One of the most well knownK-dramaactors,Park Sung-hoonhas enjoyed a number of memorable roles, across various genres. Since his acting debut in the 2008 drama,A Frozen Flower, Park has shown that he can shine in various roles. Like many K-Drama actors, Park Sung-hoon started out his career playing supporting roles before becoming a lead character insome of the best K-dramas. From romantic K-dramas likeQueen of Tearsto thrillers likeThe Glory, Park Sung-hoon has captivated audiences with his nuanced portrayals.
Although Park Sung-hoon is now known for his roles in K-dramas, he began his career as a stage actor before moving on to TV and film. After spending years in theater, the actor finally landed a supporting role in the historical K-drama,The Moon Embracing the Sun. While most of Park Sung-hoon’s best work comes from films, he has stillmade a mark in the K-drama scene and taken on various complex rolesfrom theNetflix original K-drama,Squid Game, to the traditional broadcast TV show,My Only One.
10Psychopath Diary
Character: Seo In-woo
Starring Yoon Shi-yoon and Shim Bo-kyung,Psychopath Diaryrevolves around a series of murders committed by a serial killer. Dong-sik is a timid office worker who comes across a mysterious diary that lists the names of murder victims. After an accident that causes him to lose his memory, Dong-sik becomes convinced that he is a serial killer because of the diary that is in his possession.Psychopath Diaryis an intriguing K-dramathat perfectly weaves murder but still manages to have interesting subplots.
Psychopath Diary
Cast
Psychopath Diary follows Yook Dong-sik, a man who inadvertently witnesses a murder and acquires the culprit’s diary. After an accident resulting in amnesia, he mistakenly believes he is a psychopathic serial killer due to the diary in his possession.
Park Sung-hoon can once again be seen as the antagonistinPsychopath Diary. He takes on the role of Seo In-woo, a director at Daehan Securities. In-woo is cold and heartless, a lethal combination that makes him a serial killer. Park Sung-hoon embodies the psychopath perfectly, making the K-drama one of his best works. He is terrifying and cruel, with his scenes being some of the most intense in the K-drama.
9Don’t Dare To Dream (2016)
Character: Secretary Cha
The romantic K-drama,Don’t Dare to Dream, starsWhen the Stars Gossip’s Gong Hyo-jin, who is the lead female character.The K-drama sees Pyo Na-ri fall for a rich heir, Go Jung-won. Na-ri was initially in love with Hwa-shin, but her affection changed after she met Jung-won.Don’t Dare to Dreamincludes a love triangle that pulls audiences in. While it’s not a perfect K-drama,Don’t Dare to Dreamstill features several heartwarming moments that prove that Gong Hyo-jin is the queen of romance.
Don’t Dare to Dream
Don’t Dare to Dream is a 2016 romantic drama centering on a weather girl who reencounters her former crush, an arrogant reporter at her TV network. However, her romantic interest shifts as she becomes drawn to his charismatic best friend.
InDon’t Dare to Dream,Park Sung-hoon takes on a supporting roleas Secretary Cha. The actor doesn’t have a lot of scenes in the K-drama, but the moments when he can be seen on the screen are enthralling. Secretary Cha is loyal and kind, which is a far cry from some of Park Sung-hoon’s roles where he plays the villain.
Character: Go Jin-cheol
The crime K-drama,Mad Dog, focuses on an investigation team that reveals insurance fraud. WithMad Dog’s cast led by Yoo Ji-tae, the K-drama sees his character, Choi Kang-woo / Mad Dog, who loses his wife and son in a tragic airplane crash, try to find out what caused their accident.
Despite Park Sung-hoon’s limited number of scenes inMad Dog, the K-drama played a significant part in helping him show that he is a versatile actor.
Mad Dogtouches on an issue that very few K-dramas delve into. Because of this, the K-drama has been praised for shedding light on the prevalent insurance fraud schemes that are prevalent in South Korea.Park Sung-hoon had a minor role as Go Jin-cheolinMad Dog. Jin-cheol is a bad guy who was behind the murder of Lee Min-ran.
Mad Dog
Mad Dog (2017) is a South Korean crime drama revolving around a former detective, Choi Kang-woo, played by Yoo Ji-tae, who leads a team of insurance fraud investigators. Together, they uncover conspiracies and frauds perpetrated by powerful organizations. The show delves into themes of justice and retribution, featuring Woo Do-hwan as Kim Min-joon, whose personal vendetta intertwines with Choi’s quest for truth.
