Park Ji-hoon showed affection for his fellow actors in 'Weak Hero Class 2'.
The Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' depicts the story of a model student, Yeon Si-eun, who transfers to Eunjang High School with the trauma of having fought against violence for a friend but ultimately failing to protect them. To ensure he never loses a friend again, he faces even greater violence in a brutal survival story and a brilliant coming-of-age tale.
Following the success of 'Weak Hero Class 1', which was released on Netflix and ranked 2nd 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 recorded 708 points within a day of its release, securing the 2nd place in the Netflix TV show global rankings.
Having started as a child actor, Park Ji-hoon said, "Since I was young, I relied only on my parents and had very few friends. I understand Si-eun's lonely heart well. Si-eun's back resembles my childhood. Except for the action scenes, I feel a high synchronization rate with Si-eun emotionally," expressing his affection for Yeon Si-eun.
He also mentioned his chemistry with the newly met characters: Park Hu-min played by Ryu Un, Go Tak played by Lee Min-jae, and Seo Jun-tae played by Choi Min-young.
Park Ji-hoon said, "We didn't start filming with a strong bond of friendship, but since we are the same age, we naturally became close while filming. There was an energy that came from getting to know each other, and it was really fun. The director felt comfortable to the point of being like a close older brother," he said.
He continued, "I thought Ba-ku resembled Su-ho. I wondered who could show raw energy, and I felt that the energy was similar. I tried to express it that way. I respect him. I think that because Ba-ku exists, Go Tak exists. The characters are well captured within that story," he said.
Park Ji-hoon also stated, "Si-eun is not a character who likes to fight. He fought to protect his friends," adding, "Si-eun had to leave without being able to protect his friends. However, as he gets entangled with the villains around him, he tries to let go of these friends, which is why at the end, when he fights Na Baek-jin, Si-eun screams. He must have wanted it to end, finally."
In particular, regarding action acting, he joked, "Personally, I find it easier to get hit than to hit. It's more comfortable to find a protective gear and get hit."
When asked about the most threatening character in 'Weak Hero Class 2', Park Ji-hoon pointed to Lee Jun-young, who played Geum Seong-jae.
He said, "The most threatening character was Lee Jun-young. Everyone matched well and there were parts that changed on set, and everyone did well. But Lee Jun-young's punches are fast. I could hear the wind. While filming, we had to be tense, but if I didn't concentrate, I felt like I could get hit. His punches are too fast. When Jun-young was filming, I thought his walking with his hands in his pockets was 'the real Geum Seong-jae.' It was really scary, like a knife. He was truly threatening," he said.
Regarding Lee Jun-young, he explained, "He is similar to Geum Seong-jae. I'm not talking about being violent, but he is a brother who loves romance and freedom, so I see that resemblance."
He continued, "I also like him, and he cares for me, and we support each other. Even on days without filming, we would book a practice room and dance without a set time, trying to express our freedom with music. We both like street dance, so we would gather, chat, and meet privately to book a practice room and play music. At first, I was respectful because he was my senior, but he asked me to think of him comfortably. As a result, I quickly became close to him, calling him 'hyung' (older brother)," showing his affection.
Park Ji-hoon also said, "At the end, Si-eun smiles, right? At that moment, I was comforted too. Watching the final ending, I had very complex emotions. It was so good. I felt like it was the end, but also that we had run for Si-eun's smiling face. It was so comfortable and so good. That's why I cried," and added, "If season 2 is loved a lot, I think the possibility of season 3 will open up," smiling cautiously.
"As an actor, I don't have a specific goal. There will be times when I run and times when I rest on the path I take, but I want to walk quietly. I think of it as an endless marathon. I want to share various emotions that I can express. I know there are still many areas where I am lacking, and I have a desire to express more emotions as an actor. There are still many aspects I haven't shown yet. I want to share more works, characters, and emotions with the audience and express various sides of myself."
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
