From 'Produce 101' viral wink to '10 million actor' — Park Ji-hoon’s stunning rise
Park Ji-hoon / Xportsnews
Once known for a viral wink and the catchphrase “Save you in my heart,” Park Ji-hoon is now on the verge of joining Korea’s elite “10 million actor” club.
The historical drama film “The King’s Warden” has surpassed 9 million moviegoers as of March 2, putting it within striking distance of the coveted 10 million mark — a benchmark in the Korean film industry that signals blockbuster status.
The film surpassed 8 million admissions on March 1 and added another 1 million in just one day, signaling strong word-of-mouth momentum and what local observers describe as an unstoppable “Wangsanam” syndrome — a shorthand nickname for the film’s Korean title.
With the surge, lead actors including Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon and Yoo Ji-tae are poised to add a “10 million film” credit to their filmographies.
A scene from "The King's Warden" / Courtesy of Showbox
Park, who plays King Danjong in the film, has drawn particular attention. Riding the movie’s success, his earlier starring drama “Weak Hero” has seen renewed popularity on Netflix, climbing streaming rankings in a so-called reverse run — a term used in Korea when older content regains traction due to a star’s rising fame.
Park first entered the public spotlight in 2017 through Mnet’s survival audition show “Produce 101,” where he finished second and debuted as a member of Wanna One.
During the show’s signature debut stage for “Pick me,” Park’s camera-facing wink went viral nationwide. He also popularized the catchphrase “Save you in my heart,” which became one of the defining memes of that season. Out of 101 trainees, he stood out as one of the most recognizable contestants.
Wanna One / Xportsnews
Wanna One debuted with unusual scale, holding its first concert at Gocheok Sky Dome — one of Korea’s largest indoor arenas — and dominated advertisements, music charts and live performances during its 18-month run.
Yet Park’s trajectory did not stall after the group disbanded. He steadily built his acting credentials, earning praise for his intense performance in “Weak Hero” before landing his current big-screen breakthrough.
Industry watchers say his steady filmography expansion and increasingly stable acting have helped him shed the “idol-turned-actor” label — a transition that remains challenging in South Korea’s entertainment industry.
With “The King’s Warden” now edging toward 10 million admissions, Park appears poised to cement his status not just as a former idol, but as a bankable leading actor.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative artificial intelligence system and edited by The Korea Times.