Famous Korean Actor Reveals He’s Taking An Extended Hiatus For A Long Period After Several Back To Back Hits
Looking back, few actors have delivered as many buzzworthy works in recent years as Son Suk Ku who revealed in a recent interview he’d been taking an extended hiatus soon!
Son Suk Ku rose to the ranks of “ten-million actor” with his role as Kang Hae-sang in The Outlaws 2 (2022). Since then, he has continued to take on diverse projects across both film and streaming platforms, including D.P. (2021), My Liberation Notes (2022), D.P. 2 (2023), Big Bet, A Killer Paradox (2024), Heavenly Ever After (2025), and Nine Puzzle. Perhaps because of this nonstop pace, Son has now announced plans for a break.
In a recent interview with Sports Seoul at a café in Jongno, Seoul, Son shared, “I’m still actively working, but once my current commitments are wrapped up, I’m planning to take a fairly long break. In the past, I had a clear goal of taking on as many projects as possible. Learning was exciting, but I feel like it’s now time to focus on meaningful expression.”
“I don’t think I can keep going at this pace anymore. Doing multiple projects demands a tremendous amount of time and energy. I believe it’s time to explore different acting approaches and seek change,” he added.
For example, while both A Killer Paradox (Jang Nan-gam) and Nine Puzzle (Han Saem) feature him as a detective, the tone and direction of his performances are vastly different. In the former, he plays a rough detective chasing a serial killer; in the latter, he supports a brilliant profiler with a calmer, more composed presence. The distinctions between the two characters are more striking than their similarities.
“It’s not about creating differences but discovering them,” Son explained. “Han Saem exists somewhere between reality and fantasy. I aimed for a balanced portrayal — neither too much nor too little — and prepared meticulously for a long time.”
“When people asked me what I was up to, I would say, ‘Only Nine Puzzle.’ In a well-crafted mystery, it’s important not to stand out individually but to help elevate the work as a whole. Director Yoon Jong-bin has extensive experience and a very clear vision. He knows exactly how the final product will resonate with the audience. All I had to do was trust him and focus on my performance.”
He also expressed deep respect for Kim Hye-ja, with whom he worked in Heavenly Ever After, he added, “I visit her whenever I start a new project. I remind myself to approach acting with the same purity as she does. For her, there’s no distinction between acting and life itself. She feels like a great mentor for the rest of my acting career.”
Son concluded by expressing gratitude to his fans: “Whether people find my work entertaining or not, anyone who watches it is my number one fan. I’m also continuously working on scripts and have dreams of taking on new challenges I haven’t tried before.” He hinted at his plans for personal and creative growth during his upcoming break.
Source: (A)
