If you’ve been scrolling through Netflix lately, chances are you’ve spotted a face that feels familiar but you can't quite place. That’s probably Ryu Han-bi. Honestly, most people recognize her as the sharp-tongued Eunice from XO, Kitty, but her journey in the Korean entertainment industry goes way deeper than a single Western spin-off. She’s one of those rare talents who managed to pivot from a high-stakes K-pop trainee environment into a legit acting career without losing a beat.
Born in 2004, Ryu Han-bi isn't exactly a newcomer. She started as a child actress, and if you're a hardcore K-drama fan, you probably saw her years ago playing the younger versions of your favorite leading ladies. It’s wild to think she’s already been in the industry for over a decade, especially considering she’s still only in her early twenties.
The Roles That Put Ryu Han-bi on the Map
Before she was rubbing shoulders with Anna Cathcart in Seoul, Ryu was making a name for herself in some pretty heavy-hitting domestic dramas. Her break came early, but her most recognizable "pre-global" role was definitely in the 2018 thriller-romance Come and Hug Me.
In that show, she played the young Gil Nak-won (the younger version of Jin Ki-joo’s character). It wasn't just a "cute kid" role. The plot was incredibly dark—revolving around a serial killer’s son and the daughter of his victims. Ryu Han-bi had to carry some seriously traumatic scenes. She actually won the Best Child Actress award at the 2018 MBC Drama Awards for it. You don't get that kind of hardware just for standing there and looking pretty.
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Why Everyone Is Searching for Her Now
The massive spike in interest for Ryu Han-bi movies and tv shows recently is 100% thanks to the Netflix effect. When XO, Kitty premiered in 2023, she played Eunice, a character that basically embodied the "rich, popular, and slightly terrifying" energy of a Seoul International School student.
She nailed the "mean girl with a heart somewhere under there" trope so well that fans immediately started digging into her past. What they found was a girl who almost became an idol. There were rumors for years that she was in the lineup for NewJeans or LE SSERAFIM under ADOR/HYBE. Can you imagine? It’s a total "what if" moment in K-pop history. Instead of dancing on stage at Lollapalooza, she chose to stick with the camera and the script. Honestly, looking at her filmography, it seems like she made the right call.
A Quick Rundown of Her Best Work
If you’re looking to binge her projects, don’t just stick to the Netflix stuff. She’s got range.
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- The Queen’s Classroom (2013): This was her debut. She was tiny. But even then, you could tell she had that "it" factor.
- Live Up to Your Name (2017): A time-traveling medical drama where she played the young Choi Yeon-kyung. It’s a fun watch if you like historical-meets-modern vibes.
- Cheer Up, Mr. Lee (2019): This is one of her few big-screen appearances. It’s a heartwarming movie about a father and daughter, and she plays Min-jung. If you want to see her do something less "high school drama" and more "emotional family bond," this is the one.
- XO, Kitty (2023-2026): We’ve already talked about this, but it’s worth noting that she is confirmed to return for Season 3, which is slated for a 2026 release.
The "Idol Trainee" Mystery
One thing you'll see pop up in every Reddit thread about Ryu Han-bi is the ADOR trainee rumor. It’s basically confirmed at this point that she was training under Min Hee-jin. There are pre-debut photos of her that look exactly like the aesthetic NewJeans eventually adopted.
Why did she leave? Nobody knows for sure. Some say she preferred acting; others think the timing just wasn't right. Whatever the reason, it gave her a certain "cool girl" mystique that most young actresses don't have. She understands the idol world, which makes her performance as Eunice feel way more authentic. She isn't just playing a K-pop fan or a socialite; she lived in that world of intense training and high expectations.
What’s Next for Ryu Han-bi?
As we move through 2026, the buzz isn't slowing down. With XO, Kitty Season 3 on the horizon, she’s positioned to become a bridge between the Hallyu wave and Hollywood.
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There’s a lot of chatter about her taking on more "adult" roles in Korea now that she’s moved past the child-actress label. Critics are looking to see if she’ll sign onto a major indie film or a gritty cable thriller next. She has that "moody" face that works perfectly for noir or psychological dramas.
Wait, what about her movie career?
While she hasn't done a ton of films yet, Cheer Up, Mr. Lee showed she can hold her own on a cinema screen. The industry expectation is that she’ll start picking up more "Chungmuro" (Korean Hollywood) projects soon.
How to Keep Up With Her
If you want the real-time updates, her Instagram is usually the place to go, though she keeps things pretty low-key. You won't find a million spoilers there. You'll mostly see high-fashion shoots and the occasional behind-the-scenes snap from a set.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
If you want to see her best acting, go watch the first four episodes of Come and Hug Me. Even if you don't watch the whole series, her performance as the young lead is a masterclass in child acting. Also, keep an eye on Netflix’s 2026 Q1 schedule—rumors suggest XO, Kitty might drop earlier than expected in March.
Don't just wait for the next Netflix show. Dive into her older Korean work to see how she actually built those skills. She’s not just a "Netflix star"; she’s a seasoned pro who’s finally getting the global eyes she deserves.