Born on December 15, 1972, in Seoul, South Korea, he is a renowned actor and filmmaker. He began his career as a model before transitioning to acting in the early 1990s. He gained widespread recognition for his role in the film "The Young Man" (1994) and solidified his status with performances in "City of the Rising Sun" (1999) and "Il Mare" (2000). He achieved international fame with the critically acclaimed series "Squid Game" (2021). His work has earned him numerous awards, making him a prominent figure in Korean cinema.