South Korean actor Park Sung Hoon recently opened up about the intense emotional toll of filming death scenes for two major projectsโSquid Game 3 and Queen of Tearsโon the same day. The actor described the experience as one of the most demanding moments of his career.
Park Sung Hoonโs Double Death Scene Day
Park Sung Hoon, known for his roles in The Glory, Queen of Tears, and Squid Game, revealed that he had to film two highly emotional death scenes in a single day. The first was for his character Hyun Ju in Squid Game 3, and the second was for Yoon Eun Sung in Queen of Tears.
The actor explained that he first filmed Hyun Juโs death scene at a studio in Daejeon, where his character, a transgender ex-soldier, was stabbed in a dramatic moment. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk asked him to shed a single tear before collapsingโa difficult request that Park delivered perfectly in one take.
“The director asked if I could drop a single tear before collapsing, and we got it in the first take.”
Immediately after finishing this scene, Park had to travel to Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, to film another death sequenceโthis time for his villainous character Yoon Eun Sung in Queen of Tears. The emotional whiplash of switching between such intense roles left him exhausted.
“It happened to fall on the same day. The emotional exhaustion from both scenes was overwhelming.”
Fan Reactions to Park Sung Hoonโs Performances
Park Sung Hoonโs portrayal of Hyun Ju in Squid Game 3 earned widespread praise, especially for bringing depth to a transgender character. However, his role in Queen of Tears as the antagonist Yoon Eun Sung initially drew public backlash, with some fans even expressing anger toward him in real life.
“He got so many hate after Queen of Tears for his villain role. Now he is getting praise for his role on Squid Gameโฆ Time actually changed.”
“My god Park Sung Hoonโฆ from most hated villain in Queen of Tears, to most beloved character in Squid Games.”
Despite the challenges, Park found the experience rewarding, especially since Hyun Ju became a fan-favorite character, helping shift public perception of him after his previous villainous roles.
The Physical and Emotional Demands of the Shoot
Filming two death scenes back-to-back required not just emotional control but also physical stamina. Park had to maintain high energy levels while traveling between locations and switching between vastly different characters.
His Squid Game 3 co-stars, including Im Siwan, Kang Ae Sim, and Jo Yu Ri, expressed sympathy when they learned about his grueling schedule.
“It really must have been so difficult.” โ Kang Ae Sim
“Even though I read the script and filmed the scene, seeing the edited version was still shocking.” โ Jo Yu Ri
Park Sung Hoonโs Career Transformation
Before Squid Game, Park was primarily known for playing villains in dramas like The Glory and Queen of Tears. His role as Hyun Ju marked a significant shift, showcasing his versatility and earning him global recognition.
He admitted that after playing antagonistic roles, some people treated him negatively in public. However, his performance in Squid Game changed that, with fans now appreciating his acting range.
“I played two villains back-to-back, and whenever I went out to eat, some people would actually be mad at me for those roles.”
With Squid Game 3 breaking Netflix records and his upcoming project Efficient Dating for Singles alongside Han Ji Min, Park Sung Hoonโs career continues to rise.
Credits: Netflix, tvN
