Park Ji-hoon

Biography

Park Ji-hoon (Korean: 박지훈; born May 29, 1999) is a South Korean singer and actor. He started his career in the entertainment industry as a commercial model and child actor in 2006. In 2017, he rose to fame by placing second in the second season of the reality competition series Produce 101 and becoming a member of the show's resulting boy group Wanna One (2017–2019, 2021–2022). As a solo recording artist, Park has released the EP O'Clock with the lead single "L.O.V.E" in 2019, followed by his debut studio album Message×MESSAGE4 November 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Waterfalls (intro)1:072GOTCHA3:253Hit it off3:004Rolling3:36550–503:166DRESS CODE3:287Whisper3:158Tomorrow3:149Scenario3:0710MayDay3:16 in 2020. As an actor, he is known for his leading roles in the first and second seasons of television series Weak Hero (2022–2025) and the historical film The King's Warden (2026).

Early life

Park Ji-hoon was born on May 29, 1999, in Masan Province in South Korea. Originally from Gyeongsang Province, Park has lived in Seoul since he was seven years old. He graduated from National Middle School of Traditional Arts, where he majored in musical theater. Park majored in broadcasting arts at School of Performing Arts Seoul and graduated in January 2018. Park was accepted into Chung-Ang University's Department of Theater for 2018.

Early work

Park debuted as a child actor, participating in musicals like Peter Pan (2007–2010), The Harmonium in My Memory (2010), and Radio Star (2010–2011), and small stints in television dramas Jumong (2006–2007), The King and I (2007–2008), Kimchi Cheese Smile (2007–2008), Iljimae (2008), and more. Park also appeared in SS501's reality show SS501 SOS (2006), although his face was blurred out through the episodes. In 2007, he appeared in KM Idol War with Big Bang. During his childhood, he continued to be active in musical theatre, television broadcasts, and film, and also worked as an advertisement model. Park was less active in the entertainment industry in his teen years.

Return to acting and transition to lead roles

In April 2019 Park was cast in JTBC's historical drama Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency, which was aired on September 16. He received praise for his acting skills and received positive reviews. He topped Good Data Corporation's buzzworthy list for eight consecutive weeks. Park took his first leading role in the Kakao M's web drama Love Revolution (2020), an adaptation of the webtoon of the same name. It from September 1 to December 27, 2020. Park received wider recognition through the series. He released the song "Midnight"as part of the drama's soundtrack. Park starred in the KBS college drama At a Distance, Spring is Green which aired from June 14 thru July 2021.

Weak Hero and The King's Warden

Park starred in the wavve k-drama Weak Hero which premiered on November 18. Before its premiere, the first three episodes of the drama were screened at the 27th Busan International Film Festival where it sold out in two minutes, leading to additional screenings. The drama was a hit becoming wavve's #1 drama in paid subscribers within the first day. Park received positive reviews from audience and critics as Park's cute and bubbly persona as an idol is different from his Weak Hero character. When asked about the casting of Park, filmmaker Han Jun-hee revealed that the production company was impressed with his performance in At a Distance, Spring Is Green (2021), and was suggested to director Yu Su-min. In 2024, he made his film debut with Beautiful Audrey alongside Kim Jung-nan.
The drama Love Song for Illusion was released in 2024, with Park portraying dual roles. On August 5, 2024, Park signed an exclusive contract with YY Entertainment for his future activities. Park starred as King Danjong, the central figure of the historical film The King's Warden directed by Jang Hang-jun. The film was released on February 4, 2026, coinciding with the Korean New Year holiday. It received positive reviews and is the highest-grossing film in South Korea box office history. In 2026 Park also played the lead role in the tvN drama The Legend of the Kitchen Soldier which won best drama at the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards. At the same award show, Park was nominated for Best Actor, making him the youngest Best Actor nominee in Blue Dragon Series Awards history.

Produce 101 and Wanna One

Park began training to become an idol singer under SM Entertainment and Fantagio. Due to a knee injury, he did not make it to the final line up of Fantagio's boy group Astro and subsequently transferred to Maroo Entertainment.
In 2017, Park represented Maroo Entertainment in the second season of Produce 101. He experienced a sudden rise in popularity after going viral as "wink boy (윙크남)", after the introductory "It's Me (Pick Me)" stage on M Countdown, even before the show had started airing. Consequently, Park's participation in the survival show received extensive media attention to the extent that his self-made aegyo catchphrase "save you in my heart (내 마음 속에 저장)" trended on social media and was used by various companies for marketing purposes.
The phrase was later crowned as the best catchphrase of 2017 by KOCCA. Furthermore, Park received offers from various companies to become their advertisement model while the show was still being aired, and it was later revealed that Park had signed an exclusive contract with Maroo Entertainment before the show had started. He finished second, which made him a member of the project boy group Wanna One under YMC Entertainment. Wanna One disbanded on December 31, 2018, and officially completed activities after their sold out 4-day final concert series 'Therefore' that ran from January 24 to 27 at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Solo activities

