Park Jin Young, the lead actor in the hit tvN weekend drama Our Unwritten Seoul, recently sat down with the media to reflect on the drama, his role, and the layers behind both his character and himself.
With a thoughtful blend of sincerity and humor, he shared why his latest series was a meaningful project and how he poured his own vulnerabilities into the story.
A Drama That Mirrors the Generation
Our Unwritten Seoul tells the story of twin sisters who switch lives and, in doing so, confront hidden pain, love, and their search for identity. Park Jin Young plays Lee Ho-soo, a meticulous lawyer who has built a life of control after surviving a traumatic accident in high school. While Ho-soo appears perfect on the outside, his carefully composed life masks deep emotional scars, much like the polished yet pressured lives many live today.
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“This story hit close to home,” Park shared. “Ho-soo is someone who seems perfect to the world, but inside, he’s struggling. That disconnect—between the image we show and what we actually feel—felt very current, very real.”
He added, “It’s like social media. Everything looks great on the surface, but many people are quietly hurting. Through Ho-soo, I wanted to show that it’s okay to feel that way. You’re not alone.”
“I Speak Slowly—But Only Sometimes”
Some viewers noticed that Park Jin-young’s calm and slightly slow speech in the drama mirrored his character. Was it intentional? Not exactly.
“Funny enough, I actually speak fast with my friends,” he laughed. “But when I’m not around them, I slow down a bit. That’s something Ho-soo and I have in common. There was no direction in the script to speak slowly, but the way I read it made Ho-soo feel more reflective, like someone who speaks a lot but lets it land gently.”
Despite that similarity, Park pointed out one major difference: “Ho-soo is patient and composed. I, on the other hand, am pretty impatient,” he said, grinning.
The Power of Opening a Door
One of Park Jin-young’s biggest takeaways from Our Unwritten Seoul is its quiet yet powerful message about emotional openness.
“There’s this image in the drama—just opening a door. It sounds so small, but sometimes, even that can feel impossible,” he explained. “I wanted to show that when you’re overwhelmed, the people who care about you are right outside that door. All you need to do is reach out.”
And that’s exactly what Park does in real life.
“When I’m struggling, I go to my people—my family, friends, and the members. Just seeing their reaction when I tell them something helps me gauge if I’m okay. Their presence is my comfort zone. I used to criticize myself for not being the loud, outgoing type, but they accepted me completely. Because of them, I’ve learned I’m okay as I am.”
The Slow-Burning Romance of Ho-soo and Mi-ji
In Our Unwritten Seoul, Ho-soo and Mi-ji’s relationship—each other’s first love—is subtle, tender, and achingly slow. Some viewers even joked that their romance felt a bit too cautious. But Park believes that’s part of its charm.
“If Ho-soo were more like a sly fox, Mi-ji wouldn’t have liked him,” he smiled. “He’s not slick, he’s sincere. He’s more of a ‘girlizer’—a man who falls for one woman with full honesty, rather than someone who plays games. That honesty is what drew me to him.”
Entering His 30s with Intention
Unknown Seoul is Park Jin-young’s first drama in his 30s, and it holds a special place in his heart. After returning from his military service, