Heo Sung-tae reveals panic disorder and filming hiatus after Squid Game success

Actor Heo Sung-tae disclosed on the 20th that the pressure following the success of 'Squid Game' led to panic disorder, which forced him to halt filming the KBS 2TV drama 'Bloody Heart'.

Actor Heo Sung-tae, who gained international recognition through the global success of Netflix's 'Squid Game', has revealed unexpected aftereffects of his fame. He disclosed that the extreme pressure to perform following the work's success led to panic disorder, which eventually forced him to stop filming a drama.

During the broadcast of the KBS 2TV variety program 'Problem Child in House' on the 20th, Go player Lee Sedol and actor Heo Sung-tae appeared. Heo shared the psychological difficulties he faced following the success of 'Squid Game', discussing the unexpected hardships he encountered as public attention grew.

Heo stated that his panic symptoms worsened while he was filming a historical drama, leading to a situation where filming had to be halted. "After that, I was filming a historical drama and they made me stop filming," he said. He explained that while the success of the work changed his standing as an actor, the pressure regarding how people viewed him increased accordingly.

At the time, Heo confessed that he felt as though even the people on set were gathered to evaluate him. "It felt like everyone here was a monitor. It was like they were thinking, 'He's famous now, let's see how well he acts.' But they are all our staff," he explained regarding his mindset. This was not meant to imply that people were actually monitoring him, but rather how he perceived the situation under extreme anxiety. The pressure from changing expectations and public scrutiny appears to have been a significant psychological burden.

In particular, Heo admitted that evaluations of his repetitive acting style were also a burden. Having primarily played villainous roles, he feared being trapped in a similar image or being told he always performs the same way. "Especially for villain roles, that color seems a bit stronger," he said. "When I worry about how to modulate [my acting], it becomes more of a burden." The consciousness of needing to show a new side actually increased the pressure on his acting.

Heo revealed that he experienced these difficulties while filming the KBS 2TV drama 'Bloody Heart'. He added that he later found stability through medication and psychological therapy. While the public sees only the success of the work and his growth as an actor, his confession shows that the burden of meeting heightened expectations and self-doubt can increase simultaneously behind the scenes.

During the appearance, Heo also expressed his affection for his mother. He explained that he had his mother, who had been selling blankets, stop working ahead of her 80th birthday celebration this year, as he believed handling blankets could be a burden to her lung health. He also stated that he moved her to a small rental house so she could live comfortably. "I feel proud that I did it while I could," Heo said, expressing his feelings for his family.

Co-guest Lee Sedol also confessed to experiencing a slump. He revealed that after defeating his idol, Lee Chang-ho, he instead went through a slump lasting about one year. "I shouldn't have acknowledged that victory; I became conceited, and from that moment, I was in a slump for one year," Lee explained. Defeating Lee Chang-ho was such a symbolic event for him that the change in his mindset following the victory was significant.

The confessions of Heo Sung-tae and Lee Sedol showed that even in different fields, reaching the top or achieving great success does not necessarily mean one's mind becomes peaceful. As public expectations grow, the burden to prove oneself can also increase. Heo's panic disorder revealed why success cannot be viewed simply as something to celebrate, reminding that protecting oneself behind glamorous achievements is equally important.

Read the original (Korean)