Oh Dal-su

Biography:

Oh Dal-su, born on June 15, 1968, is a veteran South Korean character actor whose career spans over 35 years across television, film, and theater. He is particularly well known for his collaboration with director Park Chan-wook, having played significant supporting roles in five of Park’s films: Oldboy (2003), If You Were Me (2003), Lady Vengeance (2005), I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK (2006), and Thirst (2009).

In 2015, Oh received critical acclaim for his performance in Ode to My Father (2014), winning both a Grand Bell Award and a Blue Dragon Film Award. His versatility as a character actor has made him a familiar face in Korean cinema, taking on roles such as the corrupt private jail owner in Oldboy (2003), an ex-gang boss in Mapado (2005), a weapons smuggler in A Bittersweet Life (2005), a transvestite in Foxy Festival (2010), a cunning Chinese-Korean conman in The Thieves (2012), and a kindhearted inmate in Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013). Additionally, he provided the voice for the monster in The Host (2006).

Oh originally started his acting career in Busan’s theater scene and has been the head of the theater company Singiru Manhwagyeong (“Mirage and Kaleidoscope”) since 2001. His extensive experience on stage eventually led to his success in film, where he became a highly sought-after supporting actor.

However, his career faced a setback in 2018 when he was accused of sexual harassment. As a result, he was removed from the film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds and withdrew from the drama My Mister, subsequently taking a two-year hiatus. Initially denying the allegations, he later issued an apology. In August 2019, Oh was cleared of the sexual assault charges.

Despite this controversy, he made a comeback in 2024, starring in the second season of Squid Game (2021), marking his return to the global stage.

Outside of acting, Oh was also involved in political activism. In 1987, he was arrested and detained for three days for his participation in protests during the June Democratic Struggle.