Park Hae-soo, best known for his unforgettable role in Squid Game, returns to Netflix in one of his most intense performances yet in the new Korean crime thriller Karma. Playing the eerie and emotionally unstable “Eyewitness,” Park pushes his acting boundaries in what he calls the most extreme character of his career.

Karma, which premiered globally on April 4, quickly shot to the top of Korea’s “Top 10 Series Today” and ranked #5 on Netflix’s global non-English TV chart, marking another successful K-drama release for the platform. The series explores the lives of six characters entangled in a vicious cycle of karma, guilt, and moral decay, with Park’s character at the unsettling center of the chaos.

A Haunting Performance

Park’s “Eyewitness” is a mysterious man who helps cover up a hit-and-run accident, only to become a pivotal figure in the unfolding drama. “I’ve never played a character this extreme before,” Park admitted. “It was strange, but also exciting.”

The role demanded not only emotional versatility but physical transformation. After suffering severe burns later in the series, the Eyewitness becomes increasingly paranoid and unhinged. Park immersed himself in character, studying burn survivor documentaries and altering his voice and breathing under heavy prosthetics. “Even my cough changed,” he noted, emphasizing the depth of his commitment.

Unraveling a Hollow Man

What makes Eyewitness so compelling is his emptiness. He doesn’t even have a name. “I tried not to justify the character,” Park said. “He felt like a shell, someone who lives by blaming others while believing he’s just a regular businessman.”

This internal contradiction shaped the performance, particularly in a pivotal scene at a bus stop, which Park described as the character’s spiritual death. “He didn’t know where he was going — just an empty man,” he said.

One of the character’s most disturbing features is his grotesque, erratic laughter, which Park designed to reflect inner torment. Inspired by performances like Heath Ledger’s Joker, Park used varying tones — snorts, cackles, chuckles — to communicate a twisted sense of identity and denial. “His laughter became his dialogue,” Park explained. “It carried his pain.”

Energy On Set, Emotion on Screen

Some scenes left a lasting impression on Park, including a shoot near his grandmother’s house. “Even in summer, that place felt cold,” he recalled. Another challenging location was a claustrophobic alley where his character meets Ju-yeon (Shin Min-a). “It felt like a never-ending loop. We spent the most time there, and the energy was heavy.”

Despite his dark roles, Park is known off-screen for his gentle demeanor. Ironically, he says acting in such twisted roles gives him emotional release. “I’m actually introverted,” he confessed. “But I enjoy the thrill of expressing what I don’t show in real life. It’s cathartic.”

More to Come from Korea’s “Netflix Civil Servant”

Nicknamed “Netflix’s civil servant” for his prolific roles in Squid Game, Money Heist: Korea, and Narco-Saints, Park is already gearing up for his next Netflix series, The Price of Confession.

Despite his growing fame, Park stays grounded. “I don’t focus on the outcome,” he said. “The process and people matter the most. If I ever become arrogant or stop enjoying acting, that’s when I know it’s time to stop.”

For now, viewers can witness Park Hae-soo’s most haunting transformation yet in Karma, now streaming on Netflix.