Park Ji-hoon Discusses the Challenges and Triumphs of Portraying King Danjong in 'The Man Who Lives with the King'

"When I was offered the role, I was honestly scared. Could I truly understand the heart of the ill-fated King Danjong? Could I express those emotions on screen? On my way home, looking out the car window, I had many thoughts. What I remember most is when the director said during our fourth meeting, 'Danjong has to be you, Ji-hoon.' Thanks to the director, I gradually gained confidence."

Park Ji-hoon, the lead actor in the film 'The Man Who Lives with the King' directed by Jang Hang-jun, shared his feelings about the weight of being offered the role of Danjong. The movie tells the story of a young dethroned king in exile and a village chief who volunteers to join him, gradually forming a bond.

Director Jang Hang-jun chose Park Ji-hoon for the role of Danjong partly because of the actor's expressive eyes, as seen in 'Weak Hero.' The character of Danjong is portrayed as someone who appears fragile but possesses inner strength, similar to Park's previous roles. "I think the director saw the energy that, while heavy, is not weak," Park said, modestly discussing his eye acting skills.

"I immerse myself in the situation. I try to stay true to the script and get into the scene. I don't consciously think about 'eye acting.' Haha. Maybe it's because my eyesight is 1.0, 1.1... Haha. I had LASIK surgery."

The role of a king with a complex story also needed to be expressed physically. At the time of casting, Park Ji-hoon was enjoying a 'break period' and had gained weight. Seeing the chubbier Park, unlike his appearance in 'Weak Hero,' director Jang Hang-jun felt a sense of crisis, jokingly thinking it might be his last work. However, Park successfully lost 15kg, achieving the character's physical transformation.

"It was simple but difficult. I just didn't eat. Haha. I only ate a slice of apple. I couldn't sleep well, and I felt drained. I wanted to portray a state beyond 'emaciated,' something like 'skin and bones.' I even felt dizzy due to lack of energy. After shooting a shouting scene, I felt lightheaded while walking. But I didn't collapse. I endured by occasionally eating a jelly. Haha."

Yoo Hae-jin played the role of the village chief in exile. Yoo Hae-jin frequently praised Park Ji-hoon in various broadcasts and interviews. The two actors once walked together for about 2km from the makeup trailer to the set, chatting along the way. Park Ji-hoon recalled, "I saw the senior walking alone and thought, 'Why is he walking alone?' So I asked my manager to drop me off, and I walked with him." What did they talk about during their long walk?

"We talked about trivial things like when to enlist in the military and how to manage money. Haha. We naturally grew closer and even rehearsed our lines together. Time flew by as we walked."

Park Ji-hoon was also a member of Wanna One. His past comment about not keeping in touch with the members led to misunderstandings about their relationship. Recently, news broke about Wanna One's reunion for a reality show. When asked if their relationship had improved, Park clarified, "It's not that I had bad feelings; I'm just not the type to keep in touch often." The Wanna One group chat is currently active.

"We did film the reality show. We didn't shoot all episodes, and a few are left. Kang Daniel has to enlist, and Lai Kuan-lin is in China, so except for those two, everyone agreed to participate. We had fun filming. It was touching to be together again. It was beautiful. The fact that we gathered again for those who love us is amazing. It's significant in itself."

During his time with Wanna One, Park Ji-hoon became famous for his cute catchphrase, "Save you in my heart," which captivated the nation. Does he feel embarrassed about still being asked to do it nine years later? "It's embarrassing. Haha. But the fact that people request it means they remember and like me. So I try to do it confidently without hesitation."


Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr