Heo Sung-tae
Biography
Heo Sung-tae is a South Korean actor born on June 2, 1977, in Busan, South Korea. He originally worked in the shipbuilding industry before pursuing acting in his thirties, making his debut in 2010. He gradually built a career playing villains and tough characters in Korean cinema.
Heo gained global recognition for his role as Jang Deok-su (Player 101), the menacing and violent gangster, in the Netflix series Squid Game (2021-present). His physically intimidating performance as the most feared contestant in the games made him one of the show's most memorable antagonists.
Beyond Squid Game, Heo has appeared in Korean films including The Merciless (2017), The Outlaws (2017), and Beyond Evil (2021). His late start in acting and subsequent rise to global fame has been an inspirational story in the Korean entertainment industry.
Known For
Other Notable Roles
- Hyun-su in Beyond Evil (2021)
- Jang Chen in The Outlaws (2017)
- Ko Byung-gak in The Merciless (2017)
Awards & Recognition
- 🏆 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series (Squid Game)
Frequently Asked Questions
Heo Sung-tae is best known for playing Jang Deok-su (Player 101) in Squid Game (2021).
He worked in the shipbuilding industry in Busan before pursuing acting in his thirties.
He has appeared in The Outlaws (2017), The Merciless (2017), and Beyond Evil (2021), among others.