Ha Jung-woo

Born Kim Sung-hoon on March 11, 1978, Ha Jung-woo is a South Korean actor who has quickly become one of the most celebrated and successful actors in his country's film industry. His impressive career has seen him star in more than 100 million ticketed films - a milestone achieved by only three other actors in South Korea's history, with Ha being nearly a decade younger than the rest when he reached this feat.

Ha's meteoric rise to stardom began with his captivating portrayal of a serial killer hunter in Na Hong-jin's critically acclaimed thriller "The Chaser" (2008). Since then, Ha has showcased an incredible range and versatility as an actor by taking on diverse roles across various film genres.

In the road movie "My Dear Enemy" (2008), he played a defector searching for his family. He tackled sports drama in "Take Off" (2009) and delved into action thriller territory with "The Yellow Sea" (2010). Ha then starred as a corrupt police officer in the gangster saga "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time" (2012), which earned him Best Actor awards at the Blue Dragon and Grand Bell film festivals.

Ha continued his string of successful performances with romantic comedy "Love Fiction" (2012) and espionage actioner "The Berlin File" (2013). He also starred as an embattled news reporter in "The Terror Live" (2013), proving his ability to handle complex characters and gripping storylines.

Further expanding his acting portfolio, Ha took on the role of the grim reaper Gang-rim in the fantasy action film "Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds" (2017) and its 2018 sequel. Additionally, Ha made the leap from actor to director with his debut comedy film "Fasten Your Seatbelt" (2013), followed by the poignant drama "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant" (2015).

Throughout his illustrious career, Ha Jung-woo has proven himself as not only an incredible actor but also a talented filmmaker, leaving a lasting mark on Korean cinema.