Park Ji-hoon returns with new friends in 'Weak Hero Class 2'.
On the morning of the 21st, a production presentation for the Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' was held at Hotel Naru in Seoul. Planning director Han Jun-hee, director Yoo Soo-min, and actors Park Ji-hoon, Ryu Un, Choi Min-young, Yoo Soo-bin, Bae Na-ra, Lee Min-jae, and Lee Joon-young attended.
'Weak Hero Class 2' tells the story of a model student, Yeon Si-eun, who transferred to Eunjang High School with the trauma of having fought against violence for a friend but ultimately failing to protect them. To ensure she never loses a friend again, she faces even greater violence, depicting a brutal survival story and a brilliant coming-of-age tale.
Based on a webtoon, 'Weak Hero Class 1' was released on Wavve in 2020 and received much love.
After its release on Netflix, it ranked in the TOP 10 in 70 countries and entered the TOP 10 series (non-English) category for two consecutive weeks, garnering explosive reactions.
Director Yoo Soo-min stated, “While creating the 'Weak Hero' series, we focused on the process of boys becoming adults. While the first season dealt with the pains and growing pains of that growth process, we wondered what comes after that. How do we become adults? At the end, we thought of reconciliation. There is reconciliation with others, but also with oneself or the world, acknowledging and accepting something. We aimed to capture Yeon Si-eun's growth through that process, enhancing the viewing experience and focusing on the genre's color.”
He also shared his thoughts on moving from Wavve to Netflix for the new season.
Director Yoo Soo-min said, “Season 2 was made because Season 1 received so much love. I am grateful for that,” and added, “Rather than feeling a change in the production environment, we focused on Si-eun entering a new and unfamiliar environment and creating new characters and stories. I didn’t feel a significant difference in the production process.”
Regarding achieving high rankings worldwide, he said, “It’s overwhelming.”
Park Ji-hoon reprises his role as Yeon Si-eun. Ryu Un plays Park Hu-min, Choi Min-young plays Seo Joon-tae, and Lee Min-jae plays Ko Hyun-tak, forming a trio that brings smiles to Yeon Si-eun. Yoo Soo-bin plays Choi Hyo-man, Bae Na-ra plays Na Baek-jin, and Lee Joon-young plays Geum Seong-je, opposing Yeon Si-eun.
Park Ji-hoon introduced 'Weak Hero Class 2' as “a coming-of-age story of a boy facing greater violence.”
He also mentioned, “This time, I tried to express emotions more deeply. Unlike the first season, I worked hard to convey a sense of desperation in my gaze. Please look forward to what new friends I will meet and face.”
When asked if his gaze has deepened, Park Ji-hoon jokingly replied, “I think so.”
Ryu Un described his character Park Hu-min as “a very righteous, strong leader of Eunjang High School who values friendship and loyalty.”
He continued, “In the beginning, I aimed to show a bright and cheerful side. As the story progresses, I wanted to portray a more serious side as he fights to protect his friends.”
Ryu Un gained 10 kg for the role of Park Hu-min. He said, “I’m currently losing it,” and added, “Please look forward to the refreshing action.”
Lee Joon-young described his character Geum Seong-je as “someone with a hidden side. He is a member of the alliance whose true intentions are hard to read. He approaches those around Baek-ho and receives new forms of stimulation from Yeon Si-eun, becoming intrigued.”
After the trailer was released, Lee Joon-young commented on the rooftop fight scene, saying, “I tried to make it as realistic as possible based on the database of what I’ve done so far. I coordinated a lot with Park Ji-hoon, and thanks to the director’s guidance, I think it turned out well.”
Bae Na-ra described her character Na Baek-jin as “the pinnacle of the delinquent alliance, whose thoughts are hard to discern. She is a model student but a dual character managing the delinquents of each school. She is the only one not affiliated with the alliance, putting pressure on Eunjang High School and Baek-ho.”
She continued, “I tried hard to handle Na Baek-jin's action scenes. The action team told me that Lee Joon-young is doing so well, so I needed to practice hard. The first scene I remember is the action scene from the trailer. I filmed that scene first and was so nervous that I practiced repeatedly at home.”
When asked about his feelings working with new friends, Park Ji-hoon said, “I received a different weight and energy from the actors I worked with in 'Weak Hero 1'.”
He added, “Some give quick energy, some give strong energy, and some give sharp energy like a well-honed knife. I was worried about whether Si-eun could make new friends, but the energy these actors bring is so great that I had so much fun filming that I didn’t even think about 'Weak Hero 1'.”
'Weak Hero Class 2' will be released on the 25th.