The actor doesn’t have a lot of screen time in the series ashe is killed in the sixth episode. Despite Park Sung-hoon’s limited number of scenes inMad Dog, the K-drama played a significant part in helping him show that he is a versatile actor who can give a great performance in any role he is cast in.
7My Only One (2018)
Character: Jung Go-rae
My Only Onefollows Kim Do-ran, a young woman living with her adoptive parents. Do-ran’s foster family doesn’t always treat her kindly, but she still soldiers on and tries her best to provide for them. Her father, Kang Soo-il, was in prison for 28 years, so he never got to see Do-ran grow up. When he is released from jail, Soo-il returns to Do-ran’s life, further complicating her situation.
My Only One
My Only One is a South Korean drama that tells the story of a woman whose life changes when her estranged biological father reappears after 28 years. As he reveals his concealed identity, they embark on a journey to mend their fractured relationship and heal their emotional wounds.
While Park Sung-hoon only has a supporting role inMy Only One,he has more on-screen time compared to the other K-dramaswhere he wasn’t the lead actor. Park Sung-hoon’s performance as Jung Go-rae is one of the reasonsMy Ony Oneis such an interesting K-drama. He gives his performance his all, and it shows in the way that Go-rae manages to steal the show whenever he has a scene in the K-drama.
6Justice (2019)
Character: Tak Soo-ho
Justicefollows Lee Tae-kyung, a lawyer who is known for his high-winning rate. Instead of using his skills for good, Tae-kyung instead defends elite criminals in order to fill his pockets. When Tae-kyung starts working on cases involving missing actresses, he has a change of heart and remembers the real reason he became a lawyer.
Justice
Justice, released in 2019, follows Lee Tae Kyung, a prominent lawyer known for defending elite clients and securing acquittals. Partnered with construction mogul Song Woo Yong, he prioritizes wealth until cases of missing actresses incite a personal transformation, leading to conflict with Song over their ambitions and loyalties.
In one of his big roles,Park Sung-hoon plays Tak Soo-ho, the vice chairman of Jung Jin Group. Soo-ho is ambitious and cruel, using his power to cover up his crimes.Justiceis another K-drama where Park Sung-hoon plays the antagonist, a role that he excels at. While there’s nothing extraordinary about Tak Soo-ho in that he is the usual corrupt character who only cares about himself, Park Sung-hoon’s performance in the K-drama is what sets it apart from similar shows.
5Six Flying Dragons (2015)
Character: Gil Yoo
Released in 2015 and written by Kim Young-hyun and Park Sang-yeon,Six Flying Dragonsis a fictionalized story about the third king of the Josean Dynasty, Yi Bang-won. The historical K-drama delves into the conflicts between the people during Yi Bang-won’s reign and the atrocities they committed.
Six Flying Dragonshas been praised for its realistic depiction of politics in Korea during the Joseph era and the cast’s incredible performance. InSix Flying Dragons,Park Sung-hoon takes on the role of Gil Yoo, Gil Tae-mi’s son. The South Korean actor only has a minor supporting role in the K-drama.
Six Flying Dragons
Six Flying Dragons is a South Korean historical drama that tells the story of the early life of King Sejong, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. The series explores his journey from being a prince to becoming the king, focusing on his relationships and struggles during this time.
However, his nuanced portrayal of Gil Yoo is what showed that he is a versatile actor who has the capability of immersing himself in his character. AlthoughSix Flying Dragonsisn’t Park Sung-hoon’s best K-drama, his role in the TV show isan important part of his career.
4Memorials (2020)
Character: SEO Gyong-myung
Memorials,also known asInto The Ring,focuses on the love story between Seo Gyong-myung and Goo Se-ra. Se-ra takes a job at the District People’s Council where she meets Gyong-myung. Despite being popular opposites, Se-ra and Gyong-myung begin to fall for each other as they work together to punish corrupt politicians.
Memorialsgarnered positive reviews because of the chemistry between its lead characters, its interesting political storyline, and the stellar performances of the supporting cast.Memorialsis Park Sung-hoon’s first lead role. He plays Seo Gyong-myung, a civil servant who is known as the “Number One Handsome Man” at his workplace.
