Park Ji-hoon / Xportsnews
Park Ji-hoon is having the kind of career moment few K-pop idols successfully achieve: dominating music, television and film all at once.
The former Wanna One member has become one of South Korea’s hottest entertainers after a breakout run fueled by a high-profile historical film role, a solo music comeback and a highly anticipated Wanna One reunion project.
A scene from “The King’s Warden” / Courtesy of Showbox
Released in February, “The King’s Warden” surpassed 16 million moviegoers, an extraordinary result in South Korea’s struggling theater market. Park drew praise for his emotionally layered performance and intense screen presence, helping fuel word-of-mouth buzz surrounding the movie.
As clips spread online, Korean viewers began affectionately referring to him as “Danjong oppa,” referencing the tragic young king from Korea’s Joseon Dynasty.
The viral nickname quickly became part of the film’s cultural phenomenon, with many viewers saying they had “rediscovered” Park as a serious actor rather than simply a former idol.
A scene from “Weak Hero” / Courtesy of Netflix
Although Park first rose to fame through K-pop, his acting career has been steadily building for years.
A former child actor, he gradually expanded his filmography through dramas including “Love Revolution,” “At a Distance, Spring Is Green,” “Love Song for Illusion” and “Weak Hero Class 1.”
Among them, “Weak Hero” is widely viewed as the project that transformed public perception of him. The darker, emotionally intense role helped Park shed his youthful idol image and attracted global streaming audiences, proving he could compete seriously as an actor.
Park Ji-hoon / Courtesy of YY Entertainment
What makes Park’s current run especially unusual is that he has continued his music activities at full speed even while his acting popularity surges.
In April, he returned with a solo album showcasing a more mature musical style and upgraded performances.
He is also meeting fans through the fan concert “RE:FLECT,” scheduled for May 30 and 31 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.
At the same time, Wanna One’s long-awaited reunion is generating major buzz among K-pop fans nostalgic for the group’s peak years.
The group debuted in 2017 through Season 2 of the Mnet survival show “Produce 101,” where Park finished in second place. At the time, he became a national sensation thanks to the viral catchphrase “Save you in my heart,” which turned into one of the biggest memes of the era.
Wanna One went on to become one of South Korea’s biggest idol groups, often grouped together with EXO and BTS as the dominant boy groups of the late 2010s. The group’s recent reunion through the reality show “Wanna One Go” sparked strong emotional reactions among longtime fans.
A scene from “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier” / Courtesy of Tving
Park’s momentum is continuing with his latest television drama, “The Legend of Kitchen Soldier,” which premiered on May 11.
The military-themed series quickly topped paid subscription contribution rankings during its first week and has continued climbing in ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the drama recorded its highest viewership yet at 7.9 percent on May 19.
With successful acting projects, active music promotions, viral online buzz and group reunion activities all happening simultaneously, Park has become one of South Korea’s busiest — and hottest — all-around entertainers.
For many fans, the “Danjong oppa” craze may have started the latest wave of attention, but Park Ji-hoon’s real peak may only be beginning.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
