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Kim Ki-woo ("Kevin"), played by Choi Woo-sik

The clever and ambitious son of the Kim family. Ki-woo infiltrates the Park household by posing as an English tutor with a forged degree from Yonsei University (changed to Oxford in international versions of the film) and quickly gains the trust of the wealthy Parks. Resourceful and strategic, Ki-woo devises a plan that enables each member of his family to secure employment with the Parks under false identities. Though their scheme is built on deception, his motivations are rooted in a desire to lift his family out of poverty. He even fantasizes about one day marrying Da-hye, the Parks’ daughter, whom he tutors. 

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Kim Ki-taek, played by Song Kang-ho
The father of the Kim family who eventually becomes the Park family’s chauffeur. Quiet, observant, and deeply devoted to his family, he initially views Ki-woo’s scheme as a clever opportunity to improve their circumstances. But as time passes, the subtle humiliations and casual condescension he experiences at the hands of the Parks begin to wear on him. The disparity between the families becomes harder to ignore, and Ki-taek grows increasingly disillusioned.  

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Kim Chung-sook, played by Jang Hye-jin
The mother of the Kim family, who replaces Moon-gwang as the Park family’s housekeeper. Pragmatic and sharp-tongued, Chung-sook is a no-nonsense woman who has no qualms about deceiving the Parks or displacing their household staff. She remains openly skeptical of the Parks’ polished manners, frequently reminding her family not to be fooled by their wealth and civility. In her eyes, kindness comes easy when life is comfortable. 

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Kim Ki-jung ("Jessica"), played by Park So-dam
Ki-woo’s sister, who pretends to be an art therapist in order to get a job tutoring Park Da-song. Ki-jung is smart, confident, and quick-thinking. She is the most skilled at maintaining the family’s ruse and is also instrumental to getting Ki-woo into the house in the first place, as she helps him forge a convincing fake university degree.  

Park Yeon-kyo, played by Cho Yeo-jeong
The wealthy and impressionable matriarch of the Park family. Yeon-kyo is more invested in surface appearances than what lies beneath. Easily manipulated, she hires each member of the Kim family without realizing they’re related or bothering to verify their credentials. She avoids conflict, values comfort, and is especially paranoid about health and hygiene.  

Mr. Park (Park Dong-ik), played by Lee Sun-kyun
The patriarch of the Park family. Mr. Park is a successful tech executive who maintains a polished, polite exterior but keeps a chilly emotional distance from those who work for him—especially Ki-taek. He repeatedly warns Ki-taek not to “cross the line,” making it clear that familiarity is unwelcome. Though rarely overtly cruel, Mr. Park’s condescension is unmistakable; he speaks about the poor with detached discomfort and seems to view his employees less as people than as conveniences. His sense of entitlement and obliviousness to the hardships of others highlight the deep class divide at the heart of the film. 

Moon-gwang, played by Lee Jeong-eun
The Parks’ housekeeper (she is later fired and replaced by Chung-sook). Moon-gwang originally worked for the architect who designed and built the Park house. Unbeknownst to the Parks, she has been secretly hiding her husband, Geun-sae, in the basement bunker ever since they moved in. The fact that the Parks remain entirely unaware of Geun-sae’s years-long presence in their home underscores just how profoundly disconnected they are from the lives of those who serve them. 

Geun-sae, played by Park Myeong-hoon
Moon-gwang’s husband, who has been secretly living in the bunker beneath the Park house for years in order to hide from loan sharks. The years of solitude have taken their toll on his physical and mental health, which the audience later sees in the disastrous party scene. 

Park Da-hye, played by Jung Ji-so
The teenage daughter of the Park family, who becomes romantically involved with Ki-woo. Da-hye is naïve and sheltered. She is frequently critical of her parents, whom she thinks are boring and elitist. She remains unaware of the Kim family’s true identities until the very end of the film.  

Park Da-song, played by Jung Hyun-jun 
The youngest member of the Park family. Da-song is imaginative and energetic, with a strong interest in drawing. He often creates abstract, whimsical pictures, which leads his mother, Yeon-kyo, to believe he has artistic talent. She also worries that his erratic behavior signals deeper issues, interpreting his outbursts as attention-seeking rather than playful. Her concerns ultimately drive her to hire an “art therapist” (Ki-jung) to help manage his development. 

Min-hyuk, played by Park Seo-joon
Ki-woo’s friend, who recommends him for the tutoring job at the Park household. He gives the Kim family the scholar's rock and trusts Ki-woo to look after Da-hye. His departure sets the entire plot into motion. 

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