Rising Stars: Kim Sejeong and Park Jihoon's Journey from 'Produce 101' to Acting Success

Kim Sejeong and Park Jihoon, who debuted as the second-place winners in each season of Mnet's audition program 'Produce 101', are making significant strides in their careers. After the conclusion of their group activities planned by CJ ENM, both have focused more on their acting careers, steadily building their filmographies.

Kim Sejeong is set to appear in the upcoming drama 'Intoxicating Romance', which is scheduled to air next month. She has also been cast as the lead in the upcoming project 'The Moon Flows Over the River' (working title). Having consecutive projects lined up is considered a crucial indicator of her popularity and talent in the current challenging industry climate.

Kim Sejeong first caught attention with her distinctive charm in the inaugural season of 'Produce 101', which aired in January 2016. She left a strong impression with her exceptional skills in both vocals and dance, in addition to her visual appeal. Her greatest strength was her passion for giving her all in whatever she did.

Throughout the 11 episodes of the show, Kim Sejeong consistently maintained a top position, never falling below second place. Her continuous effort and steady skills helped her sustain her popularity. Although she ranked first in episodes 5, 6, and 8, she finished in second place in the final episode. Despite the slight disappointment in ranking, she confirmed her popularity with over 500,000 votes.

Kim Sejeong made a glamorous debut with I.O.I and later served as the main vocalist in Gugudan, created by Jellyfish Entertainment. Although the group did not achieve significant success, Kim Sejeong stood out as a solo artist in the same year. Her solo track 'Flower Road', released in 2016, topped music charts and music shows, making her the only idol to achieve first place both as a group and solo artist.

As an actress, Kim Sejeong showcased her excellence through the success of the 2020 drama 'The Uncanny Counter'. Despite not debuting as an actress initially, she was recognized for her outstanding acting skills and continued to captivate audiences with leading roles in various projects such as 'Business Proposal' and 'Today's Webtoon'.

Park Jihoon also debuted as the second-place winner in 'Produce 101' Season 2 and has been making a unique mark among actors born in 1999. From the start, he drew attention with his exceptional looks and combined impressive dance and vocal skills.

After enjoying peak popularity with Wanna One, Park Jihoon embarked on a full-fledged acting career. He gained acting experience through various roles and left a strong impression on the public with his performance in 'Weak Hero Class 1' in 2022. His achievements exceeded expectations, raising anticipation for his future. In the drama 'Fantasy Sonata', which aired in the first half of this year, he received positive reviews for his acting as the lead.

Park Jihoon, who has a solid fan base as a singer, continues to receive love calls from the industry. He has confirmed his appearances in Netflix's 'Weak Hero Class 2' and the film 'The World is Beautiful Audrey', and has been cast in director Jang Hang-jun's new project 'The Man Who Lives with the King'.

Kim Sejeong and Park Jihoon both demonstrated consistent performance in 'Produce 101' and have continued to give their best to repay their fans even after 7-8 years since their debut. Both have built successful careers as singers and actors, earning high praise in the industry for their exceptional skills and dedication. Given their young age, their future growth is highly anticipated.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr