Have you finished watching Squid Game and still can’t get enough of Guard 011? Here’s a list of dramas and movies to satiate your Park Gyu-young fever!
With the finale of Squid Game fresh in our minds, Park Gyu-young has undoubtedly become one of the industry’s most talked-about stars. Her performance as a pink-suited guard kept us on the edge of our seats, giving us a deep look into the “other side” of the series. She brought life to the guards, presenting how they’re just as flawed and human as the players.
But before landing prominent roles like this, Gyu-young started her acting journey at JYP Entertainment in 2015. A year into her training, she debuted in Jo Kwon’s music video for “Crosswalk” alongside EXO’s Suho. This opportunity led to her television debut, landing minor roles in popular dramas such as Bring It On, Ghost (2016) and Suspicious Partner (2017). She also acted in several web dramas, including Miss Independent Ji-eun (2018), where she played the lead.
In 2019, she officially left her first agency and signed with Saram Entertainment. Thanks to her exceptional skills and proven capability as an actress, her portfolio has grown impressively through the years. For first-time viewers who fell for her outstanding performance in Squid Game — and rightfully so — we prepared a list of the best Park Gyu-young dramas and movies just for you!
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Wretches (2018)
Although Gyu-young is more active in dramas, she still has her fair share of film experience. Among them is Kim Baek-jun’s Wretches, a revenge movie set in a high school where the strongest reigns supreme. After the school’s most feared bully ends up at the hospital, second-place Yang-hoon (Lee Yi-kyung) takes over to wreak havoc. Unfortunately, this includes messing with Jae-young (Lee Won-keun), who’s always been the perfect target.
Alongside Marry My Husband’s Lee Yi-kyung and Sassy Go Go’s Lee Won-keun, Gyu-young plays the role of Jae-young’s friend Ye-ri. After she catches Yang-hoon’s attention, Jae-young’s forced to obey his orders in exchange for her safety. While the movie mainly focused on the two male leads, her character served as a trigger to kick off the story’s primary conflict. It’s a great film to check out Gyu-young’s beginnings!
Sweet Home (2020)
Prepare for gore because this next series isn’t for the weak! Based on the webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan, Sweet Home is an apocalyptic horror that centers on Hyun-su (Song Kang) and the residents of the Green Roof Apartments. When an unknown cause starts turning humans into monsters driven by their hidden desires, they’re suddenly swept into a wicked game of survival while trying to find out why this is happening.
In this drama, Gyu-young stars as struggling musician Yoon Ji-su, who recently moved into the apartment complex after a loved one’s death. She’s known for always carrying a bass on her back, which she later exchanges for a bat. Despite her tough situation, she remains strong-willed and compassionate through it all. While this adaptation differs quite a bit from its source, Gyu-young’s depiction of Ji-su makes her a well-loved character no matter the version.
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It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
Seamlessly blending fairytales and real life is It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, a powerful drama that earnestly tackles the difficulties faced by people with mental illnesses. It tells the story of psych ward caregiver Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) and children’s book author Ko Mun-yeong (Seo Yea-ji) as their paths cross unexpectedly.
While one struggles with antisocial personality disorder, the other hides his emotional pain as he cares for his older brother (Oh Jung-se) with autism. As these two weary souls carrying deep scars from their past meet, their walls slowly crumble to give space for one another.
Playing a supporting role, we have Gyu-young as Nam Joo-ri, a nurse working at a psychiatric unit. She’s one of Gang-tae’s childhood friends and co-workers who also happens to have a crush on him. This doesn’t bode well for her in the love department, but her jealousy scenes are always a fun break from the dark plot. And when given a chance to show her serious side, she nails it just as well.
The Devil Judge (2021)
If you liked Squid Game’s brutal social commentary, The Devil Judge may be your next must-watch series. In this dystopian drama, those with greed and power suppress the weak under the guise of democracy. For Judge Kang Yo-han (Ji-sung), the public has the authority to make judgments against the accused. Thus, he holds broadcasted courtroom trials where the audience gets to vote on the final verdict — while secretly armed with several manipulation tactics.
This drama is no doubt a high-stakes mental showdown. And caught within its web is Gyu-young’s character, Yoon Soo-hyun, a police lieutenant and close friend of rookie judge Kim Ga-on (Jin-young). Both disagree with Yo-han’s tactics and attempt to get to the bottom of this enigmatic judge. Although this is another supporting role, Gyu-young never fails to make her limited screen time count with her charismatic force.
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Dali and the Cocky Prince (2021)
Shifting away from intense dramas for now, Gyu-young stars as the female lead in Dali and the Cocky Prince, a romance-mystery with Kim Min-jae. The story focuses on Kim Da-li (Park Gyu-young), a rich yet hardworking art researcher, whose family business goes into debt after her father’s sudden death. This unfortunate issue entangles her with Jin Moo-hak (Kim Min-jae), who has come to collect their dues.
Riding the opposites attract wave, Gyu-young plays the gentle and intelligent Kim Da-li, while Moo-hak is a resourceful and eccentric businessman. Although Da-li presents herself elegantly, she hides her struggles beneath a mask. Gyu-young’s performance in this drama highlighted her growing potential as an actress, so much so that it won her the title of Best New Actress at the 2021 KBS Drama Awards.
Celebrity (2023)
Gyu-young shows a new side of herself in the Netflix series Celebrity. This suspenseful thriller plunges into the dark side of being social media influencers, seen through the lens of Seo A-ri (Park Gyu-young). Despite living affluently since birth, her family goes into debt and forces her to start working as a salesperson. However, her life completely changes after attending a rich friend’s party — thrusting her into a world of glam and chaos.
With this being another major role, she showed her versatility and undeniable star quality. Far from her other characters, A-ri is a cunning woman who can shift personas depending on the company. There’s a certain buzz when watching this drama, which is further amplified through Gyu-young’s captivating portrayal.
A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023)
A Good Day to Be a Dog introduces us to a generational curse where they transform into dogs after their first kiss. The only way to break free is to get a second kiss from the same person as a dog. Unfortunately, Hae-na (Park Gyu-young) inherits the curse and accidentally kisses her colleague Jin Seo-won (Cha Eun-woo) after a night of drinking. It wouldn’t be much of a problem — if only Seo-won weren’t afraid of dogs!
This webtoon-based drama is another classic rom-com, but with a quirky twist! Hae-na is one of her more outgoing and funny characters, clumsy yet lovable all the same. It’s an enjoyable watch for fans of light-hearted stories and, of course, Gyu-young’s endearing cuteness.
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From gruesome horror to cheesy romance, Park Gyu-young has done it all. Her recent performance in Squid Game speaks volumes of her acting expertise, and no doubt she is on par with other esteemed actors in the cast. Whether in a supporting or lead role, she always finds a way to shine—and we hope to see more of her again real soon.
What’s your favorite Park Gyu-young show or movie so far?
Sources: Park Gyu-young Official IG, Saram Entertainment, Little Big Pictures, Netflix, tvN, KBS2, MBC
