Ryu Seung Ryong was more popular than Ahn Jae-wook in college

Actor Ryu Seung Ryong was named the most popular figure among female classmates in the Class of 1990 at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. While the result might be difficult to predict based on current public recognition, testimonies reveal that Ryu enjoyed the highest popularity among theater students, surpassing classmates who would later become top stars, such as Ahn Jae-wook and Shin Dong-yup.

During a video released on the YouTube channel VIVO TV on the 2nd, Song Eun-i shared anecdotes from her time at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. While discussing Mimi's love for bread and her weight management, the conversation naturally shifted to the college days of Song and Kim Sook.

Song recalled a performance she participated in for housewives at a department store in Bucheon. She noted that the performers included herself, Shin Dong-yup, Ahn Jae-wook, Kim Jin-su, and Lee Hwi-jae, and that they each received 50,000 won as a performance fee. Kim Sook drew laughter by comparing it to modern talent fees, joking, "It would cost about 3.5 billion won to book them now truly.""

Song also shared an anecdote about handing out flyers during her college years. She explained that when the parents of Ahn Jae-wook, whom she had a crush on at the time, opened a donut shop, she voluntarily mobilized her club juniors to promote it. Song noted that although Ahn was serving in the military at the time, he remembered the incident later.

During the exchange, Kim Sook asked about the popularity rankings during their time at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. The group included Class of '90 classmates now active in various fields, such as Shin Dong-yup, Ahn Jae-wook, Ryu Seung Ryong, Jang Hang Jun, and Kim Jin-su.

After jokingly saying, "Jang Hang Jun is out," Song revealed, "Based on the theater department, Ryu Seung Ryong was number one in the popularity vote among female classmates. Ahn Jae-wook was second." She added that Shin Dong-yup was more popular among students from other departments rather than the theater department, noting his unique wit, eloquence, and charming image appealed to students in other majors.

Looking at their current careers, these rankings are even more interesting. Ahn is an actor who made a name for himself with the 1994 MBC drama "The Song of a Blind Bird" and led the early wave of Hallyu (Korean Wave) stars by expanding his recognition into Asia through "Star in My Heart."

Shin has also established himself as a representative host in the Korean broadcasting industry, building an unrivaled sense of timing in the variety and comedy fields.

Ryu reached mainstream stardom relatively late. He built his acting skills on the theater stage since his college days and grew into a leading character actor representing the Korean film industry through films such as "Woman on the Verge of Insanity," "Masquerade," "Miracle in Cell No. 7," and "The Admiral: Roaring Currents." In particular, with the successive hits of "Miracle in Cell No. 7" and "The Admiral: Roaring Currents," he established a firm presence as a star of "10-million-viewer" films.

The history of the Seoul Institute of the Arts Class of '90 is itself quite symbolic in Korean popular culture. A single graduating class produced a large number of actors, comedians, broadcasters, and filmmakers who subsequently grew into major figures in the Korean entertainment industry. The performance-centered educational environment allowed students to verify each other's talents before entering the professional industry.

Song belongs to the Class of '91, one year below them, and is in the same class as Yoo Jae Suk. Ultimately, the campus popularity rankings of the Class of '90 were a separate matter from their later fame or economic success. The individuals who are now described as "National MC," "Hallyu (Korean Wave) Star," and "10-million-viewer actor" were once ordinary college students competing with seniors and juniors in the same classrooms.

Ryu's number one ranking is especially meaningful when looking back at his acting career. Although his fellow students recognized his charm during his college days, it took a considerable amount of time for the public to fully embrace his name. Between his college popularity and his later stardom lay a long period of training and stage experience.

Ultimately, the "popularity vote" of the Seoul Institute of the Arts Class of '90 offers more than just a nostalgic anecdote. Even the figures who represent Korean popular culture today began as youths with uncertain futures, proving that campus popularity and later stardom do not always align.