Career
Ryu Deok-hwan began his career as a child actor on stage at age 6. Among his early television drama appearances was a role on the popular Lifetime in the Country which he played for 8 years. While he had played minor roles in several films, it was Ryu"s breakout lead performance in Like a Virgin that earned him critical praise and industry recognition.
He gained 28kg in three months to play the role of a transgender teenager who joins the ssireum team
He has also acted in the stage plays Equus, and Jang Jin"s Clumsy People. In 2012 he directed the short film Waiting for Jang Joon-hwan for the Olleh Smartphone Festival.