The story of Ryu Seung-beom's debut is famous for being a legendary casting tale in the Korean film industry.

Since this story circulates widely on the internet, it is often recounted with a humorous remark: "We needed a delinquent role, but when I got home, I found a real delinquent lying there." However, while this story is amusing, it is not entirely true.

In 2000, director Ryu Seung-wan was preparing for his feature debut film, "Die or Bad." It was a low-budget independent film with limited production funds, and he was struggling to find a rookie actor suitable for the key character of 'delinquent.' Despite numerous auditions, it was challenging to find an actor who had a raw, authentic vibe that came from their very existence. During this process, the director told his brother Ryu Seung-beom, "If you have any friends who are a bit wild, bring them along," and Ryu Seung-beom actually brought his friends to the audition.

Here's an important fact: at that time, Ryu Seung-beom was not living with his brother. He had already become independent, and the commonly known scenario of his brother finding him lying on the floor at home is not true. He brought his friends to the audition, and Ryu Seung-beom himself, who happened to tag along, was cast. The director found Ryu Seung-beom's attitude, speech, and presence to be much more suitable for the role than that of his friends.

Ryu Seung-beom did not debut because he had a passion for acting. He clearly stated this in an interview in 2024. The decisive reason that moved him at that time was '500,000 won in cash.' Back then, 500,000 won was quite a significant amount for a young person in their early twenties, and he stood in front of the camera purely for the money. It was not a dream of becoming an actor or a passion for film; it was for living expenses.

However, the result was astonishing. Without any prior acting lessons and not being a prepared actor, Ryu Seung-beom delivered a natural performance in "Die or Bad" that resembled a documentary character. After seeing this performance, Hwang Jung-min later remarked, "There is definitely a natural talent for acting." With this one work, Ryu Seung-beom quickly became a unique gem in the Korean film industry.

Afterward, in films like "Conduct Zero," "The Unjust," and "Berlin," he established himself not just as a 'delinquent specialist actor' but as a distinctive actor across genres. While showing completely different faces for each character, Ryu Seung-beom's presence never faded. After getting married in 2020, he moved to Slovakia, and he continues to work on projects. Upcoming works are scheduled for 2025 and 2026, including "Good News" and a Netflix series titled "Dealer."

In summary, this debut anecdote is neither romanticized nor fateful. It is a result of the reality of low-budget filmmaking, chance, and the 500,000 won that made it happen. And that chance created an actor who would leave a mark in Korean film history. This is the true story of Ryu Seung-beom's debut.