clan from Yoo, but pronounced differently), the Munhwa Ryu,
[2] was founded by a man named
Ch’a Tal . Ch’a's fifth great-grandfather had been involved in an attempt to overthrow the
Silla king. To avoid prosecution, the ancestor fled to Munhwa and changed his surname, first to that of his maternal grandmother, Yang, and then to Ryoo. Many years later, Ch’a Tal assisted
Wang Kŏn to establish the
Koryŏ Kingdom . Ch’a was recognized for his support and was rewarded accordingly. However, the historic claims that the Ch'a clans are derived from the same progenitor as Ryu Ch'a-dal have been disproven. The Munhwa Ryoo clan, along with the Andong Kwŏn clan, possess one of Korea's oldest clan
genealogies . Only the character 柳 is commonly pronounced Ryu or Ryoo (류 ). (See
Munhwa Ryoo ) The surname "Ryu" comes from the character meaning
willow tree . Hence, the lineage is also sometimes called "willow Ryu" (버들 류씨 ).
Notable people (historic)
Notable people (contemporary)
Arts & entertainment
Aaron Yoo (born 1979), Korean-American actor
Yoo Ah-in (born 1986 as Uhm Hong-sik), South Korean actor, creative director, and gallerist
Yoo Ara (born 1992), South Korean actress and singer, former member of girl group
Hello Venus
Yoo Byung-jae (born 1988), South Korean television personality, actor and screenwriter.
Yoo Chae-yeong (1973–2014), South Korean actress, singer and radio host
Yoo Chan-wook (born 2000 better known as Be'O), South Korean rapper and songwriter
Christine Yoo , Korean-American writer, director, producer and filmmaker
Yoo Da-in (born 1984), South Korean actress
Yoo Dong-geun (born 1956), South Korean actor
Yoo Eun-mi (born 2004), South Korean actress
Yoo Eun-sook , South Korean voice actor
Yoo Gun Hyung (born 1979), South Korean songwriter
Yoo Hae-jin (born 1970), South Korean actor
Yoo Hae-jung (born 2000) South Korean actress
Yoo Ha-na (born 1986), South Korean actress
Yoo Hee-jae (born 1994), South Korean singer and actor
Yoo Ho-jeong (born 1969), South Korean actress
Yoo Hwe-seung (born 1995), South Korean actor and musical theatre actor
Yoo Hye-ri (born 1964), South Korean actress and model
Yoo Hyun-young (born 1976 better known as Hyun Young), South Korean entertainer
Yoo In-na (born 1982), South Korean actress and DJ
Yoo In-soo (born 1998), South Korean actor
Yoo In-young (born 1984 as Yoo Hyo-min), South Korean actress
Yoo Jae-ha (1962–1987), South Korean singer-songwriter
Yoo Jae-suk (born 1972), South Korean comedian, host and television personality
Yoo Jeong-yeon (born 1996 better known as Jeongyeon), South Korean singer and member of girl group
Twice
Yoo Je-won , South Korean TV director
Yoo Je-yoon (born 1984), South Korean actor, model, and singer
Yoo Ji-tae (born 1976), South Korean actor, film director and screenwriter
Yoo Jun-sang (born 1969), South Korean actor and singer
Yoo Jung-hyun (born 1967), South Korean television personality and politician
Yoo Ki-hyun (born 1993), South Korean singer and member of boy group
Monsta X
Yoo Min-kyu (born 1987), South Korean actor
Yoo Na-ul (born 1978), South Korean singer
Yoo Se-hyung (born 1992), South Korean actor
Yoo Se-rye (born 1984), South Korean actress
Yoo Se-yoon (born 1980), South Korean comedian and television comedy show host
Yoo Seon-ho (born 2002), South Korean singer, actor and model
Yoo Seung-ho (born 1993), South Korean actor
Yoo Seung-jun (born 1976), Korean-American singer and actor
Yoo Seung-yeon (born 1993 better known as Gong Seung-yeon), South Korean actress
Yoo Seung-woo (born 1997), South Korean singer-songwriter and guitarist
Yoo Si-ah (born 1995), South Korean singer and member of girl group
Oh My Girl
Yoo So-young (born 1986), South Korean actress and former member of girl group
After School
Yoo Su-bin (born 1992), South Korean actor
Yoo Sung-eun (born 1989 better known as U Sung-eun), South Korean singer
Yoo Yeon-jung (born 1999), South Korean singer, member of girl groups
I.O.I and
Cosmic Girls
Yoo Yeon-mi (born 1999), South Korean actress
Yoo Yeon-soo (born 1990 better known as Ha Yeon-soo), South Korean actress
Yoo Young-jae (born 1994), South Korean singer and actor, member of boy group
B.A.P
Yoo Young-jin (born 1971), South Korean songwriter and record producer
