Actor Heo Sung-tae [Newsis]
Actor Heo Sung-tae [Newsis]

Actor Heo Sung-tae has spoken candidly about the pressure he faced following the global success of "Squid Game."

Heo appeared as a guest on "Rooftop Troublemakers," a KBS2 variety program that aired Tuesday.

During the episode, Heo revealed a series of surprising details about his past. He said he had been his school's top student and spent nearly a decade handling overseas marketing at a large conglomerate before pursuing acting — losing 23 kilograms in just two months while preparing for the audition program "Miracle Audition."

His mother strongly opposed his acting ambitions, he said. "I made ends meet wrapping toys, loading and unloading delivery packages, and driving as a designated driver," Heo said. "After 130 auditions, I finally landed a role in 'The Age of Shadows.'"

Heo also said the attention he received after "Squid Game" — the Netflix global hit released in 2021 — became a heavy burden.

"It felt like every staff member on set was watching me, thinking, 'Let's see just how good he really is,'" he said. "I was terrified of being told my acting never changes, and I felt like I was going to lose my mind." He added that severe panic attacks forced him to halt filming at times. "I took medication and went through psychological treatment, and eventually found my footing again," he said.


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