Whether you loved him or loved to hate him as Player 333, there’s no denying Im Siwan’s charm and talent. If Squid Game has you curious, here are some dramas and movies that show off his incredible range as an actor.
Ever since the finale of Squid Game, Im Siwan has been spending interviews profusely apologizing for his character’s actions. Rightfully so, but the ZE:A member is more than just the worst fictional dad of the year. His past roles run the gamut from bright-eyed protagonists to a straight up stalker.
Those who only know him from Squid Game might even be surprised to know that he’s been to the Cannes Film Festival twice for his performances in the films The Merciless (2017) and Emergency Destination (2022). If Player 333 was on your “Hear Me Out” cake, you should check some of these out.
Also Read: 7 Park Gyu-young Dramas and Movies if You Liked Her in Squid Game
Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014)
A must-watch for Im Siwan fans, as well as anyone fighting for their life in a corporate job, Misaeng follows Jang Geurae, a 26-year-old who dedicated his life to becoming a professional baduk player. Failing to achieve his dream, he now has to find a new path as an intern at a trading company.
While it might not be the most exciting premise, the show’s charm lies in its groundedness. Siwan portrays Jang Geurae’s bumbling newbie awkwardness with the quiet passion of someone starting over. When he overcomes everyday obstacles like difficult coworkers and shipments gone wrong, it feels like a just reward, and his whole team (and the audience, too) ends up rooting for him to succeed. His performance earned him several awards, including the Baeksang Arts Award for New Actor in 2015, making this his breakthrough role and solidifying his presence as an up and coming actor.
Kang Ha-neul, who plays Player 388/Kang Dae-ho, is also in this series.
Summer Strike (2022)
If you’re over your corporate era and just want to get away from it all, Summer Strike has you covered. After a series of unfortunate events, Yeoreum (AOA’s Kim Seolhyun) quits her job to live in the small town of Angok, where she meets a cast of quaint locals, including the local librarian Daebeom (Im Siwan).
Summer Strike is a certified comfort watch, full of scenes depicting quiet moments by the seaside and long afternoons reading books.
Similar to Misaeng’s Geurae, Daebeom is more than a little awkward, but part of the journey is watching him come out of his comfort zone for Yeoreum, sharing his world with her as they get to know each other. While their romance isn’t the main focus of the drama, these two introverts deliver a cozy love story full of gentle words and green flags.
Run On (2020)
With his undeniable talent and idol-level visuals, it was only a matter of time before Siwan was cast as the male lead of a classic romcom. He fits that role to a T in Run On, a slice-of-life story that starts when track star Ki Seongyeom (Im Siwan) meets film translator Oh Mijoo (Shin Sekyung).
Run On is a unique drama in that it doesn’t follow a single overarching storyline, but instead, it lets its strong cast of characters take the lead, taking the time to explore the ways they grow and interact, ultimately changing each other’s lives for the better. Though Siwan plays a handsome athlete anyone would swoon over, he keeps the offbeat charm and genuine sweetness of his nerdier characters.
Shin Sekyung also does a fantastic job as the confident and career-driven Oh Mijoo, who is ambitious without being cartoonish. Throw in a stellar second lead couple in CEO Seo Danah (Girls Generation’s Choi Sooyoung) and art student Lee Yonghwa (Kang Tae-oh), you’ve got yourself a drama with great chemistry and a whole lot of feels.
Also Read: 10 Feel-Good K-Dramas to Lift Your Spirits on a Bad Day
Boyhood (2023)
After all these slow, healing dramas, you might be ready for a change of pace. Try Boyhood, pure slapstick energy mixed with a good helping of action. Siwan plays Jang Byeongtae, a weak high school kid targeted by bullies. He moves to a new school in Buyeo, where he is mistaken for tough gangster Jung Gyeongtae (a.k.a. the White Tiger of Ansan) due to their similar-sounding names.
Few actors are willing to go all out to play a role, and Siwan isn’t afraid to prove that he’s one of them. He loses all traces of coolness and transforms into a pitiful snotty underdog, complete with exaggerated facial expressions and a strong country accent. The drama takes you through Byeongtae’s highs and lows as he tries to survive high school in one piece.
Strangers from Hell (2019)
This next one’s for the horror enthusiasts. If you loved Squid Game because it’s gory and disturbing, Strangers From Hell might be the next thing on your to-watch list. In an effort to save money after moving to Seoul, Yoon Jongwoo (Im Siwan) stays at Eden Goshiwon, where he lives in a matchbox-sized room surrounded by a bunch of creepy housemates, including the charismatic and eerie Seo Munjo (Lee Dongwook).
As if cramped living quarters and dentists weren’t scary enough, this drama pushes these everyday discomforts into full nightmare fuel territory. As he learns more about his sketchy neighbors, Jongwoo descends further into paranoia and insanity, leading him to question who the real monster is at Eden.
Unlocked (2023)
While Strangers From Hell has viewers questioning the morality of Siwan’s character, there’s no doubt of his alignment in the movie Unlocked. Though Junyeong goes through most of the film unnamed, his presence looms over Nami (Chun Woohee) from the moment he picks up her phone. The film explores one of the most terrifying possibilities of our everyday lives: When you’re staring at your screen, what if someone was staring back?
Junyeong is a coldhearted stalker and the farthest thing you can get from Siwan’s previous roles as an endearingly awkward leading man. A modern parable for phone addicts, Unlocked is sure to have you taping over your cameras once you’re through.
Also Read: 10 Korean Dramas For Thriller Enthusiasts
Mantis (2025)
Coming to Netflix on September 26, 2025, Siwan’s latest is a spinoff from the movie Kill Bok Soon (2023) and follows a different assassin from MK Enterprise. He plays the titular character Mantis, who returns to find the head of the company dead and thus leaves to find opportunities as a contract killer elsewhere. He is accompanied by fellow assassin Jaeyi (Park Gyuyoung), while his former mentor and the new head of MK Enterprise, Dok Go (Jo Woojin), tries to lure him back to the company.
Given how cool Siwan looks in this trailer and the fact that he’s had his share of major action roles before – including The Merciless, where he worked closely with Kill Bok Soon actor Sul Kyunggu – fans can definitely look forward to another killer performance (pun intended) from one of the most versatile actors in the industry.
Have you seen any of these Im Siwan movies and dramas?
Source: MyDramaList, NamuWiki
