[Interview] ② Park Jin-young "I Was Happy Even Wearing Just a Strand of Hair with a Half-Shaved Head"

Shedding Idol Image, Rising as Lead in Film
Movie 'Christmas Carol' Premieres on the 7th

Actor Park Jin-young. Photo by NK Contents

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] There is no warm Yoo Babi or sweet idol. Actor Park Jin-young (29) has a different gaze. In the movie "Christmas Carol," he plays twin brothers who enter a juvenile detention center to avenge the death of the younger brother, performing intense action without holding back in a dual role. He unleashes harsh curses during brutal fights without hesitation. The face we knew is nowhere to be found. It is truly a powerful transformation.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, Park Jin-young, whom I met at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, revealed the reason for his challenge, saying, "I liked acting, so I was eager." He added, "I felt like I couldn't do it if not now. I approached it with the mindset of 'Let's do it, why not?'"

"Christmas Carol," which opens on the 7th, is an action thriller where Il-woo, the older twin brother, enters a juvenile detention center to avenge the death of his twin brother Wol-woo and engages in brutal confrontations with juvenile gangs. Based on a novel by a Hankyoreh Literature Award-winning author, the film is directed by Kim Sung-soo. Park Jin-young perfectly portrays the twin brothers Il-woo and Wol-woo, caught in ruthless violence. He conveys Il-woo's explosive anger and pain as he enters the juvenile center for revenge, as well as the delicate emotions of Wol-woo, who is found dead on Christmas morning.

Regarding the groundbreaking action scenes, he said, "I didn't want it to just look cool recklessly. I imagined and thought about how it would be if we actually fought." About the bathhouse action scene, which received impressive reviews right after the preview, he laughed, saying, "Fighting with the actors wearing almost nothing made me grow fond of them." He continued, "We actually filmed in a bathhouse, and the floor was soaked with blood, so at first, it was so terrible and slippery that I wondered, 'What am I doing right now?' I was very careful not to slip. Then I hit the co-actor hard once or twice, knelt down, and apologized," recalling the experience.

Park Jin-young even went as far as shaving half his head to show his passion. He said, "If it fits the character, I naturally thought I should cut my hair. I didn't hesitate or wonder whether I should or could cut it." He laughed, adding, "It was just cold living with a half-shaved head in winter. My scalp froze." About the harsh curses, he scratched his head and said, "I cursed as much as I could in my life."

Actor Park Jin-young. Photo by NK Contents

Movie still from 'Christmas Carol'. Photo by NK Contents

Park Jin-young first gained recognition through the KBS2 drama "Dream High 2" (2012), and that same year, he formed JJ Project with JB. In 2014, he debuted as a member of the idol group GOT7 and began his full-fledged activities. Since then, he has steadily continued his acting career, appearing in dramas such as "He Is Psychometric," "When My Love Blooms," and "The Devil Judge." He challenged voice acting in the movie "Princess Aya" and gained popularity through the OTT series "Yumi's Cells" on TVING and the Netflix film "Yaksha." Through this, he solidified a strong Asian fandom, and before the film's release, it achieved pre-sales success in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and throughout Southeast Asia.

"During GOT7 activities, I had to choose and focus. I wanted to act even in small roles, but as a rookie, I couldn't. I took leave to shoot dramas, sacrificing my rest time. I was eager, but I thought that if I worked hard with GOT7, I would become more experienced and relaxed, which would be my foundation. At that time, I had no leisure and thought I wasn't capable."

The dramas "My Dear Eun-dong" and "Legend of the Blue Sea" (2015) established him as an actor. Park Jin-young said, "At that time, I was scolded so much that I wondered if I was acting for this reason. Especially during script readings, I was nervous and received a lot of criticism. I kept saying, 'I'm sorry, I'll work hard,' repeatedly."

Park Jin-young is scheduled to enlist in the military in the first half of next year. After finishing the drama "The Witch," directed by Kim Tae-kyun, which he is currently filming, he plans to fulfill his military duty. He said, "As a man, it's natural to go. I'm a bit anxious, but I think I'll adapt well," smiling.

"I will continue my activities after discharge. I want to live as an actor for 10, 20, 30 years or more. My goal is to be an actor who acts for a long time. I want to be an actor whom the public is endlessly curious about and who works hard. If I receive attention when I show different acting, wouldn't that alone be success?"