Park Ji-hoon

Park Ji-hoon (; born May 29, 1999) is a South Korean singer and actor. He started his career in the entertainment industry as a commercial model and child actor in 2006. In 2017, he rose to fame by placing second in the second season of the reality competition series Produce 101 and becoming a member of the show's resulting boy group Wanna One (2017–2019, 2021–2022). As a solo recording artist, Park has released the EP O'Clock with the lead single "L.O.V.E" in 2019, followed by his debut studio album Message in 2020. As an actor, he is known for his leading roles in the first and second seasons of television series Weak Hero (2022–2025) and the historical film The King's Warden.

Early life Park Ji-hoon was born on May 29, 1999, in Masan Province in South Korea. Originally from Gyeongsang Province, Park has lived in Seoul since he was seven years old. He graduated from National Middle School of Traditional Arts, where he majored in musical theater. Park majored in broadcasting arts at School of Performing Arts Seoul and graduated in January 2018. Park was accepted into Chung-Ang University's Department of Theater for 2018.

Career 2006–present: Acting career

Early work Park debuted as a child actor, participating in musicals like Peter Pan (2007–2010), The Harmonium in My Memory (2010), and Radio Star (2010–2011), and small stints in television dramas Jumong (2006–2007), The King and I (2007–2008), Kimchi Cheese Smile (2007–2008), Iljimae (2008), and more. Park also appeared in SS501's reality show SS501 SOS (2006), although his face was blurred out through the episodes. In 2007, he appeared in KM Idol War with Big Bang. During his childhood, he continued to be active in musical theatre, television broadcasts, and film, and also worked as an advertisement model. Park was less active in the entertainment industry in his teen years.

Return to acting and transition to lead roles In April 2019 Park was cast in JTBC's historical drama Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency, which was aired on September 16. He received praise for his acting skills and received positive reviews. He topped Good Data Corporation's buzzworthy list for eight consecutive weeks. Park took his first leading role in the Kakao M's web drama Love Revolution (2020), an adaptation of the webtoon of the same name. It from September 1 to December 27, 2020. Park received wider recognition through the series. He released the song "Midnight"as part of the drama's soundtrack. Park starred in the KBS college drama At a Distance, Spring is Green which aired from June 14 thru July 2021.

Weak Hero and The King's Warden Park starred in the wavve k-drama Weak Hero which premiered on November 18. Before its premiere, the first three episodes of the drama were screened at the 27th Busan International Film Festival where it sold out in two minutes, leading to additional screenings. The drama was a hit becoming wavve's #1 drama in paid subscribers within the first day. Park received positive reviews from audience and critics as Park's cute and bubbly persona as an idol is different from his Weak Hero character. In 2024, he made his film debut with Beautiful Audrey alongside Kim Jung-nan.

The drama Love Song for Illusion was released in 2024, with Park portraying dual roles. On August 5, 2024, Park signed an exclusive contract with YY Entertainment for his future activities. Park starred as King Danjong, the central figure of the historical film The King's Warden directed by Jang Hang-jun. The film was released on February 4, 2026, coinciding with the Korean New Year holiday. It received positive reviews and is the highest-grossing film in South Korea box office history. In 2026 Park also played the lead role in the tvN drama The Legend of the Kitchen Soldier which won best drama at the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards. At the same award show, Park was nominated for Best Actor, making him the youngest Best Actor nominee in Blue Dragon Series Awards history.

2017–present: Music career

Produce 101 and Wanna One

Park began training to become an idol singer under SM Entertainment and Fantagio. Due to a knee injury, he did not make it to the final line up of Fantagio's boy group Astro and subsequently transferred to Maroo Entertainment.

In 2017, Park represented Maroo Entertainment in the second season of Produce 101. He experienced a sudden rise in popularity after going viral as "wink boy ", after the introductory "It's Me (Pick Me)" stage on M Countdown, even before the show had started airing. Consequently, Park's participation in the survival show received extensive media attention to the extent that his self-made aegyo catchphrase "save you in my heart " trended on social media and was used by various companies for marketing purposes.

