'Life of Pi' Kanghyun Park: "Positivity Guides Life in a Good Direction"

'Life of Pi,' currently being performed at the GS Art Center, tells the story of Pi, an Indian boy who is stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and survives 227 days adrift on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker before being rescued. Pi's strength to endure such a desperate situation comes from his positive mindset. He recalls the warm memories he shared with his family and the lessons he learned from his parents, which help him overcome the profound loneliness and fear of death on the vast open sea.

On January 21, Kanghyun Park, who plays Pi, was interviewed at the GS Art Center. In terms of his positive outlook, he resembles the character of Pi. Kanghyun Park said that positive beliefs can lead one's life in a good direction.

"There are times in life when negative thoughts come to mind. When you start thinking things won't work out, or when you lose trust in yourself, those thoughts affect your life and, in the end, your life seems to follow that path. But if you hold on to the belief that things will work out, I think your life will flow in a positive direction. I haven't lived that long, but so far, my life has always moved according to my beliefs."

Kanghyun Park [Photo by Mainstay]

Kanghyun Park said, "I believe a good production is one that makes you reflect a lot on your own attitude toward life through its message," and emphasized, "In that sense, 'Life of Pi' is a great work." He added, "At a time when my (positive) beliefs were a bit weakened, working on this production has made them stronger. Just being part of this work brings me happiness."

Kanghyun Park made his debut in 2015 with the musical 'Liar Time.' He gained public recognition as the runner-up in JTBC's music entertainment show 'Phantom Singer 2' in 2017 and as the lead in the premiere of the large-scale musical 'The Man Who Laughs' in 2018. He established himself as a top actor by winning Best Supporting Actor at the Korea Musical Awards in 2020 and Best Leading Actor in 2022.

Kanghyun Park attributed this journey to his positive beliefs. Looking back on his past, he said, "I was full of passion but lacked skill," and added, "Even though my skills were poor, my belief in myself must have been convincing to someone."

In 'Life of Pi,' the role of the Bengal tiger Richard Parker, who appears as a puppet, is just as important as Pi. Three puppeteers work in perfect harmony to bring the tiger's movements to life. He said, "When the puppeteers' minds come together as one and they realistically portray the Bengal tiger's movements, it's truly a magical moment. At that moment, you don't see the puppeteers at all; only the puppet stands out." Kanghyun Park pointed out that 'Life of Pi' is distinct from other performances featuring puppets because the animals represented are ones that exist around us. "Because these are real animals we see in our lives, people who have visited zoos or watched YouTube videos already know how they move. When the puppeteers manage to capture those movements authentically, the emotional impact is much greater than in other shows."

'Life of Pi' performance scene [Photo by S&Co]

Kanghyun Park also highlighted the stage's use of video projections to depict the ocean, utilizing the entire stage floor along with the puppets as one of the charms of 'Life of Pi.' The stage visuals are as spectacular as those in any musical, but since the actors do not sing, it is closer to a play. Although he is now established as a musical actor, he majored in acting and only performed in plays during his university years. Since his debut, his only stage play appearance was in 'Bad Magnet' in 2017.

Kanghyun Park said, "Since I didn't do musicals in college, performing in this play feels like returning to school after a long time." He also noted, "I wasn't lacking in confidence in my acting, but since there are no songs, and because everything must be expressed through lines, movement, and interacting with the puppets, this production has been a major challenge for me."

Although he has accumulated over ten years of stage experience, he said he never lets his guard down.

"I got my driver's license in 2018, and after a few months of driving and gaining confidence, I once broke my side mirror while parking. That experience made me realize that the moment you think you've become comfortable, you're bound to make mistakes. I believe that staying alert helps me a lot in my performances."