Park Shin-yang Addresses Retirement Rumors and Embraces Artistic Journey

Park Shin-yang (57) has spoken out about the rumors of his retirement.

The 16th episode of MBN's 'Kim Joo-ha's Day and Night,' aired on the 14th, achieved a nationwide rating of 2.5%. The episode featured Park Shin-yang's versatile talk, showcasing his passionate acting, transformation into a painter and author, and his doting father persona.

The broadcast opened with a parody skit of the drama 'Lovers in Paris' by Moon Se-yoon and Jo Jjae-jjae, titled 'Day and Night Lovers.' As the MCs requested Park Shin-yang to say the famous line, "Baby, let's go," he hesitated, leading Kim Joo-ha, embodying the female lead, to grab his wrist and say, "Okay, let's go," creating a humorous moment.

Park Shin-yang, who has been painting for 13-14 years, revealed that he has focused on art instead of acting for the past six years since the movie 'Three Days.' He surprised everyone by creating a large-scale set identical to the one in Andong for his exhibition at the Sejong Center Art Museum, effectively moving the museum.

He shared that his passion for painting was ignited by a profound inspiration he received at an art museum during his studies in Russia, describing it as feeling like "peppermint candy pouring into me." Despite some skepticism from the public about his transition to painting, Park Shin-yang firmly dismissed rumors of using art as an escape, stating, "It's a serious endeavor, not an escape." He also addressed rumors of leveraging his fame to sell art, asserting, "Art cannot be interpreted solely by money," and expressed his commitment to not selling his paintings, saying, "Showing my work is my current task."

Park Shin-yang reflected on his acting career, stating, "Everything was challenging, and I put a lot of effort into each project." He candidly shared that the iconic line from the hit drama 'Lovers in Paris,' which achieved a peak rating of 57.6%, felt cheesy and awkward to him. He added intensity to the famous line, "Why can't you say it! That man is my man! That man is my lover, why can't you say it!" He humorously revealed that he considered singing 'My Way' instead of 'Can I Love You' for a confession scene, inspired by watching an Elton John concert.

Park Shin-yang shared the physical toll of acting, revealing that he suffered four spinal fractures and had thyroid issues in 2020, which left him bedridden for a while. He added, "I now have a titanium disc," and recalled filming 'Lovers in Paris' with crutches, removing them only during takes, demonstrating his indomitable spirit.

While filming Jang Hang-jun's 'Sign,' which attracted 12 million viewers, Park Shin-yang experienced the discomfort of observing autopsies. He jokingly remarked about Jang Hang-jun, "He talked a lot, mostly about nothing substantial."

During the filming of 'Man on the Edge,' Park Shin-yang experienced a shaman ritual, stating, "If there's a good movie or drama and I have the opportunity, I can always act," dismissing any retirement rumors.

Park Shin-yang revealed his 'daughter fool' side, sharing that he painted a picture from a turtle and horse photo his daughter brought him, expressing joy at being recognized as an artist by her. He mentioned traveling with his daughter, showcasing a friendly father-daughter relationship. Kim Joo-ha humorously commented on her own daughter's clinginess, causing laughter.

As an author, Park Shin-yang began writing books after facing skepticism about his artwork, with people questioning, "Did you really paint that?" He has published three books and gifted signed copies to the show's hosts, with Kim Joo-ha capturing a memorable photo at his exhibition.

Tae Yuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr