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Park Seo-joon

Park Yong-kyu (Korean: 박용규; born December 16, 1988), better known by the stage name Park Seo-joon (박서준), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his starring roles in the television series Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), She Was Pretty (2015), Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016–2017), Fight for My Way (2017), What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), Itaewon Class (2020) and Gyeongseong Creature (2023–2024). He has also appeared in films such as The Chronicles of Evil (2015), Midnight Runners (2017), The Divine Fury (2019), Concrete Utopia (2023), and The Marvels (2023).

Early years and education

During his middle school years, Park Seo-joon happened to join an animation club by chance. Through this club, he had the opportunity to participate in an annual performance stage. He gained a lot of experience from being the centre of attention, which led him to pursue his studies in the Acting Department at Seoul Institute of the Arts.

While pursuing his studies in acting, Park encountered challenges and became overwhelmed by the constant presence of others, creating a dilemma for him. In 2008, he chose to enlist in the military. Seeing it as an opportunity to gather his thoughts and organize his life, He believed that fulfilling his military service obligation should be his first priority. He was assigned to the Security Guard Battalion and completed his active military service at Cheongju Correctional Facility.

Career

2011–2015: Beginnings and breakthrough

Park made his entertainment debut in 2011 by appearing in the music video of Bang Yong-guk's single "I Remember." He played supporting roles in television dramas Dream High 2 (2012), Pots of Gold (2013), and One Warm Word (2013), and had his first leading role in A Witch's Love (2014). From October 2013 to April 2015, he hosted Music Bank.

His breakout roles came in 2015 with the dramas Kill Me, Heal Me and She Was Pretty, both of which he starred alongside Hwang Jung-eum. The same year, Park featured in thriller film The Chronicles of Evil.

2016–present: Mainstream popularity

In 2016, Park starred in youth historical drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth alongside Go Ara and Park Hyung-sik, playing a young man of low birth, who becomes a legendary Hwarang warrior in Silla dynasty.

Park found success in the 2017 KBS2 romance comedy drama, Fight for My Way where he played Ko Dong-man – a former taekwondo player with a painful past, who struggles to find his success as a mixed martial arts fighter, alongside Kim Ji-won. The television series was a major hit in South Korea and topped ratings in its time slot. The same year, he played his first big-screen leading role in the action-comedy Midnight Runners with Kang Ha-neul. Park won the Best New Actor award at major film award ceremonies such as the Grand Bell Awards and Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.

In 2018, Park starred in the romantic comedy drama What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, playing a narcissistic vice-chairman of a major corporation who falls in love with his secretary, played by Park Min-young. The series was a hit and Park received positive reviews from critics for his performance, being dubbed the "master of romantic comedy" by the Korean press.

In 2019, Park starred in the action horror film The Divine Fury in the role of a martial arts champion with divine powers. The same year Park served as the special juror for the Asiana International Short Film Festival. He also made a guest appearance in the Oscar-winning movie Parasite (2019).

In 2020, Park starred in JTBC drama Itaewon Class, based on the webtoon of the same name. He played an owner of a bar-restaurant who successfully expands it into a franchise. The drama was a success, and was praised for its interesting story development and colorful performances and Park was nominated for Best Actor - Television at 56th Baeksang Arts Awards

In 2023, he starred in the sports film Dream as a soccer player turned coach named Yoon Hong-Dae, directed by Lee Byeong-heon, and disaster-thriller film Concrete Utopia directed by Um Tae-hwa. He made his Hollywood debut, appearing in the MCU film The Marvels as Prince Yan of Aladna.

Philanthropy

On February 10, 2023, Park donated ₩100 million to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to help victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.