Ha Sang-min (Korean: 하상민) is a minor antagonist in the 2024 Netflix K-drama A Killer Paradox. He is a duplicitous office worker who leads a double life, presenting himself as a kind and stable man while secretly engaging in a manipulative and emotionally exploitative affair with Choi Gyeong-ah, a woman already traumatized by a past scandal.
Known for his two-faced behavior and emotional cruelty, Ha Sang-min deceives Gyeong-ah by pretending to care for her while hiding his engagement to another woman. He carefully crafts a facade of empathy and warmth, using his charm to gain her trust and affection, only to abandon her and worsen her psychological state. His manipulation reopens old wounds and reinforces the cycle of abuse she has long tried to escape.
Over the course of the series, his true nature is uncovered by Lee Tang, the protagonist who has begun targeting individuals he perceives as evil. Though Sang-min does not commit physical violence, his actions are revealed to be deeply harmful on a psychological level. Tang eventually murders him, viewing him as a hidden predator whose emotional damage warrants retribution.
He is portrayed by Roh Jae-won.
Biography[]
Background
Ha Sang-min is a minor but crucial antagonist in the 2024 Netflix K-drama A Killer Paradox. Despite his relatively brief screen time, his actions deeply affect the storyline and the development of the protagonist, Lee Tang.
Ha Sang-min works as an ordinary office worker, leading what appears to be a conventional and respectable life. On the surface, he maintains a façade of normalcy—dressed neatly, punctual, and polite—fitting seamlessly into the daily rhythms of his workplace and social environment. However, beneath this veneer lies a deeply manipulative and emotionally abusive individual.
His story unfolds primarily through his secret relationship with Choi Gyeong-ah, a woman scarred by a past scandal involving the non-consensual release of an intimate video. Gyeong-ah struggles to rebuild her life, but the trauma leaves her emotionally vulnerable and desperate for genuine affection and stability. Ha Sang-min exploits this vulnerability masterfully. He begins courting her under false pretenses, presenting himself as a caring and understanding partner who offers her the emotional safety she desperately craves.
Throughout their interactions, Ha Sang-min carefully cultivates an image of empathy and kindness. He uses affectionate language and behaves protectively, winning Gyeong-ah’s trust. Unknown to her, he is already engaged to another woman, a fact he deliberately conceals to avoid losing the benefits of the affair. This duplicity marks him as a classic emotional predator, someone who thrives by deception and betrayal rather than force.
As the series progresses, the strain of maintaining this double life grows. Gyeong-ah eventually discovers his engagement, shattering the fragile trust she had placed in him. When confronted, Ha Sang-min denies any wrongdoing and manipulates her emotions further, employing gaslighting tactics to shift the blame onto her and downplay his betrayal. This psychological abuse devastates Gyeong-ah, causing her to relapse into despair.
The climax of their toxic relationship occurs during a heated argument. Ha Sang-min’s manipulative facade cracks, revealing a colder, more callous personality. In the ensuing struggle, Gyeong-ah accidentally suffocates and dies—an event that Ha Sang-min neither intends nor prevents but which cements his culpability in the eyes of the narrative.
Following this tragedy, the protagonist Lee Tang enters the picture. Lee Tang, who possesses the chilling ability to detect and punish people he deems morally corrupt, identifies Ha Sang-min as a predator whose cruelty, though hidden, deserves retribution. Without hesitation, Tang executes Sang-min, marking a pivotal moment in the story where the protagonist’s sense of justice begins to blur.
Ha Sang-min’s death triggers further consequences, forcing other characters to grapple with the nature of evil—not just overt violence, but also the quiet, insidious harm caused by deception and emotional cruelty. His character is a stark reminder that villainy can wear many masks, and sometimes the most dangerous abusers are those who appear the most harmless.
Personality[]
Ha Sang-min presents himself as calm, composed, and considerate—a seemingly gentle man who can easily gain trust and sympathy. However, beneath this polished exterior lies a manipulative, selfish, and emotionally cold individual. He is highly skilled at hiding his true intentions behind a mask of kindness and concern, using charm and calculated words to control others.
He lacks genuine empathy and is willing to exploit emotional vulnerabilities for his own benefit without remorse. His self-centered nature drives him to prioritize his desires over the wellbeing of others, often rationalizing his actions through twisted justifications.
Ha Sang-min is prone to gaslighting, subtly making his victims question their own reality and feelings, thereby increasing their dependence on him. Despite this, he can appear charming and persuasive to outsiders, making it difficult for others to see through his deception.
Ultimately, his personality reveals a man who is emotionally detached, cunning, and dangerously skilled in psychological manipulation—traits that define his role as an emotional predator in A Killer Paradox.