Everyone remembers the moment they realized Cho Sang-woo wasn't the "good guy" of the competition. He was the pride of Ssangmun-dong, the SNU graduate with a degree in business, and the childhood friend who seemed to have it all figured out until he didn't. But beyond the green tracksuit and the increasingly ruthless decisions, there was a powerhouse actor delivering a performance so layered it actually made you feel for a character who, by all accounts, was the show's true antagonist. Park Hae-soo is the man who played Sang-woo in Squid Game, and his journey to that role is just as fascinating as the character's descent into desperation.
He wasn't an overnight success. Far from it.
While some actors explode onto the scene in their early twenties, Park Hae-soo spent years honing his craft in the theater. He’s what Korean industry insiders call a "stage-born" actor. Before Netflix became his global megaphone, he was dominating the boards in Seoul’s Daehangno district. If you’ve ever wondered why his presence on screen feels so heavy and intentional, it’s because he spent a decade projecting his voice to the back of packed theater halls. He understands the weight of silence.
The Transformation: How Park Hae-soo Became the SNU Prodigy
When we talk about who played Sang-woo in Squid Game, we’re talking about an actor who had to play a man living a double life. Sang-woo was the neighbor everyone was proud of, yet he was also a disgraced fund manager who stole billions of won. Park Hae-soo has mentioned in interviews that he didn't view Sang-woo as a villain. Instead, he saw him as a man who was simply more "efficient" than the rest.
That’s a terrifying way to look at a character, isn't it?
To get into the headspace of a man who would push a glass manufacturer to his death just to ensure a win, Park focused on the logic. He played Sang-woo with a cold, calculated stillness that contrasted perfectly with Lee Jung-jae’s more emotional Gi-hun. It wasn't about being "evil" for the sake of it. It was about survival of the fittest, filtered through the lens of a high-stakes corporate mind.
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Prison Playbook was actually the first time many international fans noticed him. In that series, he played a famous baseball pitcher who ends up in jail. It was a complete 180 from Sang-woo. In Prison Playbook, he was stoic and a bit dim-witted but incredibly kind-hearted. Seeing him flip that stoicism into the predatory gaze of Sang-woo was a masterclass in range.
Why Park Hae-soo Was the Only Choice for Sang-woo
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk needed someone who could look like a trustworthy leader one second and a cold-blooded killer the next. It’s a specific type of face. Park Hae-soo has these sharp, intelligent eyes that can suddenly go dead when the scene requires it.
Think back to the marbles game.
That episode, "Gganbu," broke everyone. While the world wept for Ali, we watched Sang-woo manipulate his way to survival. Park Hae-soo played that scene with a trembling hands but a steady voice. He captured the shame of a man who knew he was doing something monstrous but felt he had no other choice. It’s that internal conflict that makes the performance legendary. Without Park's ability to ground that character in reality, Sang-woo might have just been a caricature of a "greedy businessman."
Instead, he was a mirror. He represented the part of the audience that asks, "What would I actually do to survive?"
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Life After the Suit: What's Park Hae-soo Doing Now?
Since the global explosion of Squid Game, the man who played Sang-woo hasn't slowed down. He’s become something of a "Netflix regular." If you see a high-budget Korean production on the platform, there's a good chance he's in it.
He stepped into the role of Berlin in the Korean remake of Money Heist. Talk about big shoes to fill. While the original Spanish Berlin was more of a flamboyant psychopath, Park's version was colder, more authoritative, and physically imposing. He also starred in Narco-Saints, playing an undercover agent trying to take down a drug lord in Suriname.
Honestly, he seems to gravitate toward characters who are trapped in impossible situations. Whether it’s a prison cell, a debt-ridden game, or an undercover mission, he excels at portraying men under immense pressure.
Beyond the Screen: The Real Park Hae-soo
Off-camera, he’s apparently nothing like the ruthless Sang-woo. Cast members from Squid Game often joke that he was the "mood maker" on set. He’s known for being incredibly polite and professional, a trait often attributed to his long years in the theater. He’s also a family man; he actually became a father right around the time the show was released. Imagine your child being born the same week you become one of the most recognized faces on the planet.
Career Milestones You Should Know:
- Debut: He started in theater back in 2007. That's nearly 20 years of experience.
- Awards: He won Best New Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture.
- The Broadway Dream: He has often expressed a desire to return to the stage, even with his massive film success.
The nuance he brings to his roles stems from a genuine intellectual curiosity about human nature. He doesn't just read a script; he deconstructs it. When he was preparing for Squid Game, he spent a lot of time thinking about the pressure of expectations—the "SNU graduate" label that followed Sang-woo everywhere. It wasn't just about the money. It was about the ego.
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The Legacy of Sang-woo in Pop Culture
Sang-woo isn't just a character; he’s a meme, a cautionary tale, and a subject of endless debate. Was he the real protagonist? Was he just a product of a broken system? The fact that we are still talking about him years after the show premiered is a testament to Park Hae-soo's work.
He made us hate him, and then he made us pity him. In the final scene, in the rain, when he finally chooses his childhood friend over himself, we see a flicker of the boy from Ssangmun-dong. That transition—from the calculated killer back to the broken neighbor—is where Park Hae-soo proved his genius.
Exploring Park Hae-soo's Best Work
If you want to see more of the man who played Sang-woo, you shouldn't just stop at Squid Game. Check out these titles to see his full range:
- Prison Playbook: His first major lead role. Essential viewing.
- Time to Hunt: A dystopian thriller where he plays a terrifying, silent assassin.
- The Great Flood: A more recent project showcasing his ability to handle big-budget sci-fi spectacle.
Watching his filmography is like watching a masterclass in subtle physical acting. He doesn't need big monologues. He uses his shoulders, his jawline, and the way he adjusts his glasses to tell you exactly what his character is thinking.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Park Hae-soo and the impact of his performance as Sang-woo, start by watching his "Actors Roundtable" interviews on YouTube. Hearing him discuss the psychology of his characters provides a much richer understanding of why Sang-woo acted the way he did. Furthermore, keep an eye on his upcoming projects in the "K-Content" pipeline; he has several high-stakes thrillers in development that promise to push his "man on the edge" persona even further. Finally, revisit Squid Game specifically to watch his eyes in the background of scenes—you’ll notice details in his performance that you definitely missed the first time around.