(Following [Interview①]) Park Jung-yeon gained attention before her debut as the daughter of famous folk singer Park Hak-ki. During her elementary school years, she drew attention by singing her father's hit song 'Vitamin' on a television program alongside her father and sister Park Seung-yeon.
Her mother is also an actress. Actress Song Geum-ran, who starred in the movie 'Thunderbirds 2', is Park Jung-yeon's mother. Her sister Park Seung-yeon is a former member of the girl group Matilda and is currently active as an actress.
Regarding the pressure of having a family full of entertainers, Park Jung-yeon said, “It’s not that I don’t feel it,” but added, “I think I’m gradually accepting it.”
“Even though we are in the same entertainment industry, my dad is a singer and I am an actress, so it feels a bit less burdensome. Sometimes when I mention ‘my father is Park Hak-ki’ at auditions, it can be a bit overwhelming.”
Her sister is also actively working as an actress. Although they are close sisters, they tend to talk more about everyday topics rather than work-related matters.
“I often talk with my sister about our pet Dangu and what we did today. We usually only share when we get a new project, saying ‘I got this role.’ Since we often can’t meet at home when we are both filming, it’s not easy to give and receive feedback while working.”
So, what do her parents think of Park Jung-yeon's acting and activities? She said, “My parents really enjoyed watching ‘Try’,” and added, “They told me that people around them talked a lot about me in ‘Try’,” feeling a bit shy.
“Since I’m their daughter, they show interest, but I don’t think they look up everything. I don’t tell them about every audition, so even if they are curious, they tend to wait, thinking ‘She’ll tell me later.’”
Along with the title of 'Park Hak-ki's Daughter', Park Jung-yeon is also known as a former member of SM Rookies. She gained recognition as a public trainee under SM Entertainment in the past. Afterward, Park Jung-yeon transitioned to acting and has been making a name for herself as actress Park Jung-yeon since signing an exclusive contract with Salt Entertainment in 2022.
Regarding her choice to pursue acting instead of being in a girl group, Park Jung-yeon reflected, “I chose acting at a crossroads in my life, and I naturally pursued it by entering the theater and film department in college.” Does she have any regrets about not choosing the path of an 'idol'?
“I have no regrets at all. I love what I’m doing now and want to do it for a long time. Of course, there will be tough times ahead, but so far, it’s been really fun. My dad does music at home, so I’ve been familiar with and liked music since I was young, but I don’t think I have any professional regrets about it.”
Although she has given up on her dream of being an idol, she recently ventured into music. She released a digital single titled 'Paradise with Dangu'. It’s a medium-tempo ballad in which Park Jung-yeon participated in the lyrics, expressing her gratitude for the everyday moments spent with her pet Dangu.
“For me, music and acting are inseparable genres. This song expresses the comfort I receive from my pet, and since Dangu also appears in the music video, I hope many people will watch it.”
Park Jung-yeon, who is gradually discovering the 'taste' of acting by taking on popular dramas and long-running weekend dramas, has chosen 'fantasy' as the genre she wants to pursue.
“Whether it’s a drama, movie, or book, I feel more enjoyment when I see something different from reality. For example, I want to challenge characters with fantasy elements, like a vampire who has lived for 500 years. Since I’ve completed a role as an ace in a shooting club, I also want to try action genres properly.”
As the daughter of a famous singer and a former idol trainee, Park Jung-yeon is now shining as an actress. She is consistently showing 'growth' by portraying characters with different charms through her works, and there is anticipation for what kind of acting and characters she will present to viewers in the future.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
