Park Hae-joon

2000–2018: Beginnings and breakthrough

Park began his acting career in theater in the early 2000s. In 2013, he gained recognition for his supporting role in the film Hwayi: A Monster Boy,^[3] and became known for his role in the tvN drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014) and The Missing (2015). He has received wider attention in 2018 for his versatility in his roles in the drama My Mister and the independent film 4th Place for which he received nominations for Best New Actor at 25th Buil Film Awards and Best Actor at the 4th Wildflower Film Awards.^[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.^[5][6]

2019–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 becoming the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history at the time of airing.^[7] His acting performance as the adulterous Lee Tae-oh received praise and created a lot of buzz with the legendary catchphrase, "It's not a crime to fall in love!".^[8][9] He was even called the "Nation's Cheater" by media outlets due to his performance.^[10]

Park starred in Netflix's horror-thriller The 8th Night (2021) and Emergency Declaration (2021), the latter of which was invited to the out of competition section of the 74th Cannes Film Festival as well as the 55th Sitges Film Festival.^[11][12] The following year, he starred int TVING's I Have Not Done My Best Yet playing an unemployed father of two.^[13][14] His performance in the drama highlighted his extensive acting spectrum in film and television playing roles like a middle-aged salaryman, a monk, a serious drug addict, to a real-life figure from modern history.^[1]

Park joined the ranks of actors who have drawn 10 million viewers by starring in the film 12.12: The Day (2023) playing the role of Major General Noh Tae-geon.^[15][16] It was the highest-grossing Korean film of 2023 and the fourth-highest-grossing Korean film of all time.^[17] Park was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for his performance.^[18][19] He followed this with a starring role in the Netflix black comedy series The 8 Show (2024).^[20]

In 2025, Park starred in Netflix's period drama When Life Gives You Tangerines playing the middle-age version of Park Bo-gum's character who is a devoted husband and father,^[21] and also starred in the crime thriller film Yadang: The Snitch playing a tenacious drug investigator.^[22] The Dong-A Ilbo noted that it was a testament to his versatility as an actor that he flawlessly transforms into these two contrasting roles in the small and big screen respectively.^[23][24] He will next star in the Disney+ original series Tempest (2025)^[25] and TvN's romantic drama First, For Love.^[26]

Film

Television series