Biography of Park Seo-joon
Park Seo-joon is a buzzworthy South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in 2011 in a South Korean film ‘Perfect Game’. Seo-joon made his music video appearance in the music video for Bang Yong-guk’s single ‘I Remember’.
His charming personality and exceptional performance in the South Korean television series ‘Kill Me, Heal Me’ (2015), ‘She Was Pretty’ (2015), ‘Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth’ (2016–2017), ‘Fight for My Way’ (2017), ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim‘ (2018), and ‘Itaewon Class’ (2020), and Gyeongseong Creature (2023) garnered worldwide recognition and makes him rose to stardom.
Early Life & Education
Park Seo-joon was born on 16 December 1988. He was raised in a well-to-do family in Seoul, South Korea as the oldest of 3 children. Park Seo-joon is a family man and he lives with his parents and two younger brothers. Seo-joon is a cherishing big brother and one of his younger brothers is married and has a two-year-old daughter.
He participated in an acting competition during his high school years and received appreciation for his performance and hereafter he decided to become an actor. Even though his parents were against his dream, he was determined and he exerted himself despite all the hardships he faced.
Later in 2008, he was admitted to the Seoul Institute of Arts and opted to perform mandatory military service in his first year of study before his debut in 2011 in a music video ‘I Remember’.
Career
2011-2015 Beginnings and breakthrough
The most buzzworthy Korean actor, Seo-joon made his debut in the entertainment industry in 2011. The younger and skinnier fresh face in Bang Yong Guk’s music video titled ‘I Remember’ gained a generous fan following with charming youthfulness. Later in the same year, his entry into the South Korean industry happened when he appeared in the film ‘Perfect Game’ as a supporting cast.
In 2012, he played supporting roles in the South Korean TV series ‘Dream High 2’ and ‘Shut Up Family’. His outstanding performance in the television series ‘Pots of Gold’ (2013), and ‘One Warm Word’ (2013) gained critics appreciation. He performed his first leading role in 2014 in a television series ‘A Witch’s Love’. From 2013 to 2015 he also hosted the music program ‘Music Bank’ for the network KBS2.
In 2015, he starred along with Hwang Jung-eum in the South Korean television series ‘Kill Me, Heal Me’ and ‘She Was Pretty’ after this breakthrough, he also featured in the thriller film ‘The Chronicles of Evil’ in the same year.
2016–present Mainstream popularity
At the beginning of the year 2016, Seo-joon played the historical role of a legendary Hwarang warrior in the Silla dynasty in the South Korean series ‘Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth’. The realistic and passionate performance of Seo-joon along with Park Hyung-sik, and Go Ara garnered applause from the cult following.
KBS2’s romantic comedy-drama ‘Fight for My Way’ in 2017 took the industry by storm in which he effortlessly portrayed the painful past of a former taekwondo player. Later in the same year, he landed his first film leading role in the action-comedy film ‘Midnight Runners’, in which he received several Best New Actor awards, including one from the  Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and the 54th Grand Bell Awards.
In 2018, he headlined the tvN series ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim‘ and bagged the Top Excellence Award at the 6th APAN Star Awards for his work in the drama. After his appealing performance in the action horror film ‘The Divine Fury’ in 2019, Seo-joon appeared as a special jury member for the Asiana International Short Film Festival and starred in the Oscar-winning movie ‘Parasite’ (2019) as a guest appearance.
In 2020, he took on the prime role in JTBC’s ‘Itaewon Class‘, the television series from a webtoon and hailed appreciation. The buzzworthy actor is set to act in a sports comedy and drama film ‘Dream’ and a thriller film ‘Concrete Utopia’ in 2023. Seo-joon will make his Hollywood debut, appearing in the film of the American media franchise MCU’s ‘The Marvels’ in November 2023.
Achievements
Park Seo-joon is one of the most gifted jewels turned up within the Korean film industry who recognizes how privileged he is to enjoy his opportunities. His incredible choice of script selection made him the most loved and recognized actor who has won numerous awards including the Best Actor award. He has been campaigning for brands including Coca-Cola, LG, Samsung, hESK Telecom, Lotte Duty-Free and Domino’s Pizza and earned US$6 million for all his commercials in 2018 alone.
Endorsements
- He is the first Asian male model to become the face of the American luxury clothing company Tommy Hilfiger and the American footwear company Sperry.
- He has been honoured as the first brand ambassador for Montblanc watches in Korea back in 2018.
- He received several Best New Actor awards and nominations in 2013 for his role in the drama ‘Pots of Gold’.
- Seo-joon is active on the video-sharing platform YouTube and received a Gold Play Button.
- He is a South Korean celebrity with the third-largest following on Instagram, with more than 20 million followers.
Military Life
Unlike the majority of South Korean celebrities who need to take a break from their career midway so as to fulfil their mandatory military service, Seo-joon opted for his mandatory military service in 2008 during his first year at the Seoul Institute of Arts when he was just 19 years old. Later in 2010, he was discharged from the army and fulfilled this obligation even before his acting debut in 2015.
