Rising Star Park Yoon-ho Shines in 'Pro Bono' with Compelling Performance

Park Yoon-ho, who gained attention last year for his role as young Park Jin-young in 'Our Unwritten Seoul,' has added depth to the narrative with his intense performance. The emerging actor, represented by Init Entertainment, a subsidiary of JYP Entertainment, is often compared to Song Kang by fans.

On the episode of tvN's weekend drama 'Pro Bono' aired on the 3rd, Park Yoon-ho portrayed the high school version of Kang Da-wit, a former national judge and current public interest lawyer, played by Jung Kyung-ho.

In the drama, Da-wit returns home from dormitory life to find that his mother, who endured strenuous labor, suffered a severe industrial accident. The company evaded responsibility by hiding behind the law, prompting Da-wit to prepare for a lawsuit on his own, creating tension.

Despite sacrificing his college dreams and dedicating himself to the trial, the court ultimately sided with the company. His mother passed away, leaving him with the words, "You must succeed." Driven by his mother's unfulfilled wishes, Da-wit focused on his studies and rose to become the youngest head judge of the anti-corruption division.

Park Yoon-ho skillfully portrayed Da-wit's painful past and growth, creating a multi-dimensional character. His nuanced performance of the character's varied emotions in the face of successive tragedies enhanced the drama's overall quality.

Last year, Park Yoon-ho solidified his status as a 'rising star' with stable performances and diverse character transformations in 'Study Group,' 'Resident Playbook,' 'Our Unwritten Seoul,' and 'Trigger.' Through 'Pro Bono,' he once again showcased his potential as an actor with an expanded range of performances.

Additionally, Park Yoon-ho recently won the 'AAA Rookie Award' in the actor category at the '10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025,' proving his growing popularity. As he continues to shine in various projects, anticipation builds for what he will bring to the screen in 2026.

Park Yoon-ho is set to meet viewers in the upcoming TVING original 'Proxy Exam'(대리수능) as Joo Hee-dong.

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