Most of you recognise Heo Sung-tae as the mobster Jang Deok-su from the Netflix series Squid Game, but you may not be familiar with his odd backstory. Heo, a Busan native who majored in Russian, later worked for the LG Corporation selling televisions in that country. He didn’t start acting professionally until 2011, when he entered the talent competition Miraculous Audition while inebriated. After appearing in Age of Shadows, Heo gained notoriety on the national level. Five years later, Squid Game helped him get popularity on a global scale.
Heo has a substantial resume thanks to how “late” he began his acting career. Here is a list of his top films and TV shows, ranked.
Big Bet (2022)
Big Bet is a South Korean TV series that was created by Kang Yoon-sung and features the illustrious Choi Min-sik in the title character. It centres on a renowned casino figure from the Philippines who becomes entangled in a homicide investigation. Seo Tae-seok, one of the characters at the casinos, is portrayed by Heo Sung-tae. Seo Tae-seok flew to the Philippines from Korea in order to conceal his unlawful business endeavours. You get to experience the two countries from the 1970s through the 2000s, and it has a fantastic storyline and terrific acting, especially from Choi and Heo. It’s bad that people only expect the huge brand ventures from Disney+; else, this would have garnered more attention.
Hunt (2022)
Hunt is a South Korean action espionage movie that Lee Jung-jae, the director of Squid Game, first directed as a feature picture. It covers three significant historical occurrences that occurred in South Korea in the 1980s: the Gwanju rebellion, the defection of North Korean pilot Lee Woong-pyung, and the bombing of Rangoon. It centres on two experienced detectives as they look for the North Korean infiltrator. Heo plays the role of ANSP Domestic Unit agent Jang Cheol-seong. It offers a wild journey with lots of turns, thrilling action, and nail-biting anxiety.
Rampant (2018)
Anyone up for a historical zombie film? Rampant, however, adds more to the mix in addition to that. This South Korean movie centres on a conflict between a prince in exile and a minister from the Joseon era against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse. Even though Heo Sung-Tae has a small part in the overall storyline, it’s still worthwhile to watch if you want to catch a glimpse of him. Even if there may be improvements that might have been made if you’ve watched shows like Kingdom, it’s still worth viewing for any zombie aficionado. Obviously, watch with the original soundtrack as well.
Squid Game (2021)
Everyone has heard of Squid Game, and I assume that’s how you came to know Heo Sung-Tae. It’s likely that you’ve watched one of the few South Korean programmes on Netflix because it has smashed multiple viewing records for the service. It involves a group of individuals who are competing against one another in a lethal programme while playing kiddie games. Heo portrays the mobster Jang Deok-su, who joins the game in order to pay off his gambling debts and get away from the boss he has been stealing from. It offers really interesting episodes, excellent acting, stunning sets, and unravels a crucial debate about capitalism.
The Age of Shadows (2016)
The Age of Shadows, a South Korean historical thriller, is a must-see last but not least. Song Kang-ho, Gong Yoo, Heo, and Ha Il-soo are all featured as the film’s main actors. It follows Korean resistance warriors known as Heroic Corps who smuggle explosives to topple Japanese-led organisations in South Korea. The story takes place in 1920s Japan and Korea. The Age of Shadows may feel like a life-changing experience for those who are unfamiliar with the calibre of South Korean films. It boasts a fantastic cast, a script that moves along at a good clip, and a lovely story.
The Fortress (2017)
The Fortress, another historical drama with Lee Byung-hun as the lead, was directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The story takes place in 1636, during the Qing conquest of Joseon, and is based on the novel Namhansanseong. It follows King Injo and his bodyguards as they look for safety inside a castle. Heo portrays a supporting role for Yong Gol-dae, one of the retainers. The Fortress will appeal to readers who appreciate historically accurate accounts of politics and warfare in mediaeval literature, which are in high demand. There is only political violence and no illusion. It’s more about surviving than winning, and the scenery is lovely and fascinating to see.
The Outlaws (2017)
The Outlaws is a South Korean crime action movie that serves as the first chapter in the Crime City series. Ma Dong-seok and Yoon Kye-sang play the main characters. The story takes place in 2004 and centres on a detective who battles a loan shark while attempting to stop gang warfare between Koreans and Chinese. Heo portrays the Viper, one of the gang’s members. Given that Yoon-Seong Kang, a rookie director at the time, directed The Outlaws, it is extremely outstanding and capable of embarrassing any accomplished Hollywood director. Its drama, comedy, and action are all of the highest calibre in addition to being based on actual occurrences. Both the actors’ casting and their performances were superb.
The Royal Tailor (2014)
The Royal Tailor is a South Korean historical drama about two rival tailors who were in charge of creating the royal clothing for the Joseon dynasty. This rivalry causes scandal and catastrophe in the kingdom. Han Suk-kyu, Go Soo, and Park Shin-hye are among the actors who star in Lee Won-suk’s film, which also features Heo as Officer Jong. It can be pretty captivating for individuals who haven’t seen any Korean historical films. Don’t anticipate a happy conclusion, as is customary with South Korean films, but given that it’s mainly a movie about royal apparel, you can anticipate quite a spectacular wardrobe throughout the movie.
The Swindlers (2017)
Hyun Bin plays the main character in Jang Chang-won’s crime action movie The Swindlers. It depicts the tale of a gang of law enforcement officers working together to apprehend a cunning con artist. Heo portrays Jang Du-chil, a character who is a part of the investigation. Although there are numerous films with comparable plots, this one stands out for being more straightforward. With a funny protagonist and an adversary that ends up stealing the show, it’s made incredibly simple to follow. This movie is perfect if you want to pass the time because you have nothing else to do.
The Silent Sea (2021)
The Silent Sea is a South Korean Netflix TV series that combines science fiction, thriller, and mystery. It is an adaptation of his 2014 short film The Sea of Tranquilly. Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, and Heo play the main characters, along with Kim Jae-sun, the head of the Aviation Administration’s Resource Group. It centres on an astronaut team that has 24 hours to collect a lunar sample. It features characters you would anticipate in this setting: the leader, the one concerned about a family member, the one who always complains, and the one who can’t be trusted. It also gives enough of tension throughout. However, if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief, this is a fairly good series for you. Science is sometimes disregarded.
