Park Jihoon: “I Want to Be an Actor Who Lingers with Audiences”

Actor and singer Park Jihoon, who has risen to become the hottest of the hot after setting a major record with the film <The Man Who Lives with the King>, has graced the covers of <Singles>’ May issue and <Singles> Japan in spectacular fashion. In this pictorial, he flawlessly pulled off modern, reinterpreted hanbok styling, completing a one-of-a-kind mood with his signature deep gaze and richly varied expressions.

In an exclusive interview released alongside the shoot, Park shared his thoughts on the film’s historic achievement of ranking No. 2 on the all-time Korean box office list. “I didn’t expect to receive love on this scale,” he said, adding, “When choosing a project, what matters most to me is what emotions I can convey to the audience and what kind of lingering resonance I can leave behind.” He continued, “<The Man Who Lives with the King> was special because I cried a lot while filming, and I poured my energy into it without holding back. It was also a meaningful project to be part of. So I’m deeply grateful that it’s receiving so much love,” expressing his affection for the film. As for the much-praised ‘eyes’ acting, he offered a lighthearted reply: “All I can do is thank my parents.”

Speaking about the stage-greeting video that took over social-media algorithms, he said, “It’s great to be able to show fans what they want to see, but I also genuinely enjoy the process of communicating on the spot. I think that kind of interaction is one of my strengths. So rather than worrying about how I might come across, I approached it with the mindset of showing as much as possible to the people who took the time to come,” conveying his heartfelt gratitude to fans.

On reuniting for Wanna One activities for the first time in seven years, he said, “I missed the members so much, and I wanted to show fans a great side of us again, so I decided to take part,” candidly sharing his feelings about the group. He also revealed behind-the-scenes stories from the reality show <Wanna One Go: Back to Base>. “I worried that after so much time, we might not have the same chemistry as before, but it was unfounded,” he said, adding, “The moment I met the members, we started filming while laughing so hard our stomachs hurt,” speaking to the team’s unchanged camaraderie.

Finally, Park delivered a heartfelt message: “If it weren’t for the fans who support me so generously, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” adding, “Going forward, I want to keep honing what only Park Jihoon can show you and reveal my own color.”

‘All-rounder box-office icon’ Park Jihoon’s <Singles> May issue cover gained added significance with a total of five cover versions, including Singles Japan. More pictorial cuts, the full exclusive interview, and digital content will be released sequentially in the <Singles> May issue and on the official website.