Oh Dal-su

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Oh Dal-su

Role / Field:

Acclaimed South Korean character actor known for supporting roles in major cinema.

Born:

1968-06-15

Century / Era:

1968s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Oh Dal-su (Korean: 오달수; born 15 June 1968) is a South Korean character actor who has appeared on television, film, and stage. His acting career spans over 35 years. Oh is best known for his supporting roles in director Park Chan-wook's films, having appeared in six of Park's films: Oldboy (2003), If You Were Me (2003), Lady Vengeance (2005), I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006), Thirst (2009) and No Other Choice (2025). In 2015, Oh received praise for his role in Ode to My Father (2014), for which he won a Grand Bell Award and a Blue Dragon Film Award. Oh began his acting career in theater in Busan, and since 2001, he has been the head of theater company Singiru Manhwagyeong ("Mirage and Kaleidoscope").

Career & Major Achievements

His rich experience on the stage, in local productions such as Ogu, later made Oh an in-demand character actor on the big screen. Oh has starred in numerous successful films, in roles such as the owner of the organized crime-funded private jail in Oldboy (2003), a former gang boss in Mapado (2005), a weapons smuggler in A Bittersweet Life (2005), a transvestite in Foxy Festival (2010), a Chinese-Korean conman in The Thieves (2012), and a sympathetic inmate in Miracle in Cell No. 7. He also dubbed the voice of the monster in The Host (2006). In March 2018, Oh was dropped from Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds due to sexual harassment allegations. In 2018, he withdrew from the cast of My Mister (2018) and took a two-year hiatus from acting.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 2024, Oh played boat captain Park Yeong Gil in the second and third season of Squid Game (2021). In 1987, Oh was arrested and detained for three days for protesting at the June Democratic Struggle. On 22 February 2018, Oh was accused of sexual harassment. He initially denied the accusation. On 26 February, further accusations against Oh were broadcast on JTBC Newsroom, during an interview with a woman who accused Oh of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1968 (1968-06-15): Birth of Oh Dal-su — Acclaimed South Korean character actor known for supporting roles in major cinema.
2. 1987: 1987 Milestone — In 1987, Oh was arrested and detained for three days for protesting at the June Democratic Struggle.
3. 2001: 2001 Milestone — Oh began his acting career in theater in Busan, and since 2001, he has been the head of theater company Singiru Manhwagyeong ("Mirage and Kaleidoscope").
4. 2003: 2003 Milestone — Oh is best known for his supporting roles in director Park Chan-wook's films, having appeared in six of Park's films: Oldboy (2003), If You Were Me (2003), Lady Vengeance (2005), I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006), Thirst (2009) and No Other Choice (2025).
5. 2006: 2006 Milestone — He also dubbed the voice of the monster in The Host (2006).
6. 2015: 2015 Milestone — In 2015, Oh received praise for his role in Ode to My Father (2014), for which he won a Grand Bell Award and a Blue Dragon Film Award.
7. 2018: 2018 Milestone — In March 2018, Oh was dropped from Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds due to sexual harassment allegations.
8. 2024: 2024 Milestone — In 2024, Oh played boat captain Park Yeong Gil in the second and third season of Squid Game (2021).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Oh Dal-su

True or False: “Oh Dal-su won a Grand Bell Award and a Blue Dragon Film Award for his role in 'Ode to My Father'?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The text explicitly states that he received both the Grand Bell Award and the Blue Dragon Film Award for his performance in 'Ode to My Father' (2014).

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abrar-ul-Haq — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Esteemed Pakistani singer, philanthropist, and former politician from Punjab.
• Adam McKay — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Acclaimed American filmmaker known for satirical comedies and high-profile adaptations.
• Ajay Devgn — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker known for diverse roles in Hindi cinema.
• Abdullah Ibrahim — Shared historical date (06-15 · Died) (2026): Pianist and composer, considered the leading figure in the subgenre of Cape jazz.
• Adah Isaacs Menken — Shared historical date (06-15 · Born) (1835): American actress, painter, and poet known for sensational stage performances.
• Akhtar Mansur — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Second Supreme Leader of the Taliban, assassinated in a 2016 US drone strike.
• Alejandro Sanz — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Iconic Spanish singer known for flamenco-infused ballads and global success.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Alija Izetbegović — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Bosnian politician, Islamic philosopher, and author who led Bosnia through its tumultuous independence.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• 1968 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1968
• June 15 (06-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 15

Frequently Asked Questions about Oh Dal-su