Actor Park Ji-hoon has succeeded.
Park Ji-hoon has firmly established his position as a lead actor, transitioning from a child actor to an idol and back to an actor, making the title of lead actor feel natural for him. A new path has opened for him. Through the release of 'Weak Hero Class 2', which garnered global attention, he has taken a leap as a global actor.
Released on the 25th, the Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' tells 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 greater violence, depicting a brutal survival story and a brilliant coming-of-age tale.
Park Ji-hoon plays the role of the protagonist, Yeon Si-eun. Yeon Si-eun is a character who struggles to protect his loved ones without repeating past mistakes. He is intelligent, quick to assess situations, and uses this to navigate challenges in his favor. While he has a prickly side, he also shows a flexible demeanor that reveals unexpected charm. He claims to be comfortable alone, but he knows better than anyone that having friends is a good thing. As he overcomes his fears and gradually gets closer to new characters, it becomes impossible not to root for him.
There are several reasons for the positive reviews of Park Ji-hoon's portrayal of Yeon Si-eun. His quick thinking, diverse emotional expressions, immersive acting skills, and agile action sequences all contribute. Among these, his gaze stands out. Park Ji-hoon's eyes convey everything without words, telling a story filled with guilt, emptiness, softness when facing someone who reminds him of his past, and a fleeting fear when he senses he cannot win against his opponent. His unique way of expressing these emotions perfectly synchronizes with the character, enhancing its persuasiveness and resonating with viewers.
Three years ago, when 'Weak Hero Class 1' was released, Park Ji-hoon created the formula 'Park Ji-hoon = Yeon Si-eun', causing a sensation. When it was re-released on Netflix on the 25th of last month, it recorded a total of 6.7 million views by the 30th, ranking 2nd in the global non-English series category on Netflix's Tudum site. According to FlixPatrol, a global OTT platform viewing ranking site, it ranked 1st in Thailand and Malaysia and 2nd in several countries, including Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines, showcasing remarkable popularity.
The formula worked again with 'Weak Hero Class 2'. According to FlixPatrol, after its release on the 25th, it recorded 708 points within a day, securing 2nd place globally in the Netflix TV show category. On the 27th, it achieved 1st place in countries including Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, achieving a clean sweep in Asian countries. Furthermore, it has maintained 1st place in countries in South America (Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, etc.) and the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) since its release.
According to Netflix's Tudum TOP 10, 'Weak Hero Class 2' recorded 6.1 million views (the viewing time divided by the total runtime of the work) within three days of its release, ranking 1st in the global TOP 10 series (non-English) category. It has consistently held the 1st place in 'Korea's TOP 10 series' since its release and has also made it to the TOP 10 lists in 63 countries worldwide, including Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, France, Morocco, Greece, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and New Caledonia.
As described in the plot, 'Weak Hero Class 2' portrays Yeon Si-eun's brilliant coming-of-age story. Park Ji-hoon has also met various unique characters through roles such as Go Young-soo in JTBC's 'Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency', Gong Joo-young in KakaoTV's 'Love Revolution', Yeojun in KBS2's 'Blue Spring from a Distance', and Hwan Sang-hyun and Akhee in 'Fantasy Romance', as well as Yeon Si-eun in this work, completing his own brilliant coming-of-age story across various genres.
In his upcoming film 'The Man Who Lives with the King (tentative title)', he is set to play the role of King Danjong, and he will meet the public once again. There is growing anticipation for whether Park Ji-hoon will bloom again on the new path of becoming a 'global actor'.
