Park Seo-joon

Park Yong-kyu (; born December 16, 1988), better known by the stage name Park Seo-joon , is a South Korean actor. He first gained wide recognition for starring in the television series Fight for My Way and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), gaining further prominence with dramas Itaewon Class (2020) and Gyeongseong Creature (2023–2024). He also starred in films The Chronicles of Evil (2015) and Midnight Runners (2017), and made his Hollywood debut with superhero film The Marvels in 2023.

Early years and education During his middle school years, Park Seo-joon happened to join an animation club by chance. Through this club, he had the opportunity to participate in an annual performance stage. He gained a lot of experience from being the center of attention, which led him to pursue his studies in the Acting Department at Seoul Institute of the Arts.

Career 2011–2015: Beginnings and breakthrough

Park made his entertainment debut in 2011 by appearing in the music video of Bang Yong-guk's single "I Remember." He played supporting roles in television dramas Dream High 2 (2012), Pots of Gold (2013), and had his first leading role in A Witch's Love (2014). From October 2013 to April 2015, he hosted Music Bank.

His breakout roles came in 2015 with the dramas Kill Me, Heal Me and She Was Pretty, where he starred alongside Hwang Jung-eum. The same year, Park featured in the thriller film The Chronicles of Evil.

2016–present: Mainstream popularity In 2016, Park starred in the youth historical drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth alongside Go Ara and Park Hyung-sik, playing a young man of low birth, who becomes a legendary Hwarang warrior in the Silla period.

Park found success in the 2017 KBS2 romance comedy drama, Fight for My Way, where he played Ko Dong-man, a former taekwondo player with a painful past, who struggles to find his success as a mixed martial arts fighter, alongside Kim Ji-won. The television series was a major hit in South Korea and topped ratings in its time slot. The same year, he played his first big-screen leading role in the action-comedy Midnight Runners with Kang Ha-neul. Park won the Best New Actor award at major film award ceremonies such as the Grand Bell Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. The series was a hit and Park received positive reviews from critics for his performance, being dubbed the "master of romantic comedy" by the Korean press.

In 2019, Park starred in the action horror film The Divine Fury in the role of a martial arts champion with divine powers. The same year, Park served as the special juror for the Asiana International Short Film Festival. He also made a guest appearance in the Oscar-winning movie Parasite (2019). In 2020, Park starred in JTBC drama Itaewon Class, based on the webtoon of the same name. He played an owner of a bar-restaurant who successfully expands it into a franchise. The drama was a success, and was praised for its interesting story development and colorful performances. For his role, Park was nominated for Best Actor - Television at 56th Baeksang Arts Awards In 2023, he starred in the sports film Dream as a soccer player turned coach named Yoon Hong-Dae, directed by Lee Byeong-heon, and disaster-thriller film Concrete Utopia directed by Um Tae-hwa.

Park starred in the romance drama series Surely Tomorrow opposite Won Ji-an which premiered in JTBC in 2025.

Philanthropy On February 10, 2023, Park donated to the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to help victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 Perfect Game Chil-goo Bit part 2015 The Chronicles of Evil Cha Dong-jae 2017 Real Dressed-up bodyguard Cameo Midnight Runners Park Ki-joon 2019 Parasite Min-hyuk Cameo The Divine Fury Yong-hoo Concrete Utopia Min-sung The Marvels Prince Yan Hollywood debut

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2012 Dream High 2 Lee Si-woo 2013 Pots of Gold Park Hyun-tae Drama Festival: The Sleeping Witch Kim Him-chan One Warm Word Song Min-soo Mama adult Han Geu-roo Cameo (episode 24) 2015 Kill Me, Heal Me Oh Ri-on She Was Pretty Ji Sung-joon 2023–2024 Gyeongseong Creature Jang Tae-sang / Ho-jae Season 1–2 2025–2026 Surely Tomorrow Lee Gyeong-do 2026 Bloodhounds Choi Sin-hyeong Cameo (season 2) 2027Born Guilty Pengi

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2013–2015 Music Bank Host with Yoon Bo-ra 2021 Youn's Stay 2022 In the Soop: Friendcation Young Actors' Retreat 2023–2024 Jinny's Kitchen 2 seasons 2023 Jinny's Kitchen: Team Building

Hosting Year Title Notes 2014 2014 SBS Drama Awards with Lee Hwi-jae and Park Shin-hye

Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2011 "I Remember" Bang Yong-guk and Yang Yo-seob 2017 "Dream All Day" Kim Ji-soo 2021 "Gyopo Hairstyle" Peakboy

Discography + List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album Title Year Peak chartpositions Album KOR "New Dreaming" 2012 — Dream High 2 OST "Come into My Heart" 2014 — A Witch's Love OST "Letting You Go" 2015 91 Kill Me, Heal Me OST "Long Way" — She Was Pretty OST "Our Tears" 2017 — Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth OST "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Accolades Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result APAN Star Awards 2013 Best New Actor Pots of Gold 2015 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Kill Me, Heal Me, She Was Pretty 2018 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries What's Wrong with Secretary Kim 2021 Grand Prize (Daesang) Itaewon Class Popular Star Award, Actor Asia Artist Awards 2017 Fabulous Award Fight for My Way Best Star Award Asian Film Awards 2019 AFA Rising Star Award Park Seo-joon Baeksang Arts Awards 2014 Best New Actor – Television One Warm Word 2016 Best New Actor – Film The Chronicles of Evil 2018 Best Actor – Television Fight for My Way 2020 Itaewon Class Blue Dragon Film Awards 2015 Best New Actor The Chronicles of Evil Popular Star Award Brand Customer Loyalty Awards 2020 Most Influential Male Actor – Trend Icon Park Seo-joon Buil Film Awards 2017 Best New Actor Midnight Runners Chunsa Film Art Awards 2016 The Chronicles of Evil 2018 Midnight Runners Cosmo Beauty Awards 2018 Annual Shining Beauty Idol Park Seo-joon Fashionista Awards 2015 Best Fashion in TV She Was Pretty Grand Bell Awards 2015 Best New Actor The Chronicles of Evil 2017 Midnight Runners Herald Donga Lifestyle Awards 2014 Best Style of the Year Park Seo-joon KBS Drama Awards 2017 Top Excellence Award, Actor Fight for My Way, Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Fight for My Way Netizen Award, Actor Best Couple Award Park Seo-joon Fight for My Way KBS World Global Fan Awards 2018 KOFRA Film Awards 2018 Best New Actor Midnight Runners Korea Drama Awards 2013 Pots of Gold 2018 Top Excellence Award, Actor What's Wrong with Secretary Kim Korea Film Actors Association Awards 2017 Popular Star Award Midnight Runners Korea Tourism Awards 2018 Special Merit Award Park Seo-joon Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2017 Best New Actor Midnight Runners Max Movie Awards 2016 Best New Actor The Chronicles of Evil MBC Drama Awards 2013 Pots of Gold 2015 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Kill Me, Heal Me, She Was Pretty Popularity Award, Actor Top 10 Stars Award Best Couple Award Park Seo-joon Kill Me, Heal Me Seoul International Drama Awards 2018 Outstanding Korean Actor Fight for My Way The Seoul Awards 2017 Best New Actor (Film) Midnight Runners tvN10 Awards 2016 Romantic-Comedy King A Witch's Love

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2018 Korea Power Celebrity 22nd 2019 30th 2021 14th 2022 12th 2025 35th