Heo Sung-tae

In this Korean name, the family name is Heo.

Heo Sung-tae (Korean: 허성태, Korean pronunciation: [hʌ sʌŋ tɛ], born October 20, 1977)^[1] is a South Korean actor. He gained domestic prominence in the 2016 period thriller film The Age of Shadows and became recognized internationally for his role in the first season of Squid Game (2021). He has since starred in the television series Crash (2024) and Good Boy (2025).

Heo Sung-tae
Heo in 2019
Born	(1977-10-20) October 20, 1977 (age 47) Busan, South Korea
Alma mater	Pusan National University
Years active	2011–present
Agent	Hanahreum Company
Known for	The Age of Shadows The Outlaws Your Honor Squid Game
Korean name
Hangul	허성태
RR	Heo Seongtae
MR	Hŏ Sŏngt'ae

Early life and education

Heo was born in Busan, South Korea.^[2] He graduated from Pusan National University,^[2] where he majored in Russian.^[1] Prior to acting, he sold televisions in the Russian market for LG Corporation.^[2] He later joined the planning and coordination department of a shipbuilding company.^[1]

Career

Heo began his acting career in 2011, when he entered SBS's talent show Miraculous Audition (기적의 오디션).^[1] According to Heo, he drunkenly signed up to audition after seeing a commercial for the show.^[2] He gained national prominence as Ha Il-soo in the 2016 period thriller film The Age of Shadows.^[2] For his role in The Fortress (2017), Heo had to learn the Manchu language.^[3] In the 2021 Netflix original series Squid Game, Heo starred as the gangster Jang Deok-su.^[4] In 2025, he starred in the action-comedy JTBC series Good Boy, alongside Park Bo-gum.^[5]

Filmography

Film

List of film appearances, with year, title, and role shown

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2012	Masquerade
2014	Man on High Heels
	Haemoo
	The Royal Tailor	Officer Jong
2016	The Age of Shadows	Ha Il-soo		[6]
2017	The Fortress	Yong Gol-dae		[7][8]
	The Outlaws	Viper
	The Bros	Monk / Hyeong-bae		[9]
	The Swindlers	Jang Du-chil		[10]
2018	A Man's True Colors	Tae-hoon		[11]
	Fengshui	Lee Si-young
	Rampant	Lee Jung-rang		[12]
2019	Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission	Ueda		[13]
	The 12th Suspect	No Seok-hyun		[14]
	The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful	"Busan Weeds"		[15]
	Black Money	Prosecutor Choi		[16]
2020	Hitman: Agent Jun	Hyung-do		[17]
	Collectors	Viper gang leader		[18]
2022	Stellar	Seo Sa-jang		[19][20]
	Hunt	Jang Cheol-seong		[21][22]
	The Boys	Detective Park	Premiere at BIFF[23]	[24]

Television

List of television series appearances, with year, title, and role shown

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2014	Jeong Do-jeon	Nam Won-seong		[25]
	Bride of the Century	Yi-hun's secretary	Cameo (episode 9)
2017	Saimdang, Light's Diary	Wang Jung-chul	Cameo (episode 14)	[26][27]
	Tunnel	Jung Ho-young		[28]
	Queen for Seven Days	Shaman		[29]
	Live Up to Your Name	Gangster	Cameo	[30]
	Witch at Court	Baek Sang-ho		[31][32]
2018	Cross	Kim Hyung-beom		[33][34]
	Your Honor	Hong Jung-soo		[35]
	Big Forest	Gil Kang	Cameo	[36]
2019	Liver or Die	Condoler	Cameo (episode 1)	[37]
	Different Dreams	Matsuura		[38]
	Voice 3	Drug dealer	Cameo (episodes 2, 6)
	Watcher	Jang Hae-ryong		[39][40]
	Psychopath Diary	Jang Chil-sung		[41]
2020	King Maker: The Change of Destiny	Astrologer	Cameo (episode 2)	[42]
2021	Beyond Evil	Lee Chang-jin		[43]
	Racket Boys	Coach Cheon	Cameo (episodes 10–12)	[44]
	Squid Game	Jang Deok-su		[45]
	The Silent Sea	Kim Jae-sun		[46]
2022	Bloody Heart	Jo Won-pyo		[47]
	Insider	Yoon Byung-wook		[48]
	Adamas	Choi Tae-seong / Chief Choi		[49]
	A Model Family	Ma Sa-jang	Special appearance	[50]
	Behind Every Star	Goo Hae-joon	Cameo	[51]
	Big Bet	Seo Tae-seok		[52]
2023	Bait	Noh Sang-cheon		[53]
2024	Crash	Jeong Chae-man		[54]
2025	Good Boy	Ko Man-sik		[55]

Web shows

List of web shows appearances, with year, title, and role shown

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2022	Saturday Night Live Korea	Host	Season 2 – episode 6	[56]

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
APAN Star Awards	2022	Best Supporting Actor	Squid Game & Insider	Won	[57]
Asia Artist Awards	2021	Best Actor Award	Squid Game	Won	[58][59]
Asia Model Awards		Asia Special Award		Won	[60]
Baeksang Arts Awards	2018	Best New Actor – Film	The Outlaws	Nominated
	2022	Best Supporting Actor – Television	Squid Game	Nominated	[61]
Buil Film Awards	2022	Best Supporting Actor	Hunt	Nominated	[62]
Director's Cut Awards	2022	Best New Actor in series	Squid Game	Nominated	[63]
KBS Drama Awards	2022	Best Supporting Actor	Bloody Heart	Won	[64]
Korea Culture Entertainment Awards	2021	Excellence Award for Male	Squid Game	Won	[65]
SBS Drama Awards	2018	Best Supporting Actor	Your Honor	Nominated	[66]
	2021	Scene Stealer Award	Racket Boys	Nominated	[67]