Park Ji-hoon Shines as King Danjong in 'The Man Who Lives with the King', Nearing 10 Million ViewersKim Ji-won's Kakaotalk Today's story, candid and sharp. TenAsia's reporter Kim Ji-won critically reviews entertainment issues with a discerning eye.
Park Ji-hoon Shines as King Danjong in 'The Man Who Lives with the King', Nearing 10 Million Viewers
The film 'The Man Who Lives with the King' (directed by Jang Hang-jun) is on the verge of reaching 10 million viewers, with its current count nearing 9.6 million. The standout performance is undoubtedly by Park Ji-hoon, who plays the role of King Danjong. His portrayal of the young king, who maintains his regal dignity despite a tragic fate, has captivated nearly 10 million viewers. Previously, many actors have taken on royal roles, but now Park Ji-hoon's name is synonymous with King Danjong.
As of the 5th, 'The Man Who Lives with the King' is just 400,000 viewers away from the 10 million mark. The film is set in 1457 Cheongryeongpo and tells the story of a village chief who chooses exile for the village's revival and a young dethroned king. It is based on the true story of the ill-fated King Danjong and Eom Heung-do, who took care of Danjong's remains.
Park Ji-hoon Shines as King Danjong in 'The Man Who Lives with the King', Nearing 10 Million Viewers
In the history of Korean historical dramas, certain actors become synonymous with the kings they portray. Song Il-gook as 'Jumong', Kim Young-chul as the charismatic Gung Ye, Choi Soo-jong as the gentle yet strong 'Wang Geon', Han Suk-kyu as the benevolent 'Sejong', and Lee Seo-jin as the intellectual and humanistic 'Lee San'. These actors have embodied their characters, becoming the kings themselves. Now, young actor Park Ji-hoon, who is about to turn thirty, joins this prestigious lineage.
Park Ji-hoon's portrayal of Danjong offers a different perspective from the strong monarchs of his predecessors. He elevates the film's quality with his delicate emotional performance, capturing Danjong's tragic reality and unyielding spirit. Notably, his commitment to the role is evident in his 15kg weight loss, achieved by surviving on just one apple a day for two months before filming. This physical transformation visualizes the emptiness and anguish Danjong might have felt.
Park Ji-hoon Shines as King Danjong in 'The Man Who Lives with the King', Nearing 10 Million Viewers
Director Jang Hang-jun cast Park Ji-hoon for his 'subtle yet strong' acting ability. Jang saw the potential for the role of Danjong in Park's eyes from his performance in the series 'Weak Hero'. As Jang described, Park's eyes convey a 'gentle yet powerful charisma', simultaneously evoking a protective instinct. At a GV event, Jang confidently stated, "For the next 10 years, when you think of Danjong, you'll think of Park Ji-hoon." Park's popularity and acclaim are further evidenced by his ranking as the top Rising Star Brand Reputation in February 2026 by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute.
Park Ji-hoon has crafted a unique character, portraying a king who is not authoritarian or oppressive, but fragile yet strong, melancholic yet warm. To the public, 'Danjong means Park Ji-hoon'.
