Actor Park Ji-hoon portrays King Danjong in a scene from “The King’s Warden.” Courtesy of Showbox
Actor Park Ji-hoon has found a career-defining role in the historical film "The King's Warden," driving the movie to the top of the local box office with his nuanced portrayal of the tragic Joseon Dynasty monarch.
Directed by Jang Hang-jun, the film depicts King Danjong's exile to Cheongryeongpo in 1457. Park plays the deposed teenage monarch alongside veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin, who portrays Eom Heung-do, a village chief who initially attempts to exploit the king to enhance his town's reputation.
Shedding his K-pop idol persona, Park anchors the narrative through restrained dialogue and minimal physicality. He relies instead on his delicate, expressive gaze to convey the emotional turmoil of a young king stripped of his throne, humanizing the historical figure for a contemporary audience.
Fans have embraced his performance, bestowing Park with affectionate nicknames such as "My Danjong-nim" and "Danjong Oppa" — a term typically reserved by young women for older brothers and close male friends — alongside "Hong-wi Oppa" in reference to the king's personal name, and "Your Majesty."
Actor Park Ji-hoon strikes his signature pose from his days in the K-pop boy band Wanna One during a press conference for the film "The King's Warden" at Megabox COEX in Seoul, Jan. 21. Yonhap
Buoyed by Park's compelling screen presence and his strong chemistry with the veteran cast, the film debuted at No. 1 during its opening weekend and recently surpassed 4 million admissions, successfully clearing its break-even point.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
