Ryeoun reveals he drew inspiration from the manga 'Slam Dunk' character Kang Baek-ho for his role in 'Weak Hero Class 2'.
Recently, at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul, actor Ryeoun, who stars in the Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2', shared insights about his character.
'Weak Hero Class 2' follows the story of Yeon Si-eun, played by Park Ji-hoon, a model student who transfers to Eunjang High School carrying the trauma of failing to protect his friend from violence. Determined not to lose another friend, he confronts even greater violence. Ryeoun plays Park Hoo-min, also known as 'Baku', the righteous leader of Eunjang High.
In the series, Park Hoo-min makes a striking first impression with his red-dyed hair, wearing shorts and flip-flops in the middle of winter. Ryeoun commented, "I took some inspiration from Kang Baek-ho of 'Slam Dunk'. He's foolish yet steadfast, cheerful yet strong, and has a sense of justice. Baku and Kang Baek-ho share similarities. They might seem foolish because they are innocent and pure." He added, "Baku comes from a challenging family background. Despite that, he maintains a bright mindset, and I aimed to portray a more mature vibe than his peers, focusing on his cheerful demeanor to overcome his circumstances."
Experiencing the role of a 'leader' among peers through Park Hoo-min, Ryeoun expressed satisfaction, saying, "It was awesome. Isn't that every guy's dream?" He also shared, "In the final group fight scene, when I looked back and saw my friends, it was heartwarming."
When asked about his real school days, he laughed, "It was quite different." He continued, "I went to an all-boys school, so I played basketball with friends during lunch and went to the snack bar together, which was similar. But I didn't lead others as a 'leader'."
Previously, in the drama '18 Again', Ryeoun played Hong Si-woo, who was bullied by a group of delinquents. He noted, "Playing the leader role was more challenging. In '18 Again', my character was timid, and I only had to focus on myself. But as a leader, I had to constantly guide others and display a lot of energy. It required more effort."
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr