The actor trades gentle romance for sharp suspense as he takes on the role of a relentless insurance investigator in the upcoming tvN thriller. With the March 2 premiere on tvN and Prime Video approaching, Wi Ha Joon is opening up about why this dangerous love story felt like the right project to show a new side of his acting.
The ‘Squid Game’ star leads the romance thriller Siren’s Kiss alongside Park Min Young. The drama follows Cha Woo Seok, an ace insurance fraud investigator who digs into a series of mysterious deaths. Every man who fell in love with the captivating art auctioneer Han Seol Ah ended up dead. Woo Seok suspects her but soon finds himself caught in her web. What starts as a professional chase turns into something much more personal—and deadly.
The Script’s Pull: “Filled with Tension and Sparks Curiosity”
When Wi Ha Joon first read the script for Siren’s Kiss, one thing stood out immediately. The story did not let go. He explained that the project kept him eager to know what happens next, and that feeling made him say yes.
“It’s a project filled with tension and mystery that make you eager to see the next episode, so I really wanted to be part of it.”
— Wi Ha Joon on his decision to join Siren’s Kiss
He did not take the role lightly. To prepare for the emotional shifts his character goes through, he laid out the entire script from start to finish. Wi Ha Joon carefully mapped out the exact moments where Cha Woo Seok’s feelings begin to change toward Han Seol Ah. He then focused on showing those gradual shifts through subtle changes in his gaze. For him, the eyes carry the story when words cannot.
Playing a Cold Man with a Warm Core
Cha Woo Seok is not an easy character to like at first glance. He is rough, blunt, and keeps people at a distance. His job as an insurance fraud investigator demands sharp logic and zero emotion. Yet Wi Ha Joon saw something beneath the surface.
He felt that Woo Seok carries a very warm heart deep down, even if he hides it behind a cold mask. That contrast drew the actor in. He wanted to show that this man, who seems so rigid, is actually someone who cares deeply. The character’s persistence in catching criminals who profit from human lives comes from a strong sense of justice, not just professional duty.
This role marks a clear shift from his last tvN drama, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, where he played a softer, more romantic lead. Wi Ha Joon admitted he feels both thrilled and nervous because audiences will see a very different version of him this time.
Action with Emotion: Martial Arts Hobby Pays Off
Siren’s Kiss is not just about tense stares and emotional standoffs. The drama features several action sequences. Wi Ha Joon revealed that he practices martial arts as a hobby, so he felt confident handling the physical demands of the role.
But for him, the action scenes were not just about looking tough. He focused more on conveying Cha Woo Seok’s emotions through the fights. Rather than treating action as a separate element, he blended it with the character’s inner state. When Woo Seok throws a punch or blocks an attack, the audience should feel his anger, his fear, or his desperation.
The Dangerous Dynamic Between Woo Seok and Seol Ah
Park Min Young plays Han Seol Ah, a woman wrapped in mystery and suspicion. Every man who loved her died. She is the beneficiary of their life insurance policies. On paper, she looks guilty. But the drama asks a bigger question: is she a predator, or is she also a victim?
Wi Ha Joon described the relationship between Woo Seok and Seol Ah using one key word: savior.
“These two people, unable to escape their deep wounds, meet and end up healing and saving each other.”
— Wi Ha Joon on the core dynamic of Siren’s Kiss
Park Min Young shared a similar view. She described Woo Seok as a man with great energy and mental strength, the complete opposite of her character. She noted that Woo Seok knows how to do the right thing and becomes a real source of healing for Han Seol Ah, something she deeply needs.
Their connection starts from suspicion but slowly turns into something else. The promotional posters capture this push-and-pull perfectly. In one image, Han Seol Ah wraps her body around Woo Seok like a snake tightening around its prey. Her hands close around his neck while he wears a stiff expression. The broken glass between them hints at a fragile bond that could shatter at any moment.
A Character with a Hidden Past
Cha Woo Seok is introduced as the top investigator in the Insurance Fraud Special Investigation Team. He holds the highest arrest rate for several years running. Once he locks onto a case, he never lets go.
But his profile cards reveal an interesting detail. Woo Seok used to work as a violent crimes detective before he was suspended. The drama has not yet explained why his career path changed. This gap in his past adds another layer to his obsession with finding the truth. It suggests he carries wounds of his own, which is why he connects so deeply with Seol Ah.
The character’s intensity is visible in the teasers. He is shown alone at crime scenes, collecting evidence, staring at broken glass. His gaze carries weight. This is a man who has lost something important and is trying to get it back.
Park Min Young Takes on a Rare Cold Role
For Park Min Young, Siren’s Kiss represents a new kind of challenge. She is known for her bright, romantic roles in shows like What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim and Her Private Life. But this time, she barely smiles.
“I decided to take on this character, considering it a new challenge, and I think it will be the first time I don’t smile, not even once throughout the entire series.”
— Park Min Young on playing Han Seol Ah
She admitted she was curious to see how it would feel to bring such a different character to life. The role required her to lose weight and stop working out to appear more fragile and vulnerable. Yet her presence on screen remains powerful. She described her character as someone who is both sad and cold, and she hopes viewers will be shocked to see this side of her.
Despite the dark tone, Park Min Young and Wi Ha Joon share a playful rapport off-screen. During a recent interview, she joked about her small fists and promised to show everyone a powerful punch one day. Wi Ha Joon added that he hopes viewers will think they deserve the Best Couple Award.
Streaming and Broadcast Details
Siren’s Kiss is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, March 2, at 8:50 p.m. KST on tvN. The drama will air in the Monday-Tuesday time slot following its premiere.
For global audiences, the series will be available on Prime Video in multiple regions starting March 2. Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and across Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East can stream the show shortly after its Korean broadcast. Prime Video is the exclusive international streaming platform for the drama.
The series consists of a standard 16-episode run. Kim Cheol Gyu, known for his work on Vincenzo and Evilive, directs the project. The script comes from writer Lee Young, with creative direction by Jo Hyun Kyung.
Why This Role Matters for Wi Ha Joon
Wi Ha Joon rose to global fame as the charming police officer Hwang Jun Ho in Squid Game. He followed that success with the lead role in The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, where he played a student who returns to his academy to win over his former teacher. Both roles showed his ability to play sincere, emotionally open characters.
Cha Woo Seok is different. He is guarded, suspicious, and slow to trust. His love does not come easily. It builds through tension and doubt. This role allows Wi Ha Joon to expand his range. He moves from being the man who wears his heart on his sleeve to the man who keeps his heart locked away.
He admitted that expressing Woo Seok’s psychological turmoil was challenging. But he prepared thoroughly. By analyzing the script down to each small change in his character’s emotions, he built a performance that relies on restraint rather than outbursts.
The actor also shared a small personal detail during a press interaction. When asked about a mysterious trait fans do not know, he revealed that he loves listening to sentimental songs. It is a soft detail for a man currently playing one of the toughest characters on television.
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What Viewers Should Watch For
Wi Ha Joon pointed to one key element that will help audiences connect with Siren’s Kiss. He advised viewers to follow the emotional arc between Han Seol Ah and Cha Woo Seok.
“If you follow the changes in Han Seol Ah and Cha Woo Seok’s feelings toward each other, you’ll be able to immerse yourself even more deeply in the story.”
— Wi Ha Joon on the drama’s main focus
The drama is not just a thriller. It is a love story built on suspicion. Every glance carries doubt. Every touch could be a trap. The production team described Woo Seok’s small suspicion about Seol Ah as a spark that grows into intense interest, eventually leading to a major truth.
For fans of romance and suspense, Siren’s Kiss promises a slow burn where the fire might consume everyone involved.
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