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Park Hae-joon
South Korean actor (born 1976) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Park Sang-woo (Korean: 박상우; born on June 14, 1976), better known by his stage name, Park Hae-joon (Korean: 박해준), is a South Korean actor. He gained widespread recognition for starring in dramas The World of the Married (2020), The 8 Show (2024), When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025), and the films Believer (2018), 12.12: The Day (2023), and Yadang: The Snitch (2025).
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Early life and education
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Park was born on June 14, 1976, in Busan, South Korea. Initially wanting to become a singer, he became interested in acting during high school and, encouraged by his aunt, applied to the Department of Theater and Film. He was admitted to the second cohort of the Theatre Department at the Korea National University of Arts.[1][2]
Since enrolling in university, Park gained attention for his height and appearance, earning the nicknames "Korea National University of Arts legend" and "second-generation Jang Dong-gun," as Jang was also an alumnus of the same school from the first cohort. Despite these praise, Park expressed that his appearance became a personal insecurity and sometimes affected audience perceptions of his acting.[3][4][5]
Park initially struggled to adjust to the college's atmosphere and practical teaching methods. Entering with less preparation than his peers, he often felt inadequate. He frequently missed classes, leading to academic warnings and ultimately withdrawing on the advice of a professor. After completing his mandatory military service, he retook the entrance exam in 2000 and re-enrolled to continue his studies in acting.[1][2]
During his studies, He participated in various theater productions, often taking minor roles in small theaters in Daehak-ro. His involvement in stage set assembly, as well as lighting and acoustic rehearsals, enhanced his physical endurance and deepened his appreciation for the importance of the stage in acting.[1] He also occasionally appeared as an extra in films.[6]
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Career
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2000–2011: Beginnings
After graduating from the Korea National University of Arts, Park made his debut in the play Agamemnon at the Seoul Arts Center in 2005.[7] In 2006, he acted in play Forget That Time, which was directed by Lee Jong-seong and starring Oh Yu-jin, produced by Theater Company Chaimu.[8] The following year, he moved to Daehak-ro and appeared in At That Time, Stars Were Falling, adapted and directed by Min Bok-ki from John Cariani's Almost, Maine, also produced by Theater Company Chaimu.[1]
Facing challenges securing roles, he formed a theater troupe with friends in a rented practice space in Hongeun-dong, Seoul. Acknowledging his initial struggles with acting, he shifted focus toward experimental performances to explore creative plays, producing numerous works driven by passion. Supported by a grant, Park and a small group of collaborators experimented with diverse performance styles. One notable production was the cabaret play Monster (2009). Financial difficulties led to the theater company’s closure after about three years.[1][2][4]
In 2010, Park reconnected with his former college professor, director Yi Sang-woo, and joined his Theater Company Chaimu. Yi organized a performance of John Cariani's play Almost, Maine, in which Park participated. During this production, Yi praised Park on his development as an actor since their university days and advised him to embrace his awkward and clumsy traits. Under Yi's guidance, Park learned to engage more directly with audiences, a skill he found invaluable, as his earlier performances had created a distance between the stage and the audience. Working with Yi played a significant role in boosting Park's confidence as an actor.[2][4]
2012–2019: Breakthrough
Park's film debut was in Helpless in 2012, a psychological thriller written and directed by Byun Young-joo, based on the novel All She Was Worth (火車) by Japanese author Miyabe Miyuki. He played the role of a ruthless loan shark. One memorable scene, shot in a single take, showed Kim Min-hee slapping him. Park mentioned the pressure to get the scene right, calling it a pivotal moment in his career.[1] He later adopted the stage name Park Hae-joon and began his television career with the KBS 2TV drama Jeon Woo-chi, portraying Dae-geun, a street thug involved in a conspiracy against the titular character.[9]
In 2013, Park starred in Hwayi: A Monster Boy alongside Yeo Jin-goo and a veteran cast of Chungmuro actors including Kim Yoon-seok, Jo Jin-woong, Kim Sung-kyun, and Jang Hyun-seong. Park's casting was influenced by his performance in Helpless, which impressed the CEO of the production company and director Jang Joon-hwan. In the film, he portrayed Beom-su, one of Hwa-yi's adopted fathers, a sniper with minimal dialogue but effectively building tension in the scenes.[6][10]
In 2014, Park starred in the drama Doctor Stranger as Cha Jin-soo, a North Korean agent. He later gained more fame for his role in the tvN drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life as Manager Cheon Gwan-woong, a character that office workers could relate to. This role marked his first project with director Kim Won-seok.[1][2][3]
