[On the Record] Park Seo-joon "Good Content Will Be Recognized by the Audience"

Interview with Hongdae role in movie 'Dream'
Former soccer player, homeless team coach
"Four years the world stopped, feeling thirst"

Actor Park Seo-joon [Photo by Awesome ENT]

Actor Park Seo-joon (34, Park Yong-gyu) was earnest. It was his first encounter in four years since the movie 'The Divine Fury' (2018). He said he realized the value of interviews after the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, "It is meaningful and I am grateful just that 'Dream' (directed by Lee Byung-heon), which opens on the 26th, is being screened in theaters."

Park Seo-joon, whom we met recently at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, I kept filming projects steadily. Somehow, the release and premiere schedules of the works I appeared in are concentrated this year, and I am thankful for that. I try to work hard every day."

He confessed, "The years when the world was at a standstill made me tired. I also felt like I lost the reason to live as an actor." He continued, "When I act on set, I feel alive, which is good, but it was hard to be hidden away without meeting the public. Now, I am happy," he said with a smile.

"I usually go to theaters often, and good movies that get word of mouth have many audiences in the seats. Good content is chosen by the audience. The choice is made by the audience, and I have to work hard to create good works. I hope even one viewer enjoys the movie 'Dream.'"

Focused on Director Lee Byung-heon's Unique Flavor of Dialogue

Actor Park Seo-joon [Photo by Awesome ENT]

'Dream' is a movie about Hong Dae (Park Seo-joon), a former soccer player with no sense of responsibility, and So-min (IU), a PD without passion, who challenge an impossible dream together with a ragtag group of homeless national team players. The cast includes Park Seo-joon, IU, Kim Jong-soo, Ko Chang-seok, Jung Seung-gil, Lee Hyun-woo, Yang Hyun-min, Hong Wan-pyo, and Heo Jun-seok.

The film is directed by Lee Byung-heon, who directed 'Twenty' (2015), 'Wind Wind Wind' (2018), the drama 'Be Melodramatic' (2019), and attracted 16.26 million viewers with 'Extreme Job' (2019).

Park Seo-joon, working with director Lee Byung-heon for the first time, said, "I wanted to fully capture the flavor of his dialogue." He added, "I tried to find it while feeling his unique rhythm. It was not easy at first, but I gradually adapted as I blended in well. I felt the director has his own unique genre."

Park Seo-joon made special efforts to portray the role of a professional soccer player. The cast trained with director Lee Han-byeol and soccer coordinator Choi Yong-seok, who participated in the 2010 Brazil Homeless World Cup. They also practiced dribbling, passing, and shooting to synchronize their teamwork.

He said, "We designed the soccer game scenes in advance and practiced to coordinate. Above all, getting familiar with the ball was important. I couldn't have done more than my best," shaking his head.

He also underwent training to build a solid soccer player's physique. Park Seo-joon said, "I focused on lower body training. I usually focus on upper body workouts, but I concentrated on my lower body, waist, and abs. I believe firmness comes from the core, so I also did core strengthening exercises. I balanced my training with deadlifts and abdominal workouts."

'Dream' stills [Photo by Plus M Entertainment]

When asked if he sought advice from soccer player Son Heung-min, whom he is close with, he laughed and said, "I'm not at a level to take advice." He added, "Son Heung-min watched the 'Dream' script reading video and contacted me saying it looked fun. He promised he would definitely watch the movie when he has time after the season ends."

Park Seo-joon said he related quite a bit to the character Hong Dae. He said, "The movie says 'There are no bad people in the world.' Hong Dae has a lot of inferiority complex and lacks love, so he has affection deficiency, but I saw all of that as symbolizing human nature."

"I usually have a hard time expressing emotions embarrassingly. I can't be friendly and sociable with my parents or acquaintances. I want to express my feelings somehow, but it doesn't work well. I have a somewhat blunt personality. Hong Dae is a guy who doesn't know how to express his feelings beautifully. He's clumsy but warm-hearted. The movie captures his efforts to take care of everyone well."

Park Seo-joon entered Chungmuro with the movie 'Perfect Game' (2011). At that time, he appeared briefly as a spectator, and after 12 years, he has grown into a leading actor who leads commercial films. Looking back, he said, "I was selected through an audition, and I remember memorizing the Haitai cheer song and working hard. I also remember preparing for the audition worrying about the dialect. It was my first experience on a movie set, so it was fascinating. I was happy to be on set. I really wanted to do it. Of course, that hasn't changed."

"I don't want to show myself not working hard. Otherwise, I wouldn't be proud. I would eventually collapse. I think that's my driving force. I feel like I have a function installed to always work hard. That's how I protect myself. I want to do everything without shame."

Seojin's Place, The Marvels... Active in All Directions

Park Seo-joon is also appearing in the currently airing tvN variety show 'Seojin's Place.' 'Seojin's Place' depicts actor Park Seo-joon, along with Lee Seo-jin, Jung Yu-mi, Choi Woo-shik, and V (BTS), running a restaurant in Bacalar, Mexico. The Korean dishes featured, such as ramen, gimbap, bulgogi rice bowl, and hot dogs, have attracted attention both domestically and internationally.

He said, "When I'm with close friends, my true self appears on the show. I didn't feel like I was filming a variety show. It was comfortable. I took on the mission of promoting Korean food. I worked hard to make the food look as pretty and delicious as possible. I wanted to leave a good impression of Korean food on the customers who came there."

He also shared some difficulties. Park Seo-joon said, "There was quite a time difference, and we started filming immediately upon arrival. The cameras ran 24 hours, and since running a restaurant is not our main job, we had to think about the variety show aspect while working, so it wasn't easy."

Actor Park Seo-joon [Photo by Awesome ENT]

The hot dog Park Seo-joon made became the number one search term on delivery apps the morning after the broadcast, showing how many people wanted to try it. He said, "I actually get a lot of messages. Watching 'Seojin's Place' makes me want to protect something," he laughed. He added, "I have come to respect people in the food service industry."

Now, he is 'Marvel's Park Seo-joon.' Director Nia DaCosta became a fan of his after watching the JTBC drama 'Itaewon Class' (2020) and cast him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) new film 'The Marvels.' He has already gone to the U.S. and finished filming.

In 'The Marvels,' which opens this November, Park Seo-joon plays the prince of a musical planet and the husband of Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers). He said, "I have so much I want to say. There is also a casting story, but I can't talk about it now," showing a cautious attitude.

Park Seo-joon said he sought advice from Ma Dong-seok, who appeared in 'Eternals.' He said, "Before going to Ma Dong-seok, I asked him about what it would be like and the parts I would have to face directly. His advice was helpful." He laughed, "Hollywood people didn't know me." He recalled, "There were Korean staff, so I got a lot of help."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.