‘Squid Game’ Actor Heo Sung Tae Suffered After Gaining 17 kg to Play the Villain Jang Deok Soo
Heo Sung Tae shared his experience in the blockbuster Netflix series "Squid Game," where he played the villain role, Jang Deok Soo.
In the nine-episode Korean series, the actor impressed millions of viewers worldwide with his outstanding portrayal of the deceitful gangster boss.
Heo Sung Tae Reveals Surprising Preparation for his 'Squid Game' Role
According to an outlet, the 44-year-old South Korean actor had to undergo intense transformation to play Jang Deok Soo.
He revealed that before being cast in "Squid Game," he lost weight during his break, given that all his projects were halted due to COVID-19.
Interestingly, the production team of the Netflix series contacted him and commented about his weight.
"When I met director Hwang Dong Hyuk, he asked me why I lost so much weight and told me that I had become so scrawny," he said, adding that one of the vital elements of Deok Soo's character is his weight.
In addition, Heo Sung Tae explained how he prepared for his character, including gaining weight in a short period of time.
It took him a month to gain 15 to 17 kilograms adding that this was his first time to "gained so much weight" with a limited pace.
READ MORE: Lee Jung Jae and Park Hae Soo Hilariously React to Their 'Squid Game' Characters
Heo Sung Tae's Health 'Depleted' due to 'Squid Game'
After the production, the actor went on a diet in preparation for another project.
Surprisingly, he was able to lose 10 kg but admitted that his health suffered due to his fluctuating weight.
"The muscles on my calf tore and also my knees hurt. Overall, my health depleted," the actor said.
With this, the "Beyond Evil" actor said that this prompted him to "carefully consider" his future projects that include gaining weight.
"I think gaining weight is three times harder than losing weight," he added.
Heo Sung Tae to Reunite with 'Squid Game' Co-Star Lee Jung Jae
Apart from the mega-hit Korean series, Heo Sung Tae will also appear in the upcoming action-packed film "Hunt."
He will be reuniting with Lee Jung Jae, who starred in "Squid Game" and portrayed player 456 Seong Gi Hun.
The duo will work alongside lead stars Jung Woo Sung and Jeon Hye Jin.
In the Lee Jung Jae-directed film, Heo Sung Tae will take on the role of National Intelligence Service (NIS) anthropologist alongside Park Pyong Ho, played by the award-winning actor.
Heo Sung Tae Reacts to his Sudden Instagram Fame
"Squid Game" cast experienced overnight success after the thriller Kdrama hit worldwide fame.
Through this, Heo Sung Tae's Instagram followers grew immensely and currently sits at 1.5 million.
Interestingly, he had a hilarious way of expressing his gratitude to fans.
On his IG, he posted a photo of himself holding a bouquet along with a funny caption.
"Thank you for making me a millionaire," he wrote.
Meanwhile, the Korean drama "Squid Game" remains number one in 83 countries on Netflix, gaining intense popularity worldwide.
