Trigger cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the latest Netflix thriller drama?

Trigger cast ( Image via Instagram / netflixkr )
Trigger cast ( Image via Instagram / netflixkr )

The cast and characters of Trigger (2025 Korean drama) supply the momentum for Netflix's gripping new thriller, within a South Korea reeling from the sudden and unexpected emergence of illicit weapons. With national paranoia, dereliction of duty, and redemption as the core themes, Trigger owes much of its emotional weight and drive to the compelling ensemble of actors and their multifaceted characters.

This list of the cast and characters of Trigger shows both lead and supporting roles.


Main cast of Trigger

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Kim Nam-gil as Lee Do

Headlining the cast and characters of Trigger is Kim Nam-gil, who stars as Lee Do, a retired military sniper turned policeman. Tormented by his history yet propelled by obligation, Lee Do becomes the face of South Korea's struggle against a clandestine arms boom.

His performance brings low-key rage and profound inner turmoil to a character suspended between his conscience and decaying national infrastructures. Kim Nam-gil's performance is the focus of the show's emotional and psychological tone.


Kim Young-kwang as Moon Baek

In a biting contrast, Kim Young-kwang portrays Moon Baek, a suave, manipulative arms trader. He's the type of bad guy who doesn't merely sell guns—he sells anarchy, preying on the very foundation of South Korea's no-gun culture.

As the other half of the story's push-pull equation, Moon Baek is a cultured foe whose motives are as existential as they are nefarious. Among the characters of Trigger, he is one of the most mysterious.


Supporting cast: Allies, outsiders & power brokers

Woo Ji-hyun as Yoo Jung-tae

Although not a part of the gun investigation, Woo Ji-hyun's Yoo Jung-tae provides a necessary civilian grounding. A civil servant student taking practice tests, he is representative of regular Koreans caught unawares in extraordinary peril. His character reminds viewers of the general social ripple effect caused by the gun crisis.

He is one of the few non-authority figures in the Trigger characters, with a strong emotional presence.


Park Hoon as Koo Jeong-man

We see Park Hoon as the "boss's backup handler," a mysterious player in the shadowy operations that support the gun smuggling business. His presence adds additional depth and moral grayness to the narrative's criminal landscape.


Kim Won-hae as Cho Hyeon-sik

The station head played by Kim Won-hae is one of the more realistic voices within the police. His experience and cynicism are the opposite of Lee Do's fervor, providing a practical, at times bureaucratic, voice in the battle against illegal firearms.


Kil Hae-yeon as Oh Gyeong-suk

Kil Hae-yeon is a mysterious character who provides advice—or perhaps opposition—based on her loyalty. Her existence indicates significant power behind the scenes.


High-profile guest roles with significant impact

Plenty of big names turn up in guest roles throughout the initial few episodes, implying there is a much more complex world at play than initially suggested:

Jang Dong-joo as Jang Sun-gyeong (Ep. 1–4)

His brief but significant appearance implies initial narrative tension.

Jung Woong-in as the Police Chief

A man of authority managing administrative and moral meltdown, the police chief is torn between doing what is right and covering for the organization's face.

Jo Han-chul as the Team Chief

Presumably Lee Do's immediate boss, Jo Han-chul's character provides yet more pressure on the protagonist as he negotiates rules, instincts, and survival.

The other guest cast appearances include Park Gwang-jae, Park Yoon-ho, Yang Seung-ri, Ahn Se-ho, Cha Rae-hyoung, Son Bo-seung, Lee Suk, Kim Joong-hee, Hong Min-ki, and Gu Hyun. All of these cast members contribute to texture and tension in the growing world of Trigger.


Creative team

Directed and written by Kwon Oh-seung

Director Kwon Oh-seung, the mastermind of Midnight, infuses Trigger with his trademark psychological tension. Stylish and taut in direction, yet brimming with emotions, rendering even those conversation-heavy scenes suspenseful.


Songs by Hwang Sang-jun

As a composer, Hwang Sang-jun's score adds depth to the mood of the show. With ominous strings and jarring electronic drums, the music heightens dread and despair, enabling the cast and characters of Trigger to carry even greater emotional weight.


Trigger's cast and crew are more than just a list of familiar actors; those are the moral spine and beating heart of a culture on the precipice. Whether Kim Nam-gil's sullen lead or Kim Young-kwang's smooth-talking bad guy, each actor in this show feels lived, thought through, and dangerously human. Even the background characters are stamped with the kind of depth that lingers long after the credits have faded.

Watch the series for a gun-slinging epic, the moral filth, games of the mind, and one of the most compelling ensemble casts to hit K-dramas in recent years. The cast and characters of the show not only pull you in—they hold you captive.

Also read: Does Yoo Jung-tae finally pull the 'Trigger' in the latest Netflix K-thriller's Episode 1? Here's what we know

Edited by Deebakar
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