You Hee-yeol (born 1971), South Korean singer-songwriter
DPR Ian (born 1990 as Christian Yu), Australian-born South Korean rapper
Yu Ji-min (born 2000 better known as Karina), South Korean singer, rapper, and member of girl group
Aespa
Yu Oh-seong (born 1966), South Korean actor
Ryoo Seung-bum (born 1980), South Korean actor
Ryoo Seung-wan (born 1973), South Korean director
Ryu Deok-hwan (born 1987), South Korean actor
Ryu Han-bi (born 2004), South Korean actress
Ryu Hwayoung (born 1993), South Korean actress and singer, former member of girl group
T-ARA
Ryu Hye-rin (born 1984), South Korean actress and model
Ryu Hye-young (born 1991), South Korean actress and model
Ryu Hyo-young (born 1993), South Korean actress, model and rapper, former member of co-ed group
Coed School and girl group
F-ve Dolls
Ryu Hyun-kyung (born 1983), South Korean actress
Ryu Jun-yeol (born 1986), South Korean actor
Ryu Kyung-soo (born 1992), South Korean actor
Ryu Sang-gu (born 1984), also known as Deepflow, South Korean rapper and music producer
Ryu Se-ra (born 1987), South Korean singer and former member of girl group
Nine Muses
Ryu Seung-ryong (born 1970), South Korean actor
Ryu Seung-soo (born 1971), South Korean actor
Ryu Si-won (born 1972), South Korean actor and singer
Ryu Soo-young (born 1979 as Eo Nam-seon), South Korean actor
Ryu Su-jeong (born 1997 better known as Sujeong), South Korean singer and member of girl group
Lovelyz
Ryu Sung-min (born 1993), South Korean rapper
Ryu Tae-joon (born 1971), South Korean actor and singer
Painters & sculptors
Yoo Young-ho (born 1965), South Korean sculptor
Yoo Youngkuk (1916—2002), South Korean artist in Korea's postwar art history (pioneer of Korean abstract art and Korean modern art)
Musicians
Authors, illustrators, novelists, poets
Yu Anjin (born 1941), South Korean poet
Yoo Hyeonjong , South Korean novelist
Yoo Ja-hyo (born 1947), South Korean broadcaster and poet
Yoo Jae-yong (1936–2009), South Korean novelist
Yoo Juhyun (1921-1982), South Korean novelist
Yoo Yeong , (1917–2002) South Korean literary scholar, translator, and poet
David Yoo (born 1974), Korean-American fiction writer
Miri Yu (born 1968),
Zainichi Korean playwright, novelist, and essayist
Taeeun Yoo , South Korean picture book author and illustrator who is active in the United States
Yoo Eun-Sil , South Korean author of children’s literature
Athletes
Yoo Byung-hoon South Korean Paralympian athlete
Yoo Byung-ok , South Korean football defender who played for South Korea in the
1986 FIFA World Cup
Yoo Byung-soo , South Korean football striker
Yoo Chae-ran , South Korean badminton player
Yoo Chang-hyun , South Korea football player who plays for
Seongnam FC
Yoo Dae-hyun , South Korean footballer
Yoo Dae-soon , South Korean former footballer
Yoo Dong-kwan , South Korean former footballer
Yoo Dong-min , South Korean footballer
Yoo Han-joon , South Korean outfielder for the
KT Wiz
Yoo Hee-kwan , South Korean starting pitcher for the
Doosan Bears
Yoo Ho-joon , South Korean footballer
Yoo Hong-youl , South Korean football player who currently plays for
TTM Lopburi in the
Thai Division 1 League
Yoo Hye-min , South Korean alpine skier
Yoo Hyeok-geun , South Korean rower
Yoo Hyeong-jong , South Korean footballer
Yoo Hyun , South Korean footballer
Yoo Hyun-goo , South Korean footballer
Yoo Hyun-ji , South Korean handball player
Yoo Jae-hoon , South Korean former professional footballer as a goalkeeper
Yoo Jin-sun , South Korean former tennis player
Yoo Ji-hoon , South Korean footballer who plays as a defender for
Gyeongnam FC
Yoo Ji-no , South Korean footballer
Yoo Jong-hyun , South Korean footballer who plays as defender for
FC Anyang in the
K League 2
Yoo Joon-young , South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for
Bucheon FC 1995 in
K League Challenge
Yoo Jun-soo , South Korean footballer who plays for
PT Prachuap in the
Thai League 1
Yoo Jung-nam , South Korean swimmer
Yoo Kee-heung , Korean football manager and former fullback player
Yoo Ki-hong , South Korean former professional cyclist
Yoo Kwang-joon , South Korean former footballer
Yoo Kyoung-youl , former South Korean footballer
Yoo Man-kee , South Korean footballer who plays as midfielder for Goyang Hi FC in
K League Challenge
