Park Bo-gum plays boxing medalist-turned-cop in 'Good Boy'

Actors Park Bo-gum, left, and Kim So-hyun pose during a press conference for JTBC's drama "Good Boy" at The Link Seoul in Guro District, Thursday. Yonhap

Park Bo-gum throws punches in his newest role as a former boxing champion-turned-police officer in JTBC’s weekend drama "Good Boy," premiering Saturday.

In this high-energy comic action series, Park leads a group of elite medalists — ranging from shooting and wrestling to discus and fencing — who are specially recruited into law enforcement. Together, they form a justice-driven “Avengers”-like team, taking down crime with both brains and brawn.

Departing from his softer, heartthrob image seen in the recent Netflix sensation "When Life Gives You Tangerines," Park threw himself into performing with intense physicality and comedic timing for a genre he calls “a completely new start.”

Park has been seeking fresh challenges since completing his mandatory military service in 2022, and the action-heavy drama "Good Boy" is one of them. Now 31, the actor said turning 30 gave him the push to pursue bolder choices.

"I had a strong desire to try everything I want while I still can. If I had been building my filmography step by step until now, I now wanted to at least speed-walk, if not run. By taking on roles, professions and genres I hadn’t tried before, I wanted to broaden my limits,” Park said during a press conference for the drama in Seoul, Thursday.

Scenes from JTBC drama "Good Boy" / Courtesy of JTBC

Park explained that the genre itself was a challenge.

“The action-comedy detective drama, which I hadn’t done before, was a completely new start. Not just for me, but for everyone — by learning new sports, we were able to transform into action-packed characters that we couldn’t have shown in previous dramas. I think this drama was a challenge for all the actors, including myself,” he said.

Filming was delayed by more than a month due to a minor injury Park sustained during production. Despite the setback, he expressed gratitude for the support of his castmates and crew throughout the physically demanding shoot.

“I wanted people who are athletes themselves to say I really look like a professional or I portrayed it well, so I would come in early to practice the action scenes. All of us trained together for more than six months, practicing every day. But at one point, I got a bit too ambitious and suffered a minor injury, which slowed down filming," he said.

"After recovering in a month and a half, I worked hard without taking a single day off. That's why I think the project will be remembered for a long time for me and will be well-portrayed in the drama."

Director Shim Na-yeon noted that the drama is inspired by the story of a police officer who was specially recruited for martial arts skills and she wants to give viewers the fantasy of breaking down the walls of reality through dramatic and fantastical elements.

"There are hardships that active-duty police officers face and there are real barriers for those who stand up for justice. The character Dong-joo, played by Park, is one who always throws himself into situations regardless of personal gain, showing an ideal image. I created this with the thought that if such a person existed in reality, people would want to applaud him," she said.

Actor Park also said the strength of this drama comes from its tribute to people who live for what is right.

"By showing that the five main characters prove justice is still alive, I hope it can give even a little strength to public servants who work for justice in the real world, and that the world can become a better place. I hope this drama becomes enjoyable and refreshing," he said.

The drama will premiere on JTBC at 10:40 p.m. on Saturday.