On the October 25th episode of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block,' Park Ji-hoon, who recently made his commercial film debut with 'The Man Who Lives with the King,' appeared as a guest. Having experienced immense popularity in his 20s as an idol, drama, and film star, he reflected on his past with Yoo Jae-suk during the show.
Park Ji-hoon first captured the public's attention in 2017 through Mnet's audition program 'Produce 101 Season 2.' His wink ending on the signal song stage received an explosive response, and he was the only trainee among 101 to surpass one million votes in the first ranking announcement, securing the top spot. He consistently remained in the top three, ultimately joining Wanna One as the second-place finalist.
The second season of 'Weak Hero,' released after three years, also received a warm reception, solidifying his position as an actor. This year, he took on his first commercial film role in director Jang Hang-jun's 'The Man Who Lives with the King,' playing the role of Danjong. His performance garnered praise, with many saying, "Park Ji-hoon was meant to play Danjong," marking another peak in his career.
A small moment during the show caught viewers' attention when MC Yoo Jae-suk noticed an eyelash under Park Ji-hoon's eye and gently removed it. Park Ji-hoon responded with a slightly embarrassed expression, bringing smiles to the audience.
Meanwhile, according to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network for movie tickets, 'The Man Who Lives with the King' topped the box office on October 25th. The daily audience count was 309,574, an increase of over 110,000 from the previous day, attributed to the 'Culture Day' initiative, which offers discounts and free access to cultural facilities on the last Wednesday of each month. The cumulative audience count reached 6,528,519.
Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr