For his performances inWar of the Arrows andDecision to Leave, Park received multiple Best Actor honors including theBlue Dragon Film Awards and theGrand Bell Awards.
Park Hae-il began appearing in theatre productions ever since childhood, and he first established himself on stage rather than on the screen. In 2000 he was awarded the Best New Actor award in the theatre category of theBaeksang Arts Awards for his role in the playCheongchun-yechan ("Ode to Youth"). His film debut was in a minor role ofYim Soon-rye'sWaikiki Brothers, however he left a major impression in his second filmJealousy Is My Middle Name, in which he played a conflicted young man who develops a fascination/hatred for his boss, who has stolen two women from him. The film won the top prize at theBusan International Film Festival in 2002, and was released commercially the following spring.[2]
Throughout his career, Park has been cast in two different types of roles: innocent-looking, boyish characters, or else men who hide a dark streak under a nice-looking exterior. AfterJealousy, Park would take on his darkest role of all in the acclaimed smash hitMemories of Murder, where he portrayed a man suspected of committing serial murder.[3] Yet the following year he was just as effective appearing in a romantic role oppositeJeon Do-yeon in time-travel dramaMy Mother, the Mermaid.[4]
In 2005, he once again played characters of completely opposite temperament. InRules of Dating, he plays a dirty-minded, scheming high school instructor who sets his mind on a pretty student teacher played byKang Hye-jung,[5][6] while inBoy Goes to Heaven he plays a young boy who suddenly finds himself an adult one day, likeTom Hanks inBig.[7]
2006 saw him return to work with acclaimed directorBong Joon-ho in the big-budget monster movieThe Host which went on to become the best-selling Korean film of all time.[8][9]
Murder mysteryParadise Murdered was a surprise hit in 2007, with Kyu Hyun Kim ofKoreanfilm.org calling Park "an inspired choice for the ostensible protagonist, projecting fatigued compassion and cold calculation in equal measure, his obsidian pupils glistening with streaks of chilling obsession."[10][11][12]
In 2008, he starred in the period dramaModern Boy, a dramatic love story set in 1930s Gyeongseong or old Seoul, whenKorea was under Japanese colonization (1910–45). Park played the role of a rich, hedonistic playboy who cannot care less that his country was colonized, then falls head over heels in love with a beautiful and mysterious independence fighter (Kim Hye-soo).[13][14]
After small supporting roles inShim's Family (also known asSkeletons in the Closet),[15] andGood Morning, President,[16] Park joined the ensemble cast ofA Million as one of eight participants who take part in a TVreality show inPerth, Australia but discover that they must literally survive to win the prize of 1 million dollars.[17]
In 2010, Park headlinedKang Woo-suk's blockbuster mystery thrillerMoss, playing a young man who comes to a rural village after hearing about his father's death and later becomes embroiled in its hidden secrets.[18][19][20]Park's casting was received enthusiastically by fans of the source material,Yoon Tae-ho's hugely popularonline graphic novel series.[21]
Heartbeat explores a familial love battle of wills, as Yeon-hee (played byYunjin Kim ofLost fame) whose daughter is in desperate need of a heart transplant, tries to convince a brain-dead patient's son (Park) to sign off on the transplant, but he refuses and instead investigates his mother's fall.[22] He then appeared in the low-budget indieEnd of Animal, because he found the script "very interesting."[23]
Park next starred inWar of the Arrows, a fictional tale set in theJoseon period, which follows Nam-yi (Park) on his search for younger sister Ja-in after she is kidnapped byQing Dynasty soldiers during aninvasion. As he slays enemy soldiers with his bow and arrow, he is confronted by Jushinta, aManchu enemy commander also well known for his archery prowess.Arrow made headlines by selling to distributors from six countries at theCannesfilm market[24][25] and becoming the highest-grossing Korean film of 2011. Park won Best Actor honors at the prestigiousGrand Bell Awards andBlue Dragon Film Awards.[26][27]
He returned to the big screen inA Muse, a film adaptation of celebrated authorPark Bum-shin's sensational novel about an old poet who ends up falling for a 17-year-old girl named Eun-gyo. Upon realizing his love for the teenager, the poet goes through emotional turmoil and self-destruction, while willing to give up his fame as one of the nation's most respected literary figures. The 35-year-old actor took on the challenge of nearly eight hours of makeup daily, on top of learning the weary gait and gesture of a man in his 70s.[28]
Park married his longtime girlfriend Seo Yoo-seon on 11 March 2006;[36][37] they have two children.[38] Seo is a playwright and has also written an episode ofKBSDrama Special titledJi-hoon, Born in 1982.[39][40]
^Yeon Hwi-seon (20 December 2022)."박해일 측 "에스더블유엠피 재계약 NO...오랜 매니저와 동행" [공식입장]" [Park Hae-il's side "SWMP renewal contract NO... Accompanied by a long-time manager" [Official Position]] (in Korean). Osen.Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved20 December 2022 – viaNaver.
