Actor Heo Sung-tae has revealed that he suffered from a severe panic disorder after Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ became a worldwide sensation.
The actor opened up on the October 20 episode of KBS2’s variety show ‘Problem Child in House’ (episode 331), where he appeared as a guest alongside Go champion Lee Sedol. Fellow guest Kim Jong-kook brought up the topic, saying he had heard that Heo experienced panic disorder following the drama’s massive success.
Heo confirmed the story, explaining that the pressure of soaring expectations left him feeling as though even the filming staff were watching his every move. “It felt like all the staff members were surveilling me,” he said, adding that he imagined them thinking, “‘He got famous, so let’s see how well he acts.’”
The actor said his greatest fear was being judged as a performer whose acting never changes. “I’m afraid of being told my acting is always the same,” he confessed. “That feeling is even stronger with villain roles.”
The anxiety grew so intense that Heo was forced to halt filming on a historical drama — his next project after ‘Squid Game.’ He eventually devoted himself to professional help to recover. “I focused on psychological counseling and medication,” he said.
As reported by MoneyToday, Heo described how the weight of expectations and the pressure to do better became unbearable as ‘Squid Game’ turned into a global phenomenon. No further comment from his agency was available at the time of reporting.