Yoo Mi , former South Korean tennis player
Yoo Min-hyeon , South Korean curler
Yoo Nam-kyu , South Korea former table tennis player who competed in the
1988 , the
1992 , and in the
1996 Summer Olympics
Yoo Ok-ryul , South Korean former gymnast
Yoo Sang-chul (1971–2021), South Korean football manager and player
Yoo Sang-hee , South Korean former female badminton player
Yoo Sang-soo , South Korean football coach and retired player who played as a defender
Yoo Soo-hyun , South Korean footballer
Yoo Sun-hee , South Korean female speed skater
Yoo Sun-young , South Korean professional golfer
Yoo Sung-je , South Korean ice hockey goaltender
Yoo Sung-yeon , South Korean former judoka
Yoo Won-chul , South Korean gymnast
Yoo Won-jeong , paralympic boccia player
Yoo Won-sang , South Korean baseball player
Yoo Wook-jin , South Korean footballer
Yoo Yang-joon , South Korean footballer
Yoo Yeon-seong , South Korean professional badminton player
Yoo Yeon-seung , South Korean footballer
Yoo Yong-sung , South Korean retired badminton player
Yoo Yoon-sik , South Korean volleyball player
You Young , South Korean figure skater
Yoo Young-a , South Korean footballer who plays as a forward for
Seoul WFC
Yoo Young-joo , South Korean former basketball player
Yoo Young-sil , South Korean retired football player
Hyun-Jin Ryu , South Korean professional baseball player
Ryu Jae-kuk , South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Ryu Seung-Min , South Korean professional table tennis player
Ryu So-yeon , South Korean professional golfer
Daniel Yoo , Korean-American former tennis player
Jeff Yoo , South Korean former association football player
Ryu Seung-Woo , South Korean football player
Other
Sports management
Business
Yoo Byung-eun (1941–2014), South Korean businessman, inventor, and photographer
Government & politics
Yoo Chang-soon (1918–2010),
Prime Minister of South Korea from 4 January 1982 to 24 June 1982 and governor of the
Bank of Korea from 1961 to 1962.
Yoo Eun-hae , South Korean politician who served as the Minister of Education and ex-officio
Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea , along with
Hong Nam-ki under
President Moon Jae-in from October 2018 to 9 May 2022
Yoo Il-ho , former acting Prime Minister of South Korea, former Deputy Prime Minister, and former Minister of Finance
Yoo Jae-geon (1937–2022), South Korean politician
Yoo Jaehoon , current Chairman and President of the
Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) , former South Korean Director-General and the Controller of the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and former
Korea Securities Depository
Yoo Jin-ryong , South Korean politician who formerly served as the Minister of Culture
Yoo Jeong-bok , South Korean public servant and politician who is currently the mayor of
Incheon
Yoo Jung-ju , South Korean animator currently serving as a Democratic member of
National Assembly
Yoo Myung-hee , South Korean politician and
Minister for Trade
Yoo Nam-seok 7th
President of the Constitutional Court of Korea
Yoo Sang-yeol (1940–2022), South Korean public official, who served as Vice-Minister of Construction
Yoo Seong-min , South Korean economist and politician (former member of the South Korean Parliament)
Yoo Song-hwa , South Korean politician previously served as the Director of the Chunchugwan Press Center at the Blue House under
President Moon Jae-in
Yu In-chon , South Korean actor and former Minister of
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Rhyu Si-min , South Korean politician who served as the 44th
Minister of Health and Welfare
Christopher Yoo , professor of law, Communication, and Computer and Information Science at the
University of Pennsylvania Law School
John Yoo , Korean-born American professor of law at the
University of California, Berkeley and former member of the U.S. Justice Department's
Office of Legal Counsel
Yoo Sang-joon , North Korean defector with South Korean citizenship
Military
Modeling & pageantry
Yoo Ye-bin , South Korean beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Korea 2013 and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant
Jae Yoo , South Korean model
Science & technology
Other
See also
References
External links