Ryeoun expressed deep affection for his character Baku, the top dog of his school in the Netflix series Weak Hero Class 2.
“I enjoyed season 1 and was already a fan of the original webtoon, but I specifically wanted to play Baku,” he revealed. Having mostly acted in youth dramas, Ryeoun added, “He’s like the dream character for any guy, and I really wanted to do more action scenes.”
Weak Hero Class 2 follows model student Yeon Si Eun (played by Park Ji Hoon) who transfers schools carrying trauma from failing to protect a friend from violence. Ryeoun portrays Park Hu Min, nicknamed “Baku,” the justice-oriented top dog of Eunjang High. To embody Park’s robust physique, Ryeoun gained 10kg (22 pounds) by “eating well while working out.”
“I love food. But this time, I could exercise and eat whatever I wanted, which made me happy,” he shared. “For about two months, I ate tons of mala hot pot—three or four times a week, plus pork belly and fried chicken. Those were happy days. For me, gaining weight is easier than losing it. Now I’ve lost over 22 pounds again by simply not eating.”
In the show, Park Hu Min makes a striking first appearance with red-dyed hair, wearing shorts and flip-flops in winter. Ryeoun drew inspiration from Hanamichi Sakuragi from Slam Dunk: “He seems foolish but is straightforward, cheerful yet solid, with a sense of justice,” he explained. “Baku comes from a difficult home environment yet maintains a positive mindset. I wanted him to feel more mature than his peers.”
How was Ryeoun’s actual school life? He laughed, saying it was “very different” from Baku’s. When asked if he was also strong, Ryeoun answered with “not that bad,” drawing laughter. “I was good at arm wrestling in high school. Unless there was an extreme size difference, I won against everyone,” he boasted.
The Weak Hero Class 2 set felt like an actual high school with fellow young actors Park Ji Hoon, Yu Su Bin, Choi Min Yeong, and Lee Jun Young. “The atmosphere was great. We all liked each other and formed these deep bonds,” he shared. “I learned a lot from Su Bin, who was the oldest among us. When I visited his room, his script was thoroughly analyzed with notes. It made me think I needed to work harder.”
Weak Hero Class 2 ended with potential for a third season. “If season 3 comes out, viewers will love it. Personally, I hope it will be more peaceful, but contrary to my wishes, I think it will include even more turbulence.”
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