Ha Jung-Woo

Ha Jung-Woo (born Kim Sung-Hun on March 11, 1979) is a prominent South Korean actor, director, and screenwriter. Born in Seoul, he comes from a family with established ties to the entertainment industry; his father is veteran actor Kim Yong-Geon, and his younger brother is also involved in acting.

Ha pursued higher education at Chung-Ang University, majoring in theater, where he gained foundational experience performing on stage. Before entering university, he trained at a private acting institute, studying under actor Lee Beom-Su.

Early Career and Breakthrough

Ha fulfilled his mandatory military service starting in 1998 within the Armed Forces Public Relations Department, where he appeared in several promotional films. He made his professional acting debut in 2002, appearing in the television sitcom Honest Living and feature film Madeleine.

In 2005, he signed with the talent agency Sidus HQ and adopted the stage name Ha Jung-Woo. That same year, he starred in the indie film The Unforgiven, which focused on military personnel dynamics. His international recognition grew following collaborations with director Kim Ki-duk in films such as Time and Breath.

Rise to Prominence

Ha achieved widespread commercial and critical acclaim for his portrayal of a serial killer in Na Hong-jin's 2008 thriller The Chaser. The film drew significant box-office success and established Ha as a leading figure in contemporary Korean cinema. Following this success, he maintained an active career, starring in high-profile projects including Take Off (2009), The Yellow Sea (2010), The Berlin File (2013), and The Terror Live (2013).

Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, Ha continued to take on diverse roles in major commercial releases, such as Park Chan-wook's critically acclaimed period drama The Handmaiden (2016), the disaster drama Tunnel (2016), the fantasy epic series Along with the Gods (2017–2018), and the historical action film 1987: When The Day Comes (2017).