Biography
Who is Park Hae-soo?
Early life and theater beginnings
Park Hae-soo was born in Suwon, South Korea, on November 21, 1981. During his school years at Bundang Jungang High School, he joined the theater club and discovered his interest in acting. He later enrolled in the Department of Theater and Film at Dankook University in 2000 with the goal of becoming a professional stage actor. His father strongly disapproved of this career path, and while studying, Park worked various part-time jobs at sushi and barbecue restaurants as well as concert venues.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, Park completed his mandatory military service in the 50th Infantry Division, working as a teaching assistant in a training center. He started his professional career in 2007, working primarily on stage in both plays and musicals. For several years, he built experience in theatrical productions before transitioning into television and film roles.
Breakthrough and television success
In 2012, director Kim Jin-min saw a promotional poster featuring Park for the musical Samcheon - Flower of Ruin and cast him in the television series God of War, marking his screen debut. Over the next few years, Park took on minor and supporting roles in various projects. His career gained momentum in March 2016 when he joined BH Entertainment following his appearance in the historical drama Six Flying Dragons.
Park achieved his major breakthrough in 2017 when director Shin Won-ho cast him as the lead in the cable television series Prison Playbook. The drama became a significant hit and earned widespread acclaim, making it one of the highest-rated Korean dramas on cable television at the time. Following this success, Park continued taking on diverse roles in film and television, including the dystopian thriller Time to Hunt.
International recognition and Squid Game
In 2021, Park achieved global recognition when he portrayed Cho Sang-woo in the first season of the Netflix survival drama Squid Game. The big popularity of the series brought him international fame and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Following the show's release, he joined Instagram and gained hundreds of thousands of followers within a single day.
Building on his international success, Park appeared in multiple Netflix productions in 2022, including Narco-Saints, Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area, and Yaksha: Ruthless Operations. In July of that year, he signed with the United States talent agency UTA. He also expanded his work internationally by starring in theatrical tours such as The Cherry Orchard, which concluded with performances at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City.
Personal life
Over a ten-year period, Park shared living spaces as a roommate with several fellow actors, including Im Chul-soo, Lee Gi-seob, and Park Jae-yoon. He was previously in a relationship with musical actress Lim Kang-hee from 2013 to 2016.
On January 14, 2019, Park married in a private ceremony in Seoul. His wife gave birth to their first son on September 17, 2021, and the couple welcomed a second son on August 23, 2026.
Birthday and age
Park Hae-soo was born on November 21, 1981, which makes Park 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Park shares the date with 30 other famous people.
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