Stream Classics to Latest K-Movies & Shows at OnDemandKorea

[Interview] Park Bo-gum is Park Bo-gum

A lot has changed. There's a saying, 'Park Bo-gum is magic' and more people recognize him. Still, he's Park Bo-gum.

Advertisement

He's one of the hottest stars today. The café in which he had an interview regarding the end of his latest drama "Love in the Moonlight", was crowded with fans who came to see him. He was cheerful throughout the interview and he didn't forget to say "Thank You".

He was also sincere. Looking at him through TV shows, he's so nice and proper. Questions about that 'frame' of his could have been offensive but he answered, "'Acting' within the frame would be wrong".

- Responsibility in "Love in the Moonlight"? I thought of producer Sin Won-ho

Park Bo-gum starred in the tvN drama "Reply 1988" as Choi Taek. It was this drama that started spreading out his name. When "Reply 1988" ended, everyone wanted to know what his next step was.

"I was one of the first to be cast for "Love in the Moonlight". I knew I had the will to do it. I wondered if I could stand along Yoo-jeong, Jin-yeong and other senior actors. I felt pressured. My family and people at the management told me, 'everyone is doing their own thing and not leading the whole thing by themselves. Don't try to do everything on your own'".

"Director Sin Won-ho from "Reply 1988" once said, "This could work or it might not but don't be despaired. Everyone is the leading character. Just enjoy it". I thought about that and realized everyone should just do their best".

- "I practiced 'Boombastic' at home

Park Bo-gum danced to "Boombastic" before an episode. He was dressed as a prince and was as hyper as ever.

"I practiced a lot in front of the mirror at home. I was confident and thought I could be on stage with it".

Lee Yeong was a bad-tempered prince at the beginning of the drama. However, he seemed more thoughtful towards the middle. What are the similarities between Lee Yeong and Park Bo-gum?

"I think we're alike in appearance but tough in spirit. Lee Yeong looks gentle but on the inside he's really tough. I am manly on the inside too".

He held his fist as he said 'manly'.

"But I'm not that bad-tempered or a delinquent like him".

- "Huh? I checked that already".

Park Bo-gum cried every once in a while in "Love in the Moonlight". We asked if he cried in a scene where he shouldn't have and he said he couldn't remember. "I remember I checked it but I forgot". Then he asked one of the staff to check which episode it was.

"Right, it was the eighth episode. There's a scene where Jang (Lee Joon-hyuk) helps me get dressed and tells me I can do well in anything. I felt how much he loved me. In the final episode, I put on the King's robes and Jang announces my appearance. The struggles of the process of making me a king flashed through my head and Lee Joon-hyuk's face told me he did so too. That's when I realized it was the final episode at last".

He cried most when he meet Queen Sook (Jeon Mi-sun). Park Bo-gum wasn't even on camera in this scene but he said he cried the most just looking at her face.

- Park Bo-gum meets Kim You-jung, Jin Young and Kwak Dong-yeon.

Park Bo-gum starred in "Love in the Moonlight" with Kim You-jung, B1A4 Jin Young and Kwak Dong-yeon. The set was always full of chatter and laughter because everyone was about the same age.

"Yoo-jeong knows a lot about historical dramas and she's better in acting then I am. At first it was awkward and she couldn't even call me 'oppa'. She called me Bo-geom nim".

The reporters burst out laughing at 'Bo-geom nim' but Bo-geom was serious. He continued to talk about Jin Young and his music.

"I am interested in writing and making songs so I asked him about it. Jin Young is talented. He doesn't know how to play many instruments but he knows how to write songs so he's a talented singer and actor. If I get the chance to, I would love to show him a song I wrote as a present".c

There is a phrase from the drama 'Are you Byeong-yeon?'. Lee Yeong and Kim Byeong-yeon's (Kwak Dong-yeon) bro-mance was as hot as Lee Yeong and Ra-on's romance. Park Bo-gum chose him as someone he would like to 'share bro-mance' with.

"I would love to work with him again. There were more friendship scenes with Byeong-yeon in "Love in the Moonlight" but we ran out of time and the writer was in a hurry. When Byeong-yeon was stabbed, I was very sad. I could feel his energy and next time, I wish we were good friends".

- I want to be someone the staff want to work with again

"Love in the Moonlight" ended with 23.3%, a record breaking number. This leads to the end of the year awards and many think Park Bo-gum is a likely winner this year but he shook his hands.

"Not yet. I was at an awards show for the first time last year. It would be nice to run into the "Love in the Moonlight" crew and end the year. I have no greed for an award yet. I will still go even if I don't get an award".

"I want to be someone the staff want to work with again. "Love in the Moonlight" was a fun place to work. It was warm and friendly. I wish to be a good impression on anyone".

Park Bo-gum tries to communicate with his fans as much as possible by reading their comments and writing back. He didn't have much time during the drama but now he can communicate with them more. He is also thinking about having a fan meeting.

What will Park Bo-gum's life be next year when he's twenty-five?

❎ Try Ad-free