‘The King's Warden’ Park Ji-hoon ② “I was amazed every time by the energy in every scene with senior Yoo Hae-jin”

▶ 〈The King's Warden〉 Park Ji-hoon actor interview continues in Part 1.

Actor Yoo Hae-jin said he was really surprised by the energy while acting with Park Ji-hoon. How was the chemistry with senior Yoo Hae-jin?

I don't think I'm in a position to evaluate senior's acting like that. I was surprised every moment while filming with him. I was so amazed by the energy he gave that I only thought, 'I really need to receive the energy he gives and deliver it well.' Later, after filming was over, senior said, “Acting is give and take,” and looking back, I think I managed to keep that well. I think the moments when our energies burst together were well tied together... I'm really grateful and thankful to senior.

There are quite a few comedic scenes with actor Yoo Hae-jin. The scene where I accidentally curse in front of the king was particularly impressive. What was the filming episode like?

I'm a character that shouldn't go comedic, and senior is such a great actor. But it was so funny on set. I shouldn't laugh so heartily, but it was so funny that I remember we had to do several takes. (laughs) In fact, cursing right in front of the king seems really difficult, but it came out spontaneously... That moment was so funny, and we filmed it in a fun way. I remember we had several NGs.

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What was your first meeting like with actor Yoo Ji-tae, who plays Han Myung-hoe?

I remember the first scene where Han Myung-hoe and Lee Hong-wee meet. That was my first filming day, and outside, the ministers were shouting, and amidst those sounds, Hong-wee was sitting quietly. As the shot was about to start, senior Yoo Ji-tae walked over, and I knew who it was. Both I and Lee Hong-wee knew. But I really couldn't make eye contact. Even though I was sitting with my head down, I could see senior's intimidating presence, his aura. So I told director Jang Hang-jun, 'I really can't make eye contact, I'm scared. I don't know if it's because I'm too focused, but I can't look into senior's eyes,' and the director said, 'Then do it your way. Do what feels right to you,' so I remember being so overwhelmed by that presence that I couldn't look at senior.

​Later in the second half, the two characters engage in a power struggle. What was the chemistry like at that time?

I remember the energy that senior Yoo Ji-tae gave was so intense that it was almost scary. When he said, “How dare you disrespect the royal family,” I replied, “You still think you are a king,” and we faced each other, but in fact, (Hong-wee also found Han Myung-hoe) very scary. Even though that scary feeling remained, I had things I wanted and didn't want to lose, so I yelled, but... I think he still remained a very scary presence. Yes, but I had to hide that while leading the play... In fact, even though senior's energy was low, the energy he gave was so intense that it was almost scary.

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Director Jang Hang-jun and actor Yoo Hae-jin said that although Park Ji-hoon is in his 20s, he has a maturity that is not typical of someone in their 20s. What do you think about this?

I think what senior and the director said is correct. I don't think I'm very talkative. I tend to think a lot about everything. I think they saw that as something nice... I don't really approach things thinking, 'I need to show this well,' or 'Today, I need to approach this in a certain way,' so I think they saw that part and appreciated it. I think they liked how I approached them warmly, like a person. But thinking about it, the characters I've played are all quite similar. I have some similarities with them.

What do you think of Eom Heung-do's existence to Lee Hong-wee?

If I were to speak cautiously, I think he was ultimately like a father figure... Knowing this person's true feelings and observing his actions, I think Eom Heung-do looked at Lee Hong-wee like a son. I think I looked at him like a father. If the history we depicted is true... Yes, I think I looked at him like a father.

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There were reactions saying it's a shame that you didn't share a screen with actor Lee Joon-hyuk, who plays Geumseongdaegun.

I'm really disappointed. I had a schedule and couldn't go on the day of Lee Joon-hyuk's filming. I really wanted to meet and greet him, but I couldn't go that day, and I still regret it. After the interview, I was able to greet him at the VIP premiere, so I'm really sorry, but I'm glad I could greet him now... In fact, we never overlapped. (The two of us) had different places of exile, so there were no scenes where we met, but I think the energy of running towards the same goal was very well matched between senior and me.

​This movie is set to be released during the Lunar New Year holiday. Given that the Korean film industry is struggling, do you feel any pressure regarding its box office performance?

I don't have a lot of films in my filmography, and this is actually almost my screen debut. So it's true that the Korean film industry is very difficult right now. I feel that. However, if my work can help revive the film industry, that would be great, but I don't think I'm the one who can change that. Not yet. In fact, I don't think I'm in a position to feel any pressure. If I had done a lot of films and experienced various things, I might feel something like that, but I'm not at that stage yet. So right now, I don't think I'm in a position to feel pressure like, 'Wow, it really needs to do well.'

