Singer and actor Park Ji-hoon (26) has returned with a more intense gaze.
The Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' depicts the desperate survival and brilliant growth of a model student, Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon), who transferred to Eunjang High School with the trauma of having fought against violence for a friend but ultimately failed to protect them, facing even greater violence to ensure he never loses a friend again.
Following the first season of 'Weak Hero Class 1', which was released on Netflix and ranked second in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) category, 'Weak Hero Class 2' is also receiving a hot response. According to FlixPatrol, a global OTT platform viewing ranking site, it scored 708 points within a day of its release, securing the second position in the Netflix TV show global rankings.
When asked about his thoughts on the release, Park Ji-hoon said, "We watched it among ourselves before it was released. I feel a different affection for the character Yeon Si-eun. I can't quite explain it, but there's something more relatable, pitiful, and sad about it. I thought we could tell Yeon Si-eun's story well, and in the end, it felt good to see that he made good friends and ended up smiling."
He continued, "I cried while watching it, and my brother Lee Joon-young was next to me. For some reason, a deep aftertaste lingered. After seeing the final scene, I had one thought: I realized I had run towards this moment. Memories, actions, and the sweat and tears we shed while filming flowed through my mind like a slideshow. I had such overwhelming emotions."
'Weak Hero' was first released on Wavve, but Season 2 moved to Netflix, gaining even more global reactions.
In response, Park Ji-hoon said, "I'm very grateful that many people like it. It's such an honor. While filming Season 2, it was great to match the chemistry with the other actors because the response to Season 1 was good," adding, "I don't pay much attention to the reactions. Nothing has changed. I focused on telling Yeon Si-eun's story."
Regarding the global fans' reactions, he explained, "I think the reason many people like it is because of the intensified action, the protagonist's narrative and pitifulness, and the mix of bromance chemistry. There must have been heroes in everyone's school who were good at fighting and studying, and I think that combination resonated with them."
He also mentioned the aspects he focused on while playing Yeon Si-eun in Season 2.
Park Ji-hoon said, "What I wanted to show differently was the emotions built up from losing a friend; it felt like he had become tougher. I researched and contemplated Yeon Si-eun's fighting style and how he had changed over time. It was about the feeling of being driven to madness and wanting to stop fighting."
Having even acted out muscle tremors, Park Ji-hoon said, "It really made me feel that Yeon Si-eun's anger was making his blood run cold. Since Yeon Si-eun is a cold and blunt character, I didn't even realize my facial muscles were trembling while acting. It wasn't about whether I did well or not while monitoring; it made me realize I was truly immersed in the role."
He also talked about the action scenes, saying, "There were no major injuries. We weren't actually hitting each other; we hit when we needed to and took hits comfortably. Otherwise, we had to keep filming, so everyone was wearing protective gear, but we tried to shoot boldly in one take."
Park Ji-hoon said, "I was able to switch on and off well as Yeon Si-eun. During the readings, the director would ask how I could immediately become Yeon Si-eun. I joked around on set, but once the shoot started, Yeon Si-eun would come out, and the director found it fascinating. I also have a clear on-and-off switch, so I'm curious about it myself. The atmosphere on set was good. When we cut, we kicked the ball and joked around, making it fun to film."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
