Park Seo Joon has officially reached his 15th year in the industry, and he isn’t slowing down.
Following the conclusion of his latest JTBC drama Surely Tomorrow, Park sat down with iMBC Entertainment in Gangnam to reflect on his career. From romance to fantasy, and even a venture into Hollywood, he has consistently moved forward, embracing new challenges that fit his natural progression.
“Expanding my horizons feels like too big of a statement,” Park said modestly. “Really, my focus just naturally grew as I made the best choices for where I was in life. I only take on projects I can truly relate to.”
He pointed to his recent choices as examples of this approach. “I picked Surely Tomorrow with that in mind. After filming Gyeongseong Creature for two years, I wanted to work on something more grounded in reality. I just went after projects that felt right for me.”
Looking Ahead to his 40s
When asked about his future as he nears his forties, Park shared a new goal. “I’m thinking about genres like noir,” he said. “Before, I hesitated because I looked too young and wasn’t sure it would fit me, but I think things will feel different by then… A romance in my forties would probably have a different vibe than it does now.”
The Burden of the Leading Man
Having started with minor roles and risen to top-tier stardom, Park spoke candidly about the weight that comes with being the face of a production.
“I think there’s more to being a lead actor than people realize,” he said. “Of course, acting well is important, but it’s also the lead actor’s job to set the tone on set. Everyone is watching me. If I have a bad attitude just because I’m not feeling great, it can affect the whole atmosphere.”
He emphasized the importance of leadership behind the scenes. “I try to bond with the production staff as soon as I can… cracking jokes and making sure everyone is okay.”
He then shared a refreshing and humorous view on star salaries: “I think there’s a reason for high appearance fees. It’s a job that always comes with responsibility, don’t you think?”
>> Park Seo Joon on Playing a 20-Year-Old at 37: ‘I Got a Lot of Facial Massages’
In the meantime, watch Park Seo Joon in The Divine Fury on Amasian TV:
Source (1)
