ArtistMSTeam Entertainment
Wi Ha-joon
Wi Ha-joon (위하준), born Wi Hyun-yi (위현이) on August 5, 1991, is a South Korean actor and model under MSTeam Entertainment. Raised on his family's abalone farm in Wando County, South Jeolla Province, he studied theatre and film at Sungkyul University before completing mandatory military service -- then quietly began building one of Korean television's more eclectic careers.
His debut came with the 2012 short film Peace in Them. Small supporting roles followed until the 2018 horror film Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum gave him his first significant screen presence. That same year he appeared in Something in the Rain alongside Son Ye-jin. In 2019, a supporting role in Romance Is a Bonus Book -- opposite Lee Jong-suk and Lee Na-young -- earned him a Best New Actor nomination at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Wi broke through domestically with the crime thriller Bad and Crazy (2021), then received international recognition overnight when his role as police detective Hwang Jun-ho in Netflix's Squid Game (2021) became a global phenomenon. His Instagram following reportedly jumped from under 500K to over 5 million within weeks of the premiere. He continued the role through Squid Game Season 2 (2024) and Season 3 (2025).
Other significant works include the thriller Little Women (2022), the crime drama The Worst of Evil (2023), the romantic drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (2024) as male lead Lee Joon-ho, and the high-stakes romance thriller Siren's Kiss (2026, Amazon Prime Video), opposite Park Min-young. GQ Korea named him one of its Men of the Year for 2022. As an actor-model hybrid, his editorial aesthetic -- precise and restrained -- contrasts deliberately with the intensity he brings to thriller roles.
1 articles8 creditsDebut: January 1, 2012South Korean
Gallery
Other Credits
2025
Siren's KissDrama
Cha Woo-seok (Lead)
2024
The Midnight Romance in HagwonDrama
Lee Joon-ho (Lead)
2023
The Worst of EvilDrama
Lead
2022
Little WomenDrama
Park Jae-sang (Lead)
2021
Bad and CrazyDrama
K (Lead)
2021
Squid GameDrama
Hwang Jun-ho
2019
Romance Is a Bonus BookDrama
Supporting
2018
Something in the RainDrama
Supporting
Fans Also Ask
What is Wi Ha-joon best known for?
Wi Ha-joon is best known for playing Inspector Hwang Jun-ho in <a href="/brands/netflix">Netflix</a>'s global phenomenon <em>Squid Game</em> (2021 and 2025). His portrayal of the dogged cop who infiltrates the deadly games brought him international recognition almost overnight.
What is Wi Ha-joon's real name?
His legal name is Wi Hyun-yi (위현이). He adopted Wi Ha-joon as his professional name when he entered the entertainment industry.
What is Wi Ha-joon's most recent drama?
In March 2026, Wi Ha-joon starred opposite Park Min-young in <em>Siren's Kiss</em>, a romantic crime thriller that premiered on tvN and Amazon Prime Video. He plays elite investigator Cha Woo-seok, a man who becomes a prime suspect after probing a mysterious woman.
Has Wi Ha-joon completed mandatory military service?
Yes. He enlisted on November 28, 2011 and was honorably discharged on November 27, 2013, well before his rise to mainstream stardom.
Which Wi Ha-joon dramas are considered his most acclaimed?
Fans and critics most often cite <em>Squid Game</em> (2021), <em>Bad and Crazy</em> (2021), <em>Little Women</em> (2022), and <em>The Worst of Evil</em> (2023). His lead turn in <em>The Midnight Romance in Hagwon</em> (2024) further cemented his reputation as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
