Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Hana Lee
What do Do Kyung Soo from 100 Days My Prince, Lee Junho from The Red Sleeve and Park Hyung Sik from Our Blooming Youth have in common? They have all been adored for their performances as crown princes in their respective dramas. This article will highlight Park Hyung Sik‘s top five dramas, as he has been consistently active in the entertainment industry as an actor, singer, and musical performer since his debut as a member of ZE:A.
Soundtrack #1 (2022)
Soundtrack #1 is a romantic drama about two lifelong best friends, Seon Woo (played by Park Hyung Sik) and Eunsu (Han So Hee), who discover their feelings for each other while sharing a house for two weeks. Seon Woo, who has been secretly harboring feelings for Eunsu, returns from the United States to hold his photo exhibition in South Korea. Eunsu asks Seon Woo to stay with her and help her write lyrics about unrequited love, as he has experience in being in one-sided love. Park Hyung Sik shows his potential as a melodramatic actor by delicately portraying romantic feelings he has been developing toward his childhood friend, Eunsu. Soundtrack #1 is a great music drama filled with beautiful visuals and mesmerizing OST songs. The series will return for a second season this year with a different cast in the lead roles.
Happiness (2021)
Happiness is a drama that portrays the struggles of a community living in an urban apartment building under lockdown during an outbreak of a new infectious disease. The show garnered a lot of attention during the Covid pandemic for its realistic portrayal of how the disease spreads and the residents clash with each other during the lockdown. Some viewers even compared the class struggle depicted in the drama to that of Snowpiercer. Park Hyung Sik returned to the small screen through Happiness as a pitcher-turned-homicide detective after completing his military service. He captivated viewers with his sweet chemistry with Han Hyo Joo and his eye-opening stunt works. Furthermore, the drama achieved the impressive feat of entering the Netflix chart four months after its conclusion.
Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017)
Strong Girl Bong-soon gained popularity for its unique blend of a love story involving a super-powered woman and a heroic tale about her tracking down a criminal. Lovely actress Park Bo Young‘s transformation into superhuman Do Bong Soon made the show even more enjoyable to watch. Park Hyung Sik starred opposite her as An Min Hyuk, the CEO of a gaming company who hired Bong Soon as his bodyguard after discovering her incredible powers. The two leads captured the hearts of viewers and were dubbed as the ‘puppy-eyed’ couple throughout the airing of the series. Another drama with a similar premise, named Strong Woman Gang Nam Soon, is set to air this year, starring Lee Yoo Mi, Ong Seong Wu and Byeon Woo Seok.
What’s With This Family (2014)
What’s With This Family is a heartwarming family drama that centers around the story of children and their father whose days are numbered. In the drama, Park Hyung Sik showcases his acting skills as the youngest child, Cha Dal Bong. Dal Bong is a passionate character who falls victim to fraud and loses all his money but remains the most affectionate of the three siblings as he decides to take over the family business. The actor received positive reviews for his portrayal of a character with a strong bond with his family, as well as for his youthful romance with Nam Ji Hyun. The series was praised for its emotional depiction of the importance of family and achieved high viewership ratings throughout its run.
The Heirs (2013)
The Heirs is a high school romance drama written by Kim Eun Sook, who is also behind hit dramas Secret Garden, Mr. Sunshine and The Glory. The show is a modern retelling of the Cinderella story set in a prestigious private high school attended by super-rich students. In the drama, Park Hyung Sik portrays Jo Myung Soo, the son of a leading lawyer at a famous law firm. Despite his immature and playful nature, he forms a close bond with Young Do (played by Kim Woo Bin) and Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye), who are respectively a bully and a bully victim at his school. Myung Soo is also the first person to comfort Young Do after he fails to win Eun Sang’s heart. Park Hyung Sik masterfully portrays his cheerful character, bringing light and humor to the show. According to reports, he is currently in talks to reunite with Park Shin Hye in JTBC’s new drama titled Doctor Slump (literal title).
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
