Elite villain Cho Sang-woo, who deceived Ali in “Squid Game” Season 1, left a lasting impression on viewers—not just for his betrayal, but for the layered performance by actor Park Hae-soo. Now, Park returns as another complex antagonist in Netflix’s six-part thriller “Karma,” based on the webtoon of the same name. Thick with the stench of corruption and moral decay, the series currently ranks No. 1 in seven countries and No. 4 globally on Netflix’s TV charts, according to FlixPatrol as of April 8.
◇ A karma-driven fantasy that satisfies
“Karma” satisfies viewers with its flawless portrayal of karmic justice, where wrongdoings eventually come full circle and reach the sinner. What goes around, comes around. Viewers have praised the show’s tight storytelling, especially Park Hae-soo’s compelling performance.
The story begins with characters whose moral compass has completely collapsed. Actors Park Hae-soo, Shin Min-a, Lee Hee-jun, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Kwang-soo, Gong Seung-yeon, and Kim Nam-gil play seven individuals embroiled in a grim tale. To enjoy the payoff the drama has carefully designed, viewers must first endure the villains' destructive first half.
These include the Debtor (Lee Hee-jun), who hires a hitman to kill his father for insurance money; Gil-ryong (Kim Sung-kyun), who helps carry out the murder; the Glasses (Lee Kwang-soo), who tries to cover up a traffic accident; and Yu-jeong (Gong Seung-yeon) and the Witness (Park Hae-soo), who set a trap for the Glasses. Each makes one wrong choice after another, with no turning back.
As the series progresses, Shin Min-a appears as Ju-yeon, one of the few true victims, and Kim Nam-gil joins as Dr. Yoon, who takes justice into his own hands. As the story unfolds, the connections between characters are revealed and hidden twists come to light. New pieces of the puzzle keep emerging until the very end, tying everything together in a well-crafted thriller.
◇Park Hae-soo transforms as multi-layered villain
Park Hae-soo’s portrayal of the Witness stands out for its dramatic transformation. He shifts from a pathetic pushover to a sly blackmailer, and finally into a sharp-witted con man. In the early scenes, wearing earmuffs and a pitiful expression, his presence is so vivid it is almost as if you can smell the desperation coming off the screen.
Director Lee Il-hyung, in an interview with Chosun Ilbo on April 8, said, “The Witness is someone who keeps changing to fit the situation. I thought Park Hae-soo was perfect for the role because he can do both light and intense acting.”
Shin Min-a, best known for her roles in romantic comedies, takes on a new challenge in this darker genre. Director Lee noted, “Unlike the other characters who react impulsively, Ju-yeon internalizes her pain. She was the only true victim and had to break the cycle of evil, which made Shin Min-a the ideal choice for the role.”
◇Director Lee reflects on his signature prison themes
The director said he read the original webtoon twice but avoided returning to it during the adaptation process. In the webtoon, Gil-ryong and the Witness are the same person, but the drama separates them, creating new twists in the story.
Lee cited a scene by actor Lee Hee-jun, who plays the Debtor, as the clearest display of evil in “Karma.” After hiring a hitman to kill his own father, the character declares he will take revenge because the job was not done cleanly—a line dripping with irony. “That moment came from the actor’s ad-lib, after he had fully become the character,” Lee said. “It was so outrageous, the crew couldn’t help but click their tongues.”
Having previously directed “A Violent Prosecutor” and “Remember,” Lee laughed that all three of his projects feature prison settings. “With the family dysfunction in ‘Karma,’ I couldn’t let my father, who’s over 70, watch it,” he said. “Next time, I want to do something smaller and more heartfelt.”
