Actor Park Jung-min Remains Humble Amidst Rising Popularity

Actor Park Jung-min remains humble despite his rising status as a 'trending actor.'

Recently, Park Jung-min, who stars in the film 'Humint,' was interviewed at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul. 'Humint' is a story set in Vladivostok, where secrets and truths are submerged in the icy sea, and individuals with different motives clash. Park Jung-min plays the role of Park Geon, a security officer dispatched to Vladivostok, who fights to save his former fiancée, Chae Sun-hwa, played by Shin Se-kyung.

Park Jung-min gained significant attention last year for his sweet and affectionate performance with Hwasa at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. As the film's release approaches, he is receiving comments like 'more handsome than Jo In-sung' and 'the nation's ex-boyfriend.' In response, Park Jung-min joked, "Maybe it's my mom," with a laugh.

Despite his growing popularity, Park Jung-min remains composed. He stated, "The memes and issues that arose after the performance haven't infiltrated my daily life. People around me say, 'Jung-min has made it.' I joke about not knowing how far I need to go to be considered successful." He added, "It's a blessing that such 'strange words' are associated with an actor like Park Jung-min, who has struggled for 15 years. Expanding in any direction is a good thing, so I'm grateful." When asked if he has received any romantic scripts following the 'nation's ex-boyfriend' reaction, he replied, "There might be some at the company, but I haven't seen any."

When asked if he feels his popularity, he unexpectedly mentioned his family. Park Jung-min said, "My father is pleased," with a smile. He shared, "I visited my uncle in the hospital, and the head nurse recognized me and asked for an autograph. My father asked, 'Did she recognize you right away?' When I said yes, he found it amusing."

However, Park Jung-min admitted, "When I see my name trending on social media, I click 'not interested' to avoid it. It's overwhelming." He consciously tries to ignore his fame, saying, "I'm forcing myself to block it." Despite being at the center of attention, Park Jung-min maintains a distance, observing himself from afar. When asked why he avoids and guards against it, he calmly replied, "I think it will soon disappear."

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