Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated Cho EK
Wi Ha Joon joined school dance clubs and spent his time practicing his dance moves to become an idol singer in his early years. However, when he finally signed with an agency, he took a different career path after falling in love with acting.
He made his acting debut with the 2015 film Coin Locker Girl. Later on, he found his fame by starring in the horror film, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018). In it, he played the leader of the seven YouTubers who visit a haunted hospital to experience paranormal phenomena. He perfectly pulled off the evil and selfish character who puts his desires before others.
After playing the evil character with a not-so-evil face, he turned into an attractive young man in a romance drama. In JTBC’s Something in the Rain (2018), he appeared as Son Ye Jin’s younger sibling. In it, he transformed into a nagging brother who always looks out for his sister. Plus, in KBS’ Matrimonial Chaos (2018) and tvN’s Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019), he stole viewers’ hearts as Bae Doo Na and Lee Na Young’s dream guy.
Ahn has previously revealed that film noir is his favorite genre, and perhaps because of that, he is having the busiest year ever this year. In the two recent works, he has done a stunning job of playing despicable and violent characters, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. First of all, he dropped more than 10kg to play a two-faced, vile serial killer in thriller Midnight (2021). Secondly, in Shark: The Beginning (2021)’s movie adaptation, he played a martial arts champion and nailed his challenging action stunts.
Finally, in the Netflix original series Squid Game, he took on the role of Hwang Jun Ho, the mysterious masked man, and gave a lasting impression on the viewers. By playing the detective who infiltrates the island to find the truth about his missing brother, he captivated the audience and left everyone wanting more. Currently, the number of his Instagram followers is growing exponentially as if it’s proving his popularity.
Wi Ha Joon will soon meet viewers with the tvN’s fantasy hero drama, Bad and Crazy. He plays a righteous weirdo named K who dreams of becoming the last hero of this world. He is expected to present a brand-new character with this role. Although Hwang was pushed to the edge in Squid Game by taking off his mask, we must remember that there are still many faces that the actor is preparing to show us.
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
Translator Cho EK: I’m a big fan of Korean dramas and movies.