In 2015, he appeared as a guest in the drama The Missing. He also took on his first leading role in Jung Ji-woo's independent film 4th Place. Park played a coach who, after quitting swimming due to corporal punishment, perpetuates the cycle of violence with his student. This project expanded his acting range and earned him nominations for Best New Actor at the 25th Buil Film Awards and Best Actor at the 4th Wildflower Film Awards.[11] On October 29, 2015, Park attended a press conference at the Daehakro Arts Theater 2 in Seoul to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the theater group Chaimu.[12] In December 2015, he participated in the 4th Chaimu's 20th anniversary play One Fine Day directed by Min Bok-ki, where he played the role of Jeong-hoon.[13]
In 2018, Park collaborated with Kim Won-seok for the second time in the drama My Mister, where he played Gyeom-deok, who left his lover Jeong-hee, portrayed by Oh Na-ra, to be a Buddhist monk. Park's portrayal of the morally ambiguous character was well received.[4] The same year, he starred in the crime action film Believer for which he received Best Supporting Actor nominations at the 27th Buil Film Awards and the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.[14][15]
In 2019, Park collaborated with Kim Won-seok for the third time in the drama Arthdal Chronicles, playing the role of Moo-baek, a skilled Daekan warrior (swordsman) known for his exceptional abilities and his kindness and compassion.[16] Park also appeared in four movies that year: Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage, Tune in for Love, Cheer Up, Mr. Lee, and Bring Me Home.[7] His performances once again highlighted his acting versatility in film and television.[4] He also reprised his role as BJ Ka-jun in Theater Company Chaimu's musical Moonlight Fairy and the Girl.[17]
2020–present: Success in film and television
In 2020, Park starred in JTBC's drama The World of the Married, which achieved a nationwide rating of 28.371% for its final episode, making it the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time of airing.[18] His portrayal of Lee Tae-oh an unfaithful husband to Ji Sun-woo (played by Kim Hee-ae), received critical acclaim and generated significant buzz. Lee Tae-oh's catchphrase, "It's not a crime to fall in love!" became widely recognized.[19][20] He was even called the "Nation's Cheater" by media.[21]
Initially, Park declined to participate in the series, expressing concerns about his ability to effectively portray the role effectively.[22] He felt unsure about capturing the necessary intensity, especially with little time to prepare.[23] As a family man, he also grappled with conflicting moral values. Ultimately, he accepted the role after director Byun Young-joo encouraged him to seize the opportunity to work with Kim Hee-ae.[1]
In 2021, Park starred in Netflix's horror-thriller The 8th Night (2021) as Kim Ho-tae, a homicide detective. He also appeared in Han Jae-rim's disaster film Emergency Declaration, which was invited to the out of competition section at the 74th Cannes Film Festival as well as the 55th Sitges Film Festival.[24][25][26] The following year, he starred in TVING's I Have Not Done My Best Yet playing an unemployed father of two.[27][28]
Park joined the ranks of actors who have drawn 10 million viewers to the movie theater by starring in the film 12.12: The Day (2023) playing the role of Major General Noh Tae-geon.[29][21] It was the highest-grossing Korean film of 2023 and the fourth-highest-grossing Korean film of all time.[30] Park was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for his performance.[31][32] He followed this with a reunion with director Han Jae-rim in the Netflix black comedy series The 8 Show (2024).[33]
In January 2024, Park was confirmed for the fourth collaboration with Kim Won-seok for Netflix's series When Life Gives You Tangerines. He played the role of middle-aged Yang Gwan-sik, with Park Bo-gum portraying the younger version.[34][35] The series was released in March 2025. Park's portrayal as a devoted husband and father garnered positive feedback, sparking a surge in searches for his name and keyword "father" in South Korea, Asia, and Latin America. This led to the creation of the "Gwan-sik-byeong" (Gwan-sik-ness) meme and trending keywords like "gray short padding," an item he wore, and "my own Gwan-shik," where netizens shared stories of fathers or husbands resembling his character. Yang Gwan-sik became an idealized representation of fatherhood, earning the title "Nation's Father."[1][36]
He also starred in the crime thriller film Yadang: The Snitch playing a tenacious drug investigator.[37] It was a testament to his versatility as an actor that he flawlessly transformed into these two contrasting roles on the small and big screens respectively.[38][39] His next project will be the Disney+ original series Tempest (2025)[40] and TvN's romantic drama First, For Love.[41]
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Personal life
Park Hae-joon and theater actress Oh Yu-jin, who was his junior at the Korea National University of Arts, got married in 2011 after dating for 7 years.[42][43] The couple welcomed their first child in 2013 and their second child in 2017.[5]
Filmography
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Stage
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Awards and nominations
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Notes
- Picked by Dong-A.com entertainment reporter
References
External links
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