Park Jeong-min has emerged as an unlikely internet phenomenon in South Korea, combining serious acting chops with a refreshingly down-to-earth personality that has captivated both film critics and online communities. The 38-year-old versatile character actor recently went viral at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, where despite receiving dual nominations for best actor and best supporting actor, he left empty-handed but won over social media with his humble and entertaining response to the loss.
At the November 19 awards ceremony held at KBS Hall in Seoul, Park faced disappointment when he didn't win either award, despite delivering standout performances in two major films. He had been nominated for his dual role as both father and son in director Yeon Sang-ho's experimental thriller "The Ugly" and for his portrayal of freedom fighter Woo Deok-sun in the period epic "Harbin." Many industry observers had expected him to take home at least one trophy given the quality of his work.
Rather than showing disappointment, Park demonstrated his characteristic good humor by bounding onto the stage to join singer Hwasa for a performance of "Good Goodbye." The duo recreated scenes from Hwasa's music video in which Park had previously starred, and as she made her exit, he playfully shouted "Take the shoes!" This spontaneous moment quickly went viral on social media, with users affectionately dubbing him "No-Trophy Park" – a joking term of endearment that seemed to become the night's real prize.
Park's path to stardom was far from conventional, marked by significant struggles and career pivots. He initially enrolled at Korea University, one of South Korea's most prestigious institutions, but made the bold decision to drop out and pursue filmmaking at Korea National University of Arts. In an almost unprecedented move in the school's history, he later switched his major to acting, setting the stage for what would become a challenging but ultimately rewarding career.
The early years of Park's acting career were marked by hardship and uncertainty. "There was a time when I had little success while working as an actor for almost 10 years," he told Yonhap News Agency in a 2018 interview. "I thought about doing something else, but nothing came to mind." His 2011 debut in the independent drama "Bleak Night" earned critical recognition but failed to translate into commercial success or steady work. For five grueling years, Park survived on minor roles while seriously contemplating whether to abandon his acting dreams entirely.
The turning point came in 2016 with "Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet," director Lee Joon-ik's austere black-and-white biographical film about Korean poet Yun Dong-ju during the Japanese occupation period. Park played Song Mong-gyu, the poet's firebrand cousin and fellow resistance figure, delivering a performance that would define his career trajectory. The role swept the awards season, earning him best new actor honors at both the Blue Dragon and Baeksang ceremonies, finally providing the recognition he had worked so hard to achieve.
Reflecting on this breakthrough role, Park said in a 2024 interview with film magazine Cine21, "It's such a precious piece of work to me. Song Mong-gyu's life was so fascinating in itself. I owe a lot to that." This performance established him as a serious actor capable of handling complex, historically significant characters with depth and authenticity.
Following his breakthrough, Park embarked on a series of bold, genre-defying choices that showcased his remarkable versatility as a performer. For the 2018 film "Keys to the Heart," he took on the challenging role of a pianist with autism, dedicating himself to six months of intensive preparation that included practicing piano for six hours daily. His commitment to authenticity meant learning to execute all the piano performances himself, demonstrating his dedication to his craft.
Two years later, Park took an even more daring creative risk by portraying a transgender woman in the high-octane thriller "Deliver Us from Evil." He approached this sensitive role with considerable research and evident respect, preparing thoroughly to ensure an authentic and respectful portrayal. This performance earned him critical acclaim and best supporting actor awards at both the Blue Dragons and Baeksangs in 2021, further cementing his reputation as an actor willing to take on challenging and unconventional roles.
On television, Park has continued to demonstrate his range and appeal to diverse audiences. He anchored Netflix's supernatural thriller series "Hellbound," showcasing his ability to handle genre material for streaming platforms. He also starred opposite Blackpink's Jisoo in Coupang Play's zombie romance "Newtopia," proving his versatility across different types of productions and co-stars.
While Park's versatility has earned him industry recognition and critical acclaim, what has truly resonated with fans is his naturalistic, grounded approach to acting. His performances possess a lived-in quality that makes his characters feel like real people rather than theatrical constructs. He has developed a particularly unique talent for portraying everyday annoyance and frustration with remarkable authenticity, leading to an unusual but endearing form of internet fame.
YouTube compilations showcasing Park's "annoyed acting," where he captures the small frustrations and irritations of daily life with uncanny accuracy, have accumulated millions of views online. These videos highlight his ability to find truth in mundane emotions, creating a peculiar but genuine claim to fame. As fans frequently note, nobody in Korean cinema portrays realistic annoyance and frustration quite like Park Jeong-min.
Beyond his acting career, Park has established himself as a serious writer and publisher with a commitment to social causes. His 2016 essay collection "A Useful Person" became a bestseller, demonstrating his literary talents beyond the screen. In 2020, he founded Muze, a publishing house specifically focused on amplifying marginalized voices and underrepresented stories. Last year, he made the significant decision to take a full year off from film work to run the publishing operation full-time.
One of Park's most personally meaningful projects stems from his family experiences. After his father went legally blind due to a degenerative eye condition, Park launched an innovative audiobook initiative that goes far beyond traditional audiobook production. These audiobooks feature full dramatic casts, professional sound design, and original musical scores, creating immersive listening experiences. The audiobooks are distributed first to libraries serving the visually impaired community before becoming available on commercial platforms.
"It was disheartening that I couldn't show [my dad] the book," Park explained during a book talk at the National Library of Korea in April. "That's how the idea of an audiobook project came about." This personal motivation has driven him to create a new standard for audiobook production that serves both artistic and social purposes.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Park's status as a cult figure among Korea's younger, predominantly male, internet-savvy demographic has been cemented through his gaming and streaming activities. He has become a regular fixture in South Korea's online streaming scene, frequently hanging out with popular YouTubers and content creators. His gaming skills, particularly in League of Legends, are reportedly poor by all accounts, but his genuine enthusiasm and self-deprecating humor have made him a beloved figure in online communities.
Park regularly appears on the channel of "Chim Chak Man," a webtoon artist turned streamer with over one million subscribers. He has also joined a loose collective of content creators who game together and engage in casual banter on air, treating the internet like one big group chat among friends. Away from the pressures and formality of film sets, Park comes across as the goofy, unguarded friend who might not be particularly skilled at gaming but shows up anyway because he enjoys the company.
This authentic online presence has spawned countless affectionate nicknames and endless memes, further endearing him to internet communities. His commitment to this aspect of his public life was demonstrated after last year's Blue Dragon Awards ceremony, when he reportedly skipped the festival's official after-party to compete in a streamers' Pokémon card tournament. True to form, he attended the post-tournament gathering after losing in the semifinals, prioritizing fun and friendship over industry networking.
Park's approach to balancing his serious acting career with his playful online presence represents an unusual but refreshing take on celebrity in the digital age. Rather than maintaining the carefully cultivated mystique that most leading men prefer, he has embraced transparency and authenticity in ways that have made him genuinely beloved by fans. He seems equally comfortable goofing around with his online crew as he does working the traditional industry circuit.
This philosophy was perhaps best captured in a comment he made during a late 2024 broadcast: "If I had to give up having fun because of my job, I'd rather give up being an actor." This statement encapsulates Park's approach to life and career – one that prioritizes authenticity, joy, and genuine human connection over conventional notions of celebrity success. His ability to remain grounded while achieving professional recognition has made him a unique figure in Korean entertainment, beloved by both serious film enthusiasts and the terminally online generation alike.
