Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
INTERVIEW Park Ji-hoon transforms from idol to intense actor in 'Weak Hero Class 2'
Singer and actor Park Ji-hoon / Courtesy of Netflix
By Park Jin-hai
Korean talents power Netflix’s global school action phenomenon
After making waves in a gritty, R-rated school action drama on Korea’s streaming platform Wavve, the second season of 2022 sensation "Weak Hero" has found new life and greater exposure under the wing of streaming giant Netflix.
"Weak Hero Class 2," wasted no time igniting buzz with its Friday release — not just in Korea, but across Asia and Latin America — signaling a dramatic leap from domestic hit to international phenomenon. The series soared to No. 1 in Netflix's non-English content category across 32 countries.
Based on the hit webtoon of the same name, "Weak Hero" follows the story of Yeon Si-eun, a model student born physically weak but fiercely intelligent, who mastered the art of fighting from a young age.
Singer and actor Park Ji-hoon, taking the title role, reunites with the original creative team and continues his fight to protect his friends in the second season.
Through this series, Park — who was previously known for work as a singing idol and former member of the K-pop boy band Wanna One, formed through the music survival show Produce 101 — has been reevaluated and reborn as a serious actor.
Among the many characters he has portrayed, Park said he has a special affection for the character of Si-eun, who evokes a deeper sense of "closeness, compassion and sadness than any other role," during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in central Seoul on Monday.
“The emotions lingered long after the final shoot. Watching Si-eun’s last smile, I thought, ‘This is what we’ve all been running toward.’ Not just the actors, but the director, crew and production team all seemed to share a single goal: to see this side of Si-eun. Memories from [seasons] 1 and 2 and moments on set, flashed before my eyes. I was so overwhelmed that I cried," he added, reflecting on the end of filming.
A scene from "Weak Hero Class 2"/ Courtesy of Netflix
In "Weak Hero Class 2," Si-eun carries his deep scars with him as he transfers to Eunjang High School, where he encounters new friends like Park Hu-min (Ryeoun), Seo Jun-tae (Choi Min-yeong) and Go Hyun-tak (Lee Min-jae) — but also faces ruthless new enemies, including the formidable gang "the Union." led by Na Baek-jin (Bae Na-ra) and his mysterious rival, Geum Seong-jae (Lee Jun-young).
The 25-year-old actor said in the new season, he didn’t want to portray a character simply driven by rage like before. Instead, he wanted to convey the need to "stop this endless (vicious) cycle."
"After losing a friend in 'Class 1,' the emotions that built up made my character tougher, and I think the action scenes became more intense as a result. He fights better now, and I found the attack patterns using the opponent’s own belongings to be a fresh and interesting touch," he said.
When asked about the global appeal of the series, Park pointed to the “school drama” genre as the answer.
“I think the unique strengths of school dramas play a big part. The explosive action, the protagonist’s backstory and the elements of bromance all come together seamlessly. There’s something especially captivating about the fresh chemistry and friendships among high school students and the way these young characters band together to take on the villains. I think a lot of people find that incredibly relatable,” he explained.
During the production of "Class 2," the series moved to Netflix for its release.
“I don’t think anything really changed just because the platform did," Park commented on the change, adding that he simply focused on telling the story of Si-eun, pouring his efforts into that and maintaining his concentration.
Having debuted as a child actor, Park shared that he found many moments of comfort while playing Si-eun, saying that of all the characters he has played, Si-eun suits him the best.
“Since I started acting at a young age, I didn’t have many friends and spent a lot of time alone. I understand Si-eun’s feelings so well. The reason I was able to express his lonely side is because it’s so similar to my own childhood. Watching this boy, who rarely smiled, finally laughing with his friends and finding comfort was healing for me too," he said.