Wi Ha Joon: Good at dancing but loves acting, became famous thanks to "Squid Game"

Wi Ha Joon rose to fame after playing a police officer in the hit series "Squid Game". He not only impressed with his handsome appearance and toned body but also with his versatile acting talent.

Childhood, career beginnings and perseverance in each role

Wi Ha Joon (real name Wi Hyun Yi), born August 5, 1991, is a talented Korean actor and model. He was born and raised in Soan-myeon, Wando County, Jeolla Nam Province, the youngest child in the family.

From a young age, Wi Ha Joon showed a passion for the arts, especially dancing, and was the leader of the dance club in high school. After completing his military service, he majored in Theater and Film at Sungkyul University, officially laying the first bricks for his acting career.

In 2012, Wi Ha Joon made his acting debut in the short film "Peace In Them". From there, he began his journey to conquer the Korean screen persistently, constantly improving his acting skills through each large and small role. Before "Squid Game" exploded, he had appeared in many films and television works of various genres.

In the film industry, he appeared in "Coin Locker Girl" (2015) and "Eclipse" (2016). However, his first impression was the leading role in the horror film "Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum" in 2018, which helped the 9X guy receive many nominations for Best New Actor at prestigious film awards such as Blue Dragon.

In 2019, Wi Ha Joon participated in "Miss & Mrs. Cops" and especially "Midnight" (2021), where he transformed into a serial killer, demonstrating his multi-dimensional acting ability, from positive to negative.

On the small screen, Wi Ha Joon also left an impression through big and small roles in popular films such as "Something In The Rain" (2018), "Romance Is A Bonus Book" (2019). The supporting male role in "18 Again" (2020) also helped him gain more "space to show his skills", receiving attention from the public and experts, an important stepping stone before he "exploded" globally.

Global success and mixed emotions

In 2021, Wi Ha Joon's name attracted attention when he appeared in the hit movie "Squid Game" as police officer Hwang Jun Ho . And this role turned him from a potential actor into a star that the whole world noticed.

Although not the central character, the image of the policeman persistently entering the game of life and death to search for his missing brother left a deep impression on the audience because of his determination, courage and attractive appearance.

After the drama's release, Wi Ha Joon's Instagram followers skyrocketed, reaching over 9.4 million in a short period of time. He was even voted by the prestigious People magazine as one of the "Sexiest Men on TV".

However, faced with the resounding success and sudden global attention, Wi Ha Joon initially had quite the opposite feelings. "At first, I couldn't enjoy it at all. I was really nervous. I hate feeling disappointed, so I tried not to have expectations," he shared in "Heart on Wheels."

However, Wi Ha Joon's thoughts changed dramatically during the press conference for "Squid Game 2". The actor fully embraced and enjoyed the moment: "I enjoyed this event the most in my entire life. I even blew kisses," he excitedly recounted.

Career advancement and preparation for "Squid Game 3"

After "Squid Game", Wi Ha Joon became a sought-after face and continuously appeared in major projects, affirming his position as a global star. He demonstrated his diversity in acting through leading roles in "Bad And Crazy" (2021-2022) with Lee Dong Wook, "Little Women" (2022), and Disney action series such as "The Worst of Evil" (2023) with Ji Chang Wook, Im Se Mi.

He also appeared in Netflix's blockbuster "Gyeongseong Creature" with Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee, continuing to affirm his position in large-scale projects.

Notably, "Squid Game 3" starring Wi Ha Joon officially aired on June 27 and is currently a hot topic on global forums. Previously, screenwriter and director Hwang Dong Hyuk confirmed that this will be the final part of the "hit" series.

However, the surprise appearance of two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett in the final minutes of the film has opened up great expectations that "Squid Game" will have extended versions in countries other than Korea. Although Wi Ha Joon's role in part 3 has not been revealed in detail, his return to the "Squid Game" universe is certainly the focus of global fans.

The stressful audition and the secret to remembering lines of "policeman" Hwang Jun Ho

Recently, in the broadcast of the program "Heart on Wheels", Wi Ha Joon revealed for the first time interesting behind-the-scenes stories about the "fateful" audition for "Squid Game". Unlike many other actors who had to send live videos, Ha Joon visited the original production company just to say hello. Surprisingly, that was when the role of police officer Hwang Jun Ho - one of the few remaining main roles - had not yet found a suitable person.

"They heard my voice and asked me to audition," Wi Ha Joon recalled. He also shared about the tension of the casting: "I thought it would be a normal script reading, but director Hwang Dong Hyuk and the producer were there."

Luckily, Wi Ha Joon's peculiar habit worked. "I tend to memorize all my lines before auditioning, and fortunately, that worked in my favor," he admitted. Thanks to his excellent memorization skills and thorough preparation, the 9X guy won over the production team and landed the role of a lifetime in the global hit series.

In addition to acting, Wi Ha Joon is also known for his masculine appearance, toned body and impressive fashion style. He was also honored by GQ Korea as one of the "Men of the Year" in 2022.

With his career on the rise, along with his unceasing dedication to art, Wi Ha Joon promises to bring many more surprises and new marks to Korean and international screens in the future. He is proof that talent and perseverance will eventually be rewarded.

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