Personal Life
Park Seo-joon and the popular South Korean singer Xooos are apparently dating as the duo was seen on several dates in Seoul. During Park Seo-joon’s recent public appearance at the screening of his upcoming South Korean disaster-thriller film ‘Concrete Utopia’ (2023), he refused to wear a headband given by a fan. The controversy began when a video of this incident went viral on the web. In response to the incident, he issued an apology with a convincing explanation at his official fan cafe.
Networth & Lifestyle
South Korea’s most popular actor Park Seo-joon has been walking up the ranks of stardom, having starred in several notable projects including the Oscar-winning movie ‘Parasite‘ and the television series ‘Itaewon Class‘.
He is one of the highest-paid Kdrama actors as of 2023 with a net worth of 20 million USD. The 33-year-old heartthrob has a luxury lifestyle and he made lavish property purchases. Recently, he bought a luxury residence, located in the Cheongdam-dong district, worth 5.8 billion South Korean won (S$6.6 million). Seo-joon also owns a US$10 million building in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu district in Seoul, South Korea.
Philanthropy
Seo-joon is a charitable and kind-hearted personality who aids a helping hand in supporting child-adoption agencies and volunteers. He handed out 100 million in 2019 during the forest fire in Gangwon-do province of South Korea to Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association to help in the restoration of wildfires and to help the associated victims in 2019.
Many Covid cases were reported in Daegu city in South Korea where Seo-joon donated 100 million won to help treat patients with coronavirus. He also appeared as a helping hand to the victims of torrential rains and flooding in 2020 and donated 100 million won to the Korea Disaster Relief.
Awards
- Korea Drama Awards – 2013
Best New Actor, ‘Pots of Gold’ - Herald Donga Lifestyle Awards – 2014
Best Style of the Year
- SBS Drama Awards – 2014
New Star Award, ‘One Warm Word’
- Blue Dragon Film Awards – 2015
Popular Star Award, ‘The Chronicles of Evil’ - Fashionista Awards – 2015
Best Fashion in TV, ‘She Was Pretty’ - MBC Drama Awards – 2015
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries
Popularity Award, Actor
Top 10 Stars Award
Best Couple Award, Park Seo-joon with Ji Sung, ‘Kill Me, Heal Me’ - Asia Artist Awards – 2017
Fabulous Award, Best Star Award, ‘Fight for My Way’ - Grand Bell Awards – 2017
Best New Actor - KBS Drama Awards – 2017
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries
Netizen Award, Actor - Korean Association of Film Critics Awards – 2017
Best New Actor
- Korea Film Actors Association Awards – 2017
Popular Star Award - APAN Star Awards – 2018
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries - Cosmo Beauty Awards – 2018
Annual Shining Beauty Idol
- KBS WORLD Global Fan Awards – 2018
Best Couple Award, Park Seo-joon with Kim Ji-won, ‘Fight for My Way’
- KOFRA Film Awards – 2018
Best New Actor - Korea Tourism Awards – 2018
Special Merit Award
- Seoul International Drama Awards – 2018
Outstanding Korean Actor
- Asian Film Awards – 2019
AFA Rising Star Award
- Brand Customer Loyalty Awards – 2020
Most Influential Male Actor – Trend Icon
Interesting Facts about Park Seo-joon
- He is the brand ambassador of the sneaker brand Skechers from 7 October 2021 onwards.
- Seo-joon has a cute pet Simba of the Bichon Frise breed who also has a separate fan following.
- He amused the audience with his impressive Spanish-speaking skills on the South Korean television reality show ‘Youn’s Kitchen’.
- This outgoing personality has a long list of celebrity friends, including Park Hyung-sik, Kang Ha-neul, and Lee Hyun-woo.
- He once said that he didn’t enter the industry for wealth and fame and he is willing to portray a gay character in the future.
- He was rumoured to be dating his co-star Park Min-young from the Korean drama ‘What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim’ (2018).
- Seo-joon has a close friendship with BTS’s V and Choi Woo-shik from the South Korean dark comedy thriller ‘Parasite‘.
- He has a YouTube channel @parkseojun_recordparks with 2M followers.
FAQs
- How old is Park Seo-joon?
34 years old. - Who does Park Seo-joon date?
He is dating YouTuber and singer Hong Soo-yeon known by Xooos - How tall is Park Seo-joon?
He is 185 cm tall. - When is Park Seo-joon’s birthday?
His birthday bash is on 16 December 1988. - Who is Park Seo-joon’s best friend in BTS?
He has a close friendship with BTS’s Kim Tae-hyung, also known professionally as V. - What is the Zodiac sign of Park Seo-joon?
Sagittarius.
- What is the official Instagram ID of Park Seo-joon?
His official Instagram ID is bn_sj2013 with 25M followers.
