Netflix released a new Korean thriller TV show which includes one ofSquid Game’s best characters. Premiering on Netflix in 2021,Squid Gamebecame one of the streamer’s biggest K-dramas. Although K-dramas were already popular at the time thatSquid Gamewas released, the thriller Korean TV showplayed a crucial role in the subgenre being recognized by a larger global audience.Squid Gamehad a fresh storyline and great twists, so the fact that it was beloved by audiences and received great reviews from critics didn’t come as a surprise.
While there are several incredible things aboutSquid Game, one of the K-drama’s biggest draws was its characters. The main and supporting cast inSquid Gamewere well-developed, complex, and had intriguing storylines that made audiences root for them.K-dramas likeSquid Gamethat are not only well-written and action-packed but can also take viewers on an emotional rollercoaster are difficult to come by. However, it is worth checking out this Netflix show with an incredible actor who starred in the streamer’s biggest K-drama.
Karma Is A Netflix Original K-Drama Starring Park Hae-soo
Karma Is A Thriller K-Drama With An Incredible Cast
Karmawas one of the most anticipated K-dramas of 2024 due to the Korean TV show’s cast, which included not only Park Hae-so but alsoHometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s Shin Min-a andThe Responders’ Gong Seung-yeon. Directed by Lee Il-hyung,Karmacenters around six people whose lives become intertwined following an event that changes their lives. TheNetflix original K-dramaperfectly weaves an intricate story that comes full circle in the Korean TV show’s final scenes. Karma is thrilling from start to finish and includes plot twists that are difficult to predict.
Karma Season 1 Ending Explained: How The 6 Characters Are Connected
Netflix’s thriller K-drama starring Squid Games Park Hae-soon, Karma, tied up all its loose ends and left no questions in the season finale.
InKarma,Park Hae-soo plays The Witness or Kim Beom-jun, a con man who tries to extort an innocent doctor. AsKarmagoes on, several things about Beom-jun and his past are revealed, thus painting a clear picture of what type of person he is and what he is willing to do to make money. AlthoughKarma’s cast plays a huge role in why the show has become popular, it’s the way in which the story unfolds that makes it such an enjoyable and engaging K-drama.
How Park Hae-soo’s Karma Compares To Squid Game
Karma And Squid Game Have Some Similarities
WhileSquid GameandKarmaare both K-drama thrillers that are filled with action scenes and great characters, they are completely different shows.Karmafocuses more on how the characters in the K-dramaare connected whileSquid Game’s premise centers around the survival of its main characters. That being said, there are certain things about the two K-dramas that are similar. In both of the Korean TV shows, some of the characters are willing to abandon human decency if it means they’ll get their way.
Karmais currently Number 05 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows.
The theme of greed is apparent throughoutKarmaandSquid Game, which makes it more likely that fans of the latter might enjoy the new Netflix thriller.Park Hae-soo shines in the two K-dramas, and his performance elevates the Korean TV shows.KarmaandSquid Gameprovide different kinds of thrills. ForKarma, the best part about the K-drama is discovering how the show’s characters unknowingly had an impact on each other. Whereas forSquid Game, its biggest draw is not only who won the games but also the social commentary that is included in the hit K-drama.
Squid Game Season 2 Felt Like A Different Show Without Park Hae-soo
Park Hae-soo’s Cho Sang-woo Was A Great Strategist
Park Hae-soo was one of the best characters inSquid Gameseason 1, and it’s a shame that he wasn’t in the K-drama’s sophomore season. AlthoughSquid Gameseason 2 introduced a great new cast,none could really replace Park Hae-soo’s Cho Sang-woo or Player 281. Sang-woo was Seong Gi-hun’s first ally and childhood friend in the games, so his absence was felt in the K-drama’s second season.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score
83%
While Sang-woo didn’t initially behave in an honorable way inSquid Gameseason 1, the fact that he sacrificed himself at the end of the show redeemed him. Despite Gi-hun making new friends during his second squid games, the kind of history and camaraderie he had with Sang-woo was missing, thus making his absence even more apparent. There’s no way of knowing howSquid Gameseason 2 would have been different if Sang-woo hadn’t died. However, it’s clear that the second season of the popular K-drama wasn’t the same without one of season 1’s best characters.
Squid Game
Cast
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
Karma
Karma is a crime thriller intertwining the lives of six individuals after a fateful accident. Released on August 17, 2025, the series explores themes of destiny and morality as the characters confront their intertwined pasts and hidden truths.