Memorials / Into the Ring
Into the Ring follows a determined young woman as she enters civil service, lured by a lucrative salary from a district representative position. Partnering with the demoted Seo Gong Myung, they work together to combat political corruption, navigating the intricacies of local governmental machinations.
Gyong-myung is a stickler for rules, a trait that many people find discomforting.Park Sung-hoon shined in his first lead roleand his on-screen chemistry with Nana made the K-drama immensely enjoyable. Park Sung-hoon’s performance inMemorialsearned him the Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries at the 2020 KBS Drama Awards.
3The Glory (2022)
Character: Jeon Jae-jeon
The Revenge K-drama,The Glory, is one of the most intriguing Netflix Korean TV series, especially because it is based on a true story. Written by Kim Eun-sook,The Gloryfollows Song Hye-kyo’s Moon Dong-eun, a young woman who is ruthlessly bullied by her classmates.
When she becomes an adult, Dong-eun comes up with an elaborate plan of revenge to make those who made her high school life a living hell pay.The Gloryreceived critical acclaim because of its depiction of bullying and the impact it can have on victims.Park Sung-hoon took on the role of Jeon Jae-jeon, one of the people who bullied Dong-eun.
The Glory
The Glory is a South Korean television series that follows the journey of Moon Dong-eun, a woman who seeks vengeance against those who tormented her during her school years. As she meticulously executes her elaborate plans, the show explores themes of bullying, revenge, and the lasting impact of trauma. Directed by Ahn Gil-ho and written by Kim Eun-sook, the series stars Song Hye-kyo in the lead role.
As an adult,Jae-joon is still ruthless and arrogant, just like he was as a teenager. It’s not often easy to step into a difficult role like the one that Park Sung-hoon had inThe Glory, more so because of how cruel his character was. However, the actor nailed his character, and flawlessly stepped into his villainy, makingThe Gloryone of his best roles.
2Queen Of Tears (2024)
Character: Yoon Eun-seong
Queen of Tearswas one of the most impactful K-dramas that was released in 2024. The Korean TV show broke several records and took the top spot astVN’s most-watched K-drama of all time.Queen of Tears focuses on Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo’s turbulent marriage.
His performance as Eun-seong once again proved that he is capable of playing characters who are cunning and cruel.
The K-drama had everything audiences enjoyed about the genre, including great chemistry between its lead characters, an intriguing storyline, and an entertaining villain. Park Sung-hoon joined thecast ofQueen of Tearsas Yoon Eun-seong, Hae-in’s childhood friend who returns to her life in their adult years.
Queen Of Tears
Hong Hae-in, the heiress of the prestigious Queens Group, and her husband Baek Hyun-woo, known as the “supermarket prince,” navigate the complexities of their high-profile marriage. While Hae-in exudes a cold and calculating demeanor, Hyun-woo brings warmth and emotional depth to their relationship. Their union, celebrated as the “wedding of the century,” faces a monumental crisis that forces them to reassess their differences and rediscover the strength in their bond.
Just like his role inThe Glory,Park Sung-hoon is the antagonist inQueen of Tears. His performance as Eun-seong once again proved that he is capable of playing characters who are cunning and cruel. Park Sung-hoon elevatedQueen of Tearsand made it one of thebest K-dramas of 2024.
1Squid Game
Character: Cho Hyun-ju
One of Netflix’s most-watched shows,Squid Gamecenters around 456 players who are in dire financial positions. The players are recruited to take part in the Squid Games by Gong Yoo’s The Salesman without fully understanding that they are signing their death warrants if they do not win.
10 Times Hyun-ju Stole The Show In Squid Game Season 2
Cho Hyun-ju is the standout character of Squid Game season 2 as she consistently steals the show with her compassion, bravery, and skill.
Squid Gamewas not only one of Netflix’s most popular shows, but it was also a critical success and was praised for its smart commentary on capitalism and human nature.Squid Gamehas had several interesting characterssince season 1, but Park Sung-hoon’s Cho Hyun-ju is probably the most unique.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
Cho Hyun-ju is a transgender woman who takes part in the competitionin order to win the money that could help her leave South Korea and move to Thailand, where she wouldn’t face as much stigma as she did in her home country. AlthoughPark Sung-hoonwas criticized for taking on the role of a transgender woman when he isn’t one, he perfectly captured Hyun-jun’s essence. Therefore, it’s not surprising that his performance inSquid Gameis his best so far.
