Sporting a smile that could charm the hearts of most K-Drama fans and a ripped physique, Squid Game actor Wi Ha-joon is fast becoming one of the most prominent leading men in South Korean entertainment. But how much of the actor do you know beyond his roles?
Besides his career-changing performance in Squid Game, Wi Ha-joon has portrayed his versatility as an actor in a variety of genres. These include movies and TV shows like Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018), Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019), 18 Again (2020), Little Women (2022), The Worst of Evil (2023) and The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (2024).
Wi Ha-joon, who moved to Seoul as an 18-year-old to pursue his dream of becoming an actor, feels that it is important to keep taking challenges in his field. Talking about the same in a 2024 interview with TheKoreaTimes, Wi said, “I don’t have specific goals as an actor, but I do have ambitions. That’s why I continue to take on challenges. Rather than thinking, ‘I have to become a certain actor,’ I want to live a good life and enjoy it.”
All details about Wi Ha-joon: Net worth, filmography and more
Wi Ha-joon’s net worth
According to the South China Morning Post and multiple other K-media sources, Wi Ha-joon has a net worth of USD 3-4 million, as of 2023.
While quoting an exact figure in 2024 seems challenging, it is safe to say that Wi, who has had multiple leading roles to his credit, earns a substantial portion of commercials, luxuryluxury brand endorsements and social media earnings.
Career and filmography
Be it the critically acclaimed 2018 film Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum or the romantic comedy 18 Again, Wi Ha-joon’s movies and TV shows have always been a treat for K-dramaK-drama lovers.
Wi started his acting journey in the 2012 short film Peace in Them. Following this, he landed several supporting roles and was soon cast as the leading man opposite Park Ji-hyun in his debut movie, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum. A Jung Bum-shik directorial, this 2018 found footage supernatural horror flick is based on a South Korean psychiatric hospital of the same name. An instant commercial hit, the film made a whopping USD 21 million worldwide, against a production budget of USD 2.2 million, according to Box Office Mojo. Additionally, Wi’s stellar performance in his first debut film was widely appreciated, and in the same year, he landed a supporting role in the Son Ye-jin starrer hit Korean drama Something in the Rain. While the JTBC original romance drama won the Excellence Award for Korean Drama at the 13th Seoul International Drama Awards, Wi was awarded the Best New Actor for his bit at the 11th Korea Drama Awards.
In 2019, Wi was cast in the cult Korean love story Romance Is a Bonus Book alongside Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk. Along with receiving praise for his role as Ji Seo-joon, a freelance book designer, Wi also earned a nomination for Best New Actor – Television at the prestigious 55th Baeksang Arts Awards. The following year, Wi Ha-joon portrayed the role of a basketball player in the JTBC series 18 Again co-starring Korean heartthrob Lee Do-hyun. The TV show is a Korean drama adaptation of the 2009 Zac Efron-starrer rom-com 17 Again, directed by American director Burr Steers.
Wi Ha-joon got his big break with the 2021 Netflix global hit Squid Game, co-starring veteran actor Lee Jung-jae. Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the game-based Korean drama focuses on a series of deadly childhood games that challenge the morals of the contestants. Investigating the illegal game and searching for his missing brother is Police Officer Hwang Jun-ho (played by Wi).
Squid Game garnered over 1.65 billion hours of viewership in the first 28 days of release and eventually became one of the most-watched K-dramas on Netflix. Lest we forget, the game-based series also won six Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Hwang Dong-hyuk. Reportedly, Wi Ha-joon was paid a total of USD 1,50,000 for the show, which proved a huge boost to his net worth.
Over the years, Wi showcased his versatility through a slew of roles in several hit titles. These include the thriller film Midnight (2021), the action drama Bad and Crazy (2021) and the Netflix drama Little Women (2022).
Wi’s success further soared in 2023, and he landed roles in global hits like The Worst of Evil, co-starring Ji Chang-wook, and the Netflix historical fantasy romance Gyeongseong Creature, alongside Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee. While Han Dong-wook won Best Director for Disney Plus’s The Worst of Evil at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards, Gyeongseong Creature debuted at #3 in Netflix’s Global Top 10 weekly list of the most-watched non-English television shows, after its release.
Wi Ha-joon portrays the role of school instructor Lee Joon-ho in the May 2024 K-drama The Midnight Romance in Hagwon. The actor will also be seen reprising his role as Inspector Hwang Jun-ho in Squid Game Season 2. The Netflix series is all set to premiere in the second half of 2024.
Luxury brand deals that add to the net worth of Wi Ha-joon
Wi has not just conquered the K-entertainment industry but also the global fashion world. Besides acting projects, brand endorsements and commercials make for key revenue streams that bolster the formidable net worth of Wi Ha-joon.
The Korean star has been featured in multiple luxury brand campaigns, including Louis Vuitton, Prada, TAG Heuer, Porsche, In The Box, Johnnie Walker, Brunello Cucinelli, Tod, Tiffany and Co., YSL Beauty and Valentino.
After his international fame with Squid Game, Wi was selected as a global ambassador for the Swiss luxury watch brand TAG Heuer in 2022.
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The actor is also associated with Louis Vuitton and was seen making an appearance at the Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2023 Collection Show on the Jamsugyo Bridge at the Hangang River on 29 April 2023 in Seoul.
In 2024, Wi attended Pharrell’s First Louis Vuitton S/S Collection event at Louis Vuitton East Dosan Store in Kangnam-gu on 12 January 2024 in Seoul.
The Midnight actor also has to his credit famous magazine editorials, including GQ Korea, Elle and Men’s Health Korea.
With over 10.7 million followers as of May 2024, Wi Ha-joon is one of the most-followed Korean celebrities on Instagram. The Worst of Evil star, who often shares his photoshoots and sponsored posts on social media, reportedly earns around USD 10,000 to USD 100,000 per post on Instagram.
Personal life
Born on 5 August 1991 in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, Wi Ha-joon grew up dreaming of becoming an entertainer. After his graduation in theatre and film from Sungkyul University, Wi went on to pursue a career in acting. He completed his mandatory military service prior to his debut in the Korean entertainment industry.
On the relationship front, Wi Ha-joon is rumoured to be dating South Korean model and actress Eugene Jung. However, the duo hasn’t officially addressed these rumours.
(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy Wi Ha-jook/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the real name of Wi Ha-joon?
Wi Ha-joon’s real name is Wi Hyun-yi.
– Who is the richest among Squid Game cast members?
Not Wi Ha-joon, but Lee Byung-hun, who played the Front Man in Squid Game, is the richest cast member of the show with a net worth of over USD 20 million.
– Who is the richest South Korean actor?
Some of the richest South Korean actors are Ji Chang-wook, Song Joong-ki, Son Ye-jin, Son Hye-kyo, Bae Suzy, Park Hae-soo, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Ho-yeon, Lee Yoo-mi, Park Seo-joon, Gong Yoo and Hyun Bin.
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
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