The sci-fi horror anime adaptation Parasyte: The Grey brings its disturbing story to life through the work of its excellent cast of actors. The Netflix show follows a woman who is suddenly taken over by a parasite. Set in South Korea, the story sees a task force called The Grey formed to eliminate humans whose bodies are no longer their own. This results in an all-out war between the mysterious parasites and humankind. However, one woman has the ability to coexist with her symbiote, which makes everything all the more complicated.
Parasyte: The Grey, directed by Yeon Sang-ho, is based on the popular Japanese manga Parasyte by author Hitoshi Iwaaki. Released on Netflix on April 5, 2024, the series is led by star Jeon So-nee, with costars Koo Kyo-hwan and Lee Jung-hyun. Each of these actors is responsible for bringing the Netflix series’s unsettling premise to the screen, allowing Parasyte: The Grey to explore the original manga’s themes of coexistence and harmony—with a twist, of course.
The lead actor of Parasyte: The Grey is South Korean-born actor Jeon So-nee, who made her debut in the 2014 film Photo. She is the daughter of 1970s K-pop star Ko Jae-sook, who was part of the musical group Bunny Girls but is best known herself for playing Jo Hye-in in the 2018 TV series Encounter. Jeon’s other notable roles include Kyung-min in After My Death (2018), Yoo Hyo-yeon in Ghost Walk (2019), Ha-eun in Soulmate (2023), and Min Jae-yi in the 2023 TV series Our Blooming Youth.
Jeon plays Jeong Su-in in Parasyte: The Grey, a girl who survives a car crash but becomes infected with a parasite in the process—and she’s not the only one. People all over the world have been taken over by these unknown parasites. However, Su-in is unique in that she hasn’t yet lost control of her own body. To continue to survive, she must coexist with her symbiote.
South Korean actor and director Koo Kyo-hwan got his first major role in the 2014 movie Romance in Seoul, in which he played Gi-cheol. He is best known for playing the titular role in Jane (2016), Captain Seo in Peninsula (2020), and Tae Joon-giin in the 2021 movie Escape from Mogadishu. Koo has gained further notoriety for playing Han Ho-yul in the Netflix series D.P., for which he won the Baeksand Arts Award for Best New Actor in a Television Series.
In Netflix’s Parasyte: The Grey, Koo plays Seol Kang-woo, a member of the Mangnani Gang. Koo’s primary goal is to find his sister, who mysteriously disappeared. To do so, he tracks down those who are known to have been taken over by parasites.
Lee Jung-hyun, sometimes known by her stage name, Ava, is a South Korean singer and actor who made her acting debut in the 1996 movie A Petal when she was 16. This first role earned Lee several awards, including the Grand Bell and Blue Dragon Awards, and solidified her as a national star. Since then, she has starred in movies like Alice in Earnestland (2015), Split (2016), The Battleship Island (2017), and, more recently, the 2020 mystery film Decision to Leave.
Lee plays Choi Jun-kyung in Parasyte: The Grey, the determined and capable leader of the Team Grey task force. Jun-kyung’s goal is to end the parasites’ plague on the Earth by annihilating each and every one—host and all. Though well intended, this makes Jun-kyung a natural enemy to Su-in in the Netflix live-action anime adaptation.
Kwon Hae-hyo as Kim Chul-min – 58-year-old South Korean actor Kwon Hae-hyo plays Kim Chul-min in Parasyte: The Grey, a detective attempting to get to the bottom of Earth’s catastrophe. Kwon is best known for his roles in The Day After (2017), Peninsula (2020), and Hommage (2021).
Kim In-kwon as Kang Won-seock – Kim In-kwon (48) plays Kang Won-seock in the Netflix sci-fi, who is a colleague of detective Chul-min. Kim is best known for his supporting roles in He’s on Duty (2010) and Born to Sing (2013).
Lee Hyun-kyun as Kwan Hyuk-ju – South Korean actor Lee Hyun-kyun plays Kwan Hyuk-ju in Parasyte: The Grey, a pastor who becomes acquainted with the main characters. Lee is best known for his roles in Cold Eyes (2013), Emergency Declaration (2021), and Dark Hole (2021).