​Director Jang Hang-jun said that if you have this many followers, you should at least post a photo on social media. (laughs)

That's right. I actually don't do much on Instagram... It's a bit of a cautious statement, but I don't really understand the importance of social media. It's a bit difficult. Just posting something is really cautious for me. That's one reason I don't do it... I think I keep thinking that I don't want to get too involved in social media. So people around me say, 'At least post a photo,' 'Post something,' 'Post a post,' but honestly, that doesn't feel like my true self. I just don't know. Posting feels really embarrassing. It feels like I'm saying, 'Look at me.' (laughs) It's really awkward to post one by one.

​You originally worked as a child actor and then transitioned to being an idol. How did you spend the gap between ending your child acting career and debuting as an idol?

Actually, until middle school, I was really obsessed with acting. I was actually learning acting at an arts middle school, and I prepared works with my classmates and performed on stage. I also took exams, and until then, I had a strong desire for acting and thought about how I could become freer in stage acting... I don't think I just played around during the gap. I was a bit distant from studying. (laughs) I had a desire for acting, and then I got really into dance, particularly popping, and from then on, I thought, 'Let's try being an idol who does both dance and acting,' so I focused on being a trainee from high school. I think I slightly set aside acting and concentrated on my singing activities.

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​In 〈Produce 101〉, you stood as the center, so I thought you had a very outgoing personality, but your MBTI is INFP. Looking at that, it seems you have a good instinctive reaction to the camera.

When the camera is on, I think there are instinctive traits that come out of me that I don't even realize. But now that I look back, I think, 'Why did I do that?' (Everyone laughs) I think there are instinctive traits that come out in the moment. I was originally ENFP, but now I've changed to INFP. From the early days of Wanna One until my mid-20s, I really liked meeting new people and couldn't stand being alone; I had a tendency to rely on others. But now, as I do solo activities, I've been able to spend more time alone and have come to appreciate the value of that time. So naturally, I think I've changed a bit myself.

​The reunion of Wanna One has been announced. What have the members said about 〈The King's Warden〉?

They really supported me a lot. In fact, the members said they would come to the VIP premiere today. I thanked them for saying they would come first. In fact, there are still people who like us. So I think the desire to do something for those fans who are waiting was strong. I didn't take the lead. When the older members said, 'Let's gather and do something,' I gladly accepted. I want to thank (Ha) Sung-woon and (Hwang) Min-hyun for creating this opportunity.

​Do you feel that your experience as a child actor helps you in your acting?

While matching my breath with senior, I had a fleeting thought, 'I'm really glad that I've been acting for a long time.' I don't think that child acting experience was the main reason I acted again.

​Director Jang Hang-jun said that Park Ji-hoon feels like a very focused student. Have you developed in any way while working on this film?

I did a lot of readings with the director. I think I learned a lot about the process of creating details within the work and character. How to give more power to the lines, how to add more weight... Director Jang Hang-jun often told me that if you give strength to the endings of the lines, it looks a bit heavier, and he taught me a lot about those things. In fact, his direction is very precise and easy to understand, making it easy for the actor to grasp, so I think I listened like a focused student in class.

​I'm curious about the scene where you scold the tiger. Was there any behind-the-scenes story?

I remember that day was a very pleasant day. The weather was perfect... I think we filmed that explosive energy scene in various ways. I think we tried filming it in different styles, whether to shout, "Come to me, your opponent is me," or to recite the lines softly, and I remember those scenes.

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Director Jang Hang-jun introduced actor Park Ji-hoon as a 'world star' at the press conference. Do you agree with that title? And do you feel more confident in your acting with the release of your leading role approaching?

First of all, I don't agree. (laughs) You asked if I feel more confident in my acting, but I don't think I feel that confidence yet. Not yet... I still feel too cautious and uncertain.

​How did you first start acting, and what is the joy of acting as you ramp up your activities again?

The reason I started acting was really when I was young, watching people on TV, and I don't even remember what the work was. I remember saying, "I want to be on TV like that too" and “I want to be like that.” So I took classes at a somewhat famous acting academy at that time. I don't remember well what I learned because I was so young, but I graduated after learning those things. Then I started my child acting career, and it was so much fun. What I feel now is that 'I'm really close to the camera.' I think that's really fortunate. Some friends get nervous or cry when they see the camera, right? But since I kept in contact with the camera from a young age, I don't think I have any rejection or nervousness about it. I think that's really fortunate. I think the joy of acting is learning new things, learning new breaths, and seeing new people while filming each work. Even though I act as this character, I wonder how others immerse themselves in this character, how they deliver their lines, and how the give and take happens. I think those processes are really fun.

​Do you have any aspirations as actor Park Ji-hoon for the future?

I want to challenge myself in any work. But I also have that thought. I think I’ve seen something like, 'Oh, he fits well with a sad and isolated character.' I thought, 'Wait, do I really only fit such characters?' So I want to try various works first.