One of the highest-grossing actors in South Korea, Hwang has starred in several box office hits such as The Unjust (2010), Dancing Queen (2012), New World (2013), Ode to My Father (2014), Veteran (2015), The Himalayas (2015), A Violent Prosecutor (2016), The Wailing (2016), The Spy Gone North (2018), Deliver Us from Evil (2020), 12.12: The Day (2023).

In his role as a hopeless drummer, Hwang left a strong impression and earned favorable reviews, with director Yim Soon-rye calling him "an uncut gemstone".

Hwang went on to have prominent roles in Road Movie, A Good Lawyer's Wife, Heaven's Soldiers and A Bittersweet Life.

[12] But it was in 2005 that Hwang became a household name, portraying a naive farmer in love with an AIDS-stricken prostitute in the hit melodrama You Are My Sunshine.

I agreed with the director's idea of showing it as pure love, like an uncut gem, without sloppily adding to it or embellishing it.

During a crisis on set, or when he is either feeling too satisfied or caught up in mannerisms, he takes out notes he made when he first read the screenplay.

[22][23] The theater producer said that it took three years to cast the leading role because in Hwang he had found the right actor to rival Antonio Banderas' Broadway performance.

"[26] 2009's The Accidental Couple was particularly special to Hwang, as it was his first time starring in a television drama in his 14-year acting career.

[31][32] He then starred in The Unjust, a highly acclaimed noir about corruption in the South Korean justice system;[33][34] followed by conspiracy film Moby Dick as a reporter.

[35][36] Hwang then reunited with actress Uhm Jung-hwa (whom he previously starred with in 2005 ensemble romantic comedy All for Love) in the 2012 box office hit Dancing Queen.

[39] In late 2012, Hwang made his debut as a theatre director in Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassins, which he also starred in.

Hwang then played a middle-aged fighter in the sports film Fists of Legend, performing all the stunts himself.

[12][44][45] He reunited with The Unjust director Ryoo Seung-wan in 2015 for Veteran, playing a hot-tempered police detective tracking an arrogant and heartless chaebol heir.