"So far, I think I've only shown the sweet and bitter flavors. There are still many sides I haven't shown, including the spicy flavor."
Actor Park Ji-hoon, who is having his best year ever with the consecutive hits of the 10-million-viewer film "The King and I" (Korean title: "Wangsanam") and Tving's original series "Cooking Soldier Becomes a Legend" (Korean title: "Chwisabyeong"), said this in a meeting with Seoul Economic Daily at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. "There are still many flavors I haven't experienced myself, such as villain roles and crime noir," he said.
The former Wanna One member drew attention in the "Weak Hero" series, playing Yeon Si-eun, a top 1% model student who chose to be a voluntary outsider. He then perfectly portrayed King Danjong in "The King and I," once again broadening his acting spectrum. While Yeon Si-eun and Danjong represented a heavy and chilling "bitter taste," Kang Sung-jae in "Cooking Soldier" is closer to a bright and lovable "sweet taste." Park revealed his determination not to stop there but to take on characters of more diverse textures.
Park solidified his presence as an actor by drawing 16.88 million viewers with "The King and I," earning the title of "10-million actor," followed by putting "Cooking Soldier" on a successful track. However, he said nothing has really changed for him despite the consecutive successes. "I'm grateful that more people like me, but there's no change inside me," he said calmly. "I'm just doing the tasks given to me."
He was particularly wary of attributing the success of his works to personal credit. "I really hate watching people show off," he said. "Even imagining myself with my shoulders puffed up feels disgusting and repulsive." He emphasized, "A work is created together by many people, so thinking that I did well alone doesn't seem right."
In "Cooking Soldier," Park plays Private Kang Sung-jae, who gains cooking abilities, drawing praise for his B-movie sensibility and shameless comedic acting. Scenes such as appearing wrapped in seaweed all over his body, or playing a backbone flute and an acorn jelly accordion, became hot topics online immediately after release. Many of the noted scenes were unexpectedly created spontaneously on set. "The backbone flute scene was an idea that came up after I asked them to just play one song on set," he said. "When music like a Russian folk dance came on, I acted as it came to mind, and the production team kept it as it was." On the secret of comedic acting, he said, "Rather than just exaggerating, I tried not to lose the character's center. I wanted viewers to feel 'cute' rather than simply 'funny.'"
Amid attention from the industry due to his consecutive hits, project offers are pouring in. "Various scenarios are coming in, from ordinary office workers to villain roles," he said. "I tend to read scripts slowly and for a long time, so I haven't decided anything yet." He added, "I don't feel pressure about my next project because of the success of my previous works. I tend to finish a work as a work and start the next one anew, and I'm still in the process of learning."
However, he will have to pause his activities next year, as he is set to enlist in the military. "I really have to go to the military next year," he said. "The Marine Corps Reconnaissance Unit was originally my dream. Even if I apply and fail, I really want to join the Marine Corps." He smiled and added, "I really came to know the value of cooking soldiers through this work, but my original dream was the Marine Corps Reconnaissance Unit." Just as Park said there are still many flavors he hasn't shown, his next transformation as an actor is also ongoing.