The phrase was later crowned as the best catchphrase of 2017 by KOCCA. Furthermore, Park received offers from various companies to become their advertisement model while the show was still being aired, and it was later revealed that Park had signed an exclusive contract with Maroo Entertainment before the show had started. He finished second, which made him a member of the project boy group Wanna One under YMC Entertainment. Wanna One disbanded on December 31, 2018, and officially completed activities after their sold out 4-day final concert series 'Therefore' that ran from January 24 to 27 at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Solo activities

On March 26, 2019 Park released his debut EP as a soloist, O'Clock, with the lead single "L.O.V.E". Park took his first solo music show win with his debut album "L.O.V.E" on KBS Music Bank on April 5, 2019. On December 4, Park released his second EP, 360, and its lead single of the same name. Park release his third EP, The W, with the title track "Wing" on May 26, 2020. He then released his first studio album, Message, with the title track "Gotcha". He had his first ever online solo concert titled "Message" on December 13.

On August 12, Park released his fourth EP My Collection, with the title track "Gallery". On October 28, Park released his fifth EP Hot&Cold, with the title track "Serious". In August 2022, it was announced that Park would be making a comeback with his sixth EP The Answer with the title track "Nitro" on October 12, 2022. On September 30, he pre-released a b-side called "Moon & Back". On October 9 and 10, Park held a two-day concert called '[CLUE]' at the YES24 Live Hall. Park released his seventh EP Blank or Black with the title track "Blank Effect" on April 12, 2023.

Following his success in The King's Warden Park held a two-day fanmeeting called 'Same Place' at YES24 Live Hall from April 24th and 25th . On April 29th he released his first single album RE:FLECT with title track "Bodyelse" . After the release of his album, Park embarked on an Asian Fancon [RE:FLECT] from May through July with stops in Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Bankok, and Singapore . In 2026 Park also participated in Wanna One reunion activities such as Wanna One Go: Go Back to Base and Wanna One Go in LA which were released on Mnet Plus in April and September respectively . In August he performed "Energetic", "Boomerang", and "Spring Breeze, Again" with Wanna One on day 1 of KCON LA at Crypto.com Arena .

Other ventures

In April 2018, Park was appointed as an endorser of April Skin's Milk Booster Fast Shampoo and hair-dyes. Park along with fellow Wanna One member Ong Seong-wu was selected as a model for CLAVIS and their line of sports bracelets on April 20. In March 2019, the seaweed snack brand Masita revealed Park as the new ambassador for their new "0% MSG" recipe that came in five different flavors. The same month, Park and fellow former Wanna One member Bae Jin-young were selected as the new advertising models for youth make-up brand, I'M MEME. In May, it was announced that Park had been selected as the new model for pizza specialty brand, Pizza E-Tang. The promotion was a success with the pizza consistently selling out. On May 3, Yuyu Nature selected Park as a model for their flagship health supplement, Formoline L112.

In June 2020, Park had his first apparel collaboration with contemporary fashion brand [LE] MOHO. The collection was named "[LA] POMME de Universe" in which Park participated in designing. In October, Park collaborated with Tous on its Toss Love Me perfume that was made to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the brand's founding. It became a bestseller and sold out at the Olive Young Myeong-dong Store where it was carried domestically. On August 18, 2021, it was announced that Park had been selected as a model for the Korean skincare and cosmetics brand It's Skin, running advertisements in Japan and Southeast Asia.

In 2026 Park was selected as a model for Baskin Robbins' summer campaign, the fragrance brand Forment, and Superdry's 26FW season campaign. Park's Superdry collaboration collection titled 'Raw Archive' was released on August 3rd and sold out online the same day.

Discography

Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and sales Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Message Released: November 4, 2020 Label: Maroo Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 9 KOR: 79,461

Extended plays + List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and sales Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales KOR 360 Released: December 4, 2019 Label: Maroo Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 2 KOR: 103,392 My Collection Released: August 12, 2021 Label: Maroo Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 4 KOR: 55,707 Hot&Cold Released: October 28, 2021 Label: Maroo Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 8 KOR: 42,713 The Answer Released: October 12, 2022 Label: Maroo Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 17 KOR: 50,090 Blank or Black Released: April 12, 2023 Label: Maroo Entertainment, NHN Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 7 KOR: 47,171

Single albums + List of single albums, with selected chart positions and sales Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales KOR

Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album KOR "L.O.V.E" 2019 59 O'Clock "360" 138 360 "Wing" 2020 109 The W "Gotcha" 102 Message "Gallery" 2021 128 My Collection "Serious" 121 Hot&Cold "Nitro" 2022 — The Answer "Blank Effect" 2023 — Blank or Black "Bodyelse" 2026 145 Re:Flect "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other releases + List of other releases, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album KOR As featured artist "Don't Forget" 2019 34 My Moment Promotional singles "Call U Up" 2021 — Soundtrack appearances "Midnight" 2020 — Love Revolution OST "Talk To Me" 2021 — At a Distance, Spring Is Green OST "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Music videos Title Year Director(s) "L.O.V.E" 2019 Hong Won-ki, Huh Jin-hyun(Zanybros) "360" Yoo Sung-kyun(SUNNYVISUAL) "Wing" 2020 "Gotcha" "Hit it Off" "Gallery" 2021 "Serious" Zanybros "Moon & Back" 2022 "Nitro" "Blank Effect" 2023

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2024 Beautiful Audrey Kang Ki-hoon 2026 The King's Warden Lord Nosan / King Danjong of Joseon / Yi Hong-wi 2007 The Stories of One Thousand People Lee Dong-gyu Episode 20 The King and I Eunuch trainee Episode 2 2019 Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency Go Young-soo 2020 Love Revolution Gong Joo-young 2021 At a Distance, Spring Is Green Yeo Jun 2022 Remarriage & Desires Choi Yoo-seon's customer Cameo (episode 8) Weak Hero Class 1 Yeon Si-eun Main Role 2024 Love Song for Illusion Sajo Hyun / Ak-hee 2025 Weak Hero Class 2 Yeon Si-eun Main Role Tastefully Yours Eun-jae Cameo (episode 2, 8–10) 2026 The Legend of Kitchen Soldier Kang Seong-jae Main Role

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2017 Produce 101 (Season 2) Contestant Finished second place 2019 Inkigayo Special MC Episode 1,014 Show! Music Core Episode 658, 718 2022 Seven Stars Mentor Thai audition program King of Mask Singer Judge

Radio shows Year Title Role Notes 2021–2022 Park Ji-hoon's Stay Night DJ 2021–October 18, 2022

Theater Peter Pan (2007–2009) The Harmonium in My Memory (2010) Radio Star (2010–2011) A Midsummer Night's Dream (2014)

Awards and nominations

+ Name of the award ceremony, year presented, nominated work, category and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result APAN Music Awards 2020 Entertainer Award (Man) Park Ji-hoon Best Solo for Man (Global) Asia Artist Awards 2019 StarNews Popularity Award 2020 Male Popularity Award 2021 Male Solo Singer Popularity Award Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards 2023 Best Newcomer Actor Weak Hero Class 1 Asia Model Awards 2019 Asia Star Award (Singer) Park Ji-hoon Baeksang Arts Awards 2026 Naver Popularity Award – Male Best New Actor – Film The King's Warden Blue Dragon Series Awards 2023 Best New Actor Weak Hero Class 1 2026 Best Actor The Legend of Kitchen Soldier Daejeon Special FX Film Festival (DFX OTT Awards) 2025 Weak Hero Class 2 Director's Cut Awards 2026 Best New Actor – Film The King's Warden Best Actor – Television Weak Hero Class 2 Fundex Awards 2025 Popular Star Prize – K-Drama Actor Golden Disc Awards 2019 Album Bonsang Park Ji-hoon Popularity Award Rookie of the Year KBS Drama Awards 2021 Best New Actor At a Distance, Spring Is Green 2024 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Love Song for Illusion Korea Drama Awards 2023 Best New Actor Weak Hero Class 1 Korea First Brand Awards 2021 Best Idol Actor Park Ji-hoon 2022 Acting Idol (Male) 2025 SEC Awards 2026 Asian Artist of the Year Seoul Global Movie Awards 2024 Best New Actor Beautiful Audrey Seoul Music Awards 2019 Dance Performance Award Park Ji-hoon K-Wave Award Popularity Award 2020 Fan PD Artist Award K-Wave Popularity Award Main Award Popularity Award Soribada Best K-Music Awards 2019 Bonsang Award The New K-wave Icon Award Male Popularity Award 2020 Bonsang Award Global Artist Award Male Popularity Award