On March 26, 2019 Park released his debut EP as a soloist, O'Clock, with the lead single "L.O.V.E". Park took his first solo music show win with his debut album "L.O.V.E" on KBS Music Bank on April 5, 2019. On December 4, Park released his second EP, 360, and its lead single of the same name. Park release his third EP, The W×The W26 May 2020 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1On The Rise1:112Wing3:423Frequency3:354Driving3:475Paradise3:426Let's Love2:50, with the title track "Wing" on May 26, 2020. He then released his first studio album, Message×MESSAGE4 November 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Waterfalls (intro)1:072GOTCHA3:253Hit it off3:004Rolling3:36550–503:166DRESS CODE3:287Whisper3:158Tomorrow3:149Scenario3:0710MayDay3:16, with the title track "Gotcha". He had his first ever online solo concert titled "Message" on December 13.
On August 12, Park released his fourth EP My Collection×My Collection12 August 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Present on the stage (intro)1:092Gallery3:073LOST3:174Strawberry3:565I Wonder3:106Remember3:23, with the title track "Gallery". On October 28, Park released his fifth EP Hot&Cold×HOT&COLD28 October 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Escalator (intro)1:092Serious3:143WANT!3:064CHEESE2:485LOVE GLASS3:246All yours3:16, with the title track "Serious". In August 2022, it was announced that Park would be making a comeback with his sixth EP The Answer×THE ANSWER12 October 2022 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Silence1:162NITRO3:303Moon&Back3:434Frame3:145Don’t Tell Anyone2:576Midnight2:57 with the title track "Nitro" on October 12, 2022. On September 30, he pre-released a b-side called "Moon & Back". On October 9 and 10, Park held a two-day concert called '[CLUE]' at the YES24 Live Hall. Park released his seventh EP Blank or Black×Blank or Black12 April 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Gemini1:182Blank Effect2:503Black Hour3:134MATADOR3:095Gambit2:446Crashing For2:37 with the title track "Blank Effect" on April 12, 2023.
Following his success in The King's Warden Park held a two-day fanmeeting called 'Same Place' at YES24 Live Hall from April 24th and 25th. On April 29th he released his first single album RE:FLECT×RE:FLECT29 April 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Bodyelse3:092Watercolor3:073I can’t hold your hand anymore3:35 with title track "Bodyelse". After the release of his album, Park embarked on an Asian Fancon [RE:FLECT] from May through July with stops in Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Bankok, and Singapore. In 2026 Park also participated in Wanna One reunion activities such as Wanna One Go: Go Back to Base and Wanna One Go in LA which were released on Mnet Plus in April and September respectively. In August he performed "Energetic", "Boomerang", and "Spring Breeze, Again" with Wanna One on day 1 of KCON LA at Crypto.com Arena.

Other ventures

In April 2018, Park was appointed as an endorser of April Skin's Milk Booster Fast Shampoo and hair-dyes. Park along with fellow Wanna One member Ong Seong-wu was selected as a model for CLAVIS and their line of sports bracelets on April 20. In March 2019, the seaweed snack brand Masita revealed Park as the new ambassador for their new "0% MSG" recipe that came in five different flavors. The same month, Park and fellow former Wanna One member Bae Jin-young were selected as the new advertising models for youth make-up brand, I'M MEME. In May, it was announced that Park had been selected as the new model for pizza specialty brand, Pizza E-Tang. The promotion was a success with the pizza consistently selling out. On May 3, Yuyu Nature selected Park as a model for their flagship health supplement, Formoline L112.
In June 2020, Park had his first apparel collaboration with contemporary fashion brand [LE] MOHO. The collection was named "[LA] POMME de Universe" in which Park participated in designing. In October, Park collaborated with Tous on its Toss Love Me perfume that was made to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the brand's founding. It became a bestseller and sold out at the Olive Young Myeong-dong Store where it was carried domestically. On August 18, 2021, it was announced that Park had been selected as a model for the Korean skincare and cosmetics brand It's Skin, running advertisements in Japan and Southeast Asia.
In 2026 Park was selected as a model for Baskin Robbins' summer campaign, the fragrance brand Forment, and Superdry's 26FW season campaign. Park's Superdry collaboration collection titled 'Raw Archive' was released on August 3rd and sold out online the same day.

Theater

Peter Pan (2007–2009)
The Harmonium in My Memory (2010)
Radio Star (2010–2011)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (2014)