^Son Jina (13 April 2023)."박해일, 메이크스타와 새 출발…전속계약 체결(공식)" [Park Hae-il, a new start with Makestar... Exclusive contract signed (official)] (in Korean). MK Sports.Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved13 April 2023 – viaNaver.
^Han Hyun-jeong (6 May 2022)."박찬욱X박해일X탕웨이 '헤어질 결심' 6월29일 개봉[공식]" [Park Chan-wook X Park Hae-il X Tang Wei 'Decision to break up' opens on June 29 [Official]] (in Korean). Maeil Star Today.Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved6 May 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jo Ji-young (18 April 2022)."[공식] '명량' 이후 8년 만의 신작 '한산: 용의 출현', 7월말 개봉 확정" [[Official] 'Hansan: Appearance of the Dragon', the first new work in 8 years since 'Myeongryang', to be released at the end of July] (in Korean).Sports Chosun.Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved18 April 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Jeong-jin (30 September 2022)."'헤어질 결심', 춘사국제영화제서 감독상 등 3관" ['Decision to Leave' wins 3 awards including Best Director at Chunsa International Film Festival] (in Korean). k-odyssey.Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved30 September 2022.
^Kim, Na-ra (6 October 2022)."헤어질 결심' 박해일X탕웨이, 男女주연상→'월드 ★' 이정재, 신인 감독상 수상 [2022 부일영화상](종합)" [Decision to break up' Park Hae-il X Tang Wei, Best Leading Actress → 'World ★' Lee Jung-jae, Rookie Director Award [2022 Buil Film Awards] (Comprehensive)].My Daily (in Korean).Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved6 October 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Da-eun (9 December 2022)."박해일·염정아, '주연상' 트로피 들어 올리다 [제58회 대종상영화제]" [Park Hae-il and Yeom Jung-ah lift the 'Best Actor' trophy [58th Grand Bell Awards]].Ilgan Sports (in Korean).Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved10 December 2022 – viaNaver.
^Bae Hyo-joo (25 November 2022)."탕웨이, 박해일 이어 '헤어질 결심'으로 주연상‥"트로피 너무 좋아요"[43회 청룡영화상]" [Tang Wei and Park Hae-il followed by ‘Decision to Break Up’ for Leading Actor… “I love the trophy” [43rd Blue Dragon Film Awards]] (in Korean). Newsen.Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved25 November 2022 – viaNaver.
^Lee Jung-min (29 November 2022)."제23회 부산영화평론가협회상 대상에 '당신얼굴 앞에서" ['In front of your face' at the 23rd Busan Film Critics Association Awards] (in Korean).Yonhap News Agency.Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved29 November 2022 – viaNaver.
^"제42회 황금촬영상영화제 시상식 성료...'헤어질 결심' 3관왕" [The 42nd Golden Cinematographer Awards Ceremony Successfully Completed... 'Decision to Break Up' Won 3 Crowns]. Interview365. 20 December 2022.Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved22 December 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim Ji-woo (21 December 2022)."뜨거웠다' 박해일, 박은빈 그리고 손석구" ['It Was Hot' Park Hae-il, Park Eun-bin and Son Seok-gu] (in Korean).Sports Kyunghyang.Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved22 December 2022 – viaNaver.
^Yoon, Ki-baek (24 February 2023)."박찬욱 '헤어질 결심', 디렉터스컷 어워즈 5관왕" [Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Break Up' wins 5 Director's Cut Awards] (in Korean). E-daily.Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved24 February 2023 – viaNaver.
^Cho, Yeon-kyung (7 April 2023)."제59회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 최종 후보 공개" [59th Baeksang Arts Awards, TV/Film/Play Finalists Revealed] (in Korean).JTBC.Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved7 April 2023 – viaNaver.
^"1984~2008 한국영화 배우 흥행 파워 50" [1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies].thescreen.co.kr.Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved30 October 2023.
^"한국영화 배우 흥행 파워 TOP 배우 하정우 그러나 TOP 10위 안에 여성 배우는 실종...여성 주연 영화 부재가 원인" [Korean movie actor box office power TOP actor Ha Jung-woo but the female actor in the top 10 is missing... Due to the absence of female-starred films].RNX (in Korean). 2 January 2020.Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved30 October 2023.
