Park Seo Joon had played several iconic characters in Korean movies and TV series. But his character, Park Sae Roy, in the recently-concluded K-drama Itaewon Class is particularly special and memorable. The Korean actor explained why.
Seo Joon is set to grace the upcoming May issue of Esquire Korea magazine. In the interview with the actor, Seo Joon talked about his latest K-drama Itaewon Class and how it changed his life.
The webtoon based TV series caught the hearts of many K-drama fans. It is not only because it starred Park Seo Joon in his distinctive "chestnut" haircut just for the show, but it also has touching storylines and impressive characters.
In the series, Seo Joon played the role of ex-con Park Sae Roy, who plans his revenge on the people responsible for the death of his father and his years in prison. He opens a restaurant/bar DanBam in Itaewon, a famous district in Seoul. Along with his manager and staff, they achieve success in the competitive food and beverage industry of South Korea.
Park Seo Joon admitted that he wasn't the kind of person who has a deep interest and understanding of social issues. However, as he plays the role of Park Sae Roy, it forced him to reflect on the issues of society and at the same time give a second look at his acting career.
"While filming this drama, I found myself thinking more about societal issues. [As Park Sae Roy grew and evolved in the drama], I also ended up growing and evolving," he said.
Itaewon Class received a favorable review from critics as it wasn't just a story of love, hope, revenge, and chasing one's dream. It also touches on some of the societal topics such as racial discrimination, injustice, mental health, and transgender issues. The K-drama promotes awareness and acceptance in all of these aspects.
Meanwhile, Park Seo Joon is set to make another movie soon. He has been cast in the upcoming film, titled Dream, alongside IU. The What's Wrong with Secretary Kim actor was last seen on the big screen in the horror-action film The Divine Fury. He also made a special cameo appearance in the Oscar-winning movie, Parasite.
Dream tells the story of a group of people trying out for the Homeless World Cup, an annual international soccer event. The team is led by coach Yoon Hong Dae (Park Seo Joon), a pro soccer player but on disciplinary probation after he got caught up in an unexpected incident.
It is still unclear what character IU will be playing in the movie. Dream will be helmed by Extreme Job director Lee Byung Hun.
