Shin Jae-ha

Acting

Biography

Shin Jae-ha (신재하; born April 2, 1993, in Suwon, South Korea) is a South Korean actor recognized for his versatility in balancing innocent, youthful roles with complex, highly acclaimed antagonist performances. Since making his debut in 2013, he has consistently demonstrated stable and earnest acting, making him a highly sought-after talent in K-dramas. He built his early career through supporting roles in popular dramas, often portraying younger versions of lead characters or students, such as the younger Ki Jae-myung in Pinocchio (2014) and Seo Jin-mok in the short series Page Turner (2016). His presence was further established through memorable supporting turns in major series like While You Were Sleeping (2017) and the smash-hit black comedy Prison Playbook (2017–2018). Following his military service, Shin Jae-ha experienced a notable career shift, finding immense success and critical praise in portraying layered villains. His ability to deliver a chilling contrast to his gentle appearance earned him the nickname of a "villain specialist." He garnered significant attention for his dual role as the seemingly amiable chief manager Ji Dong-hee, who harbored a dark secret, in Crash Course in Romance (2023). He immediately followed this success by portraying the brilliantly deceptive and ruthless villain On Ha-jun (Kim Dan-woo) in Taxi Driver 2 (2023), a performance which earned him the Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards. He continued to embrace the dark side in the critically praised crime thriller Evilive (2023). His recent success highlights his skill in portraying characters with extreme psychological depth, proving him to be one of the most reliable dramatic forces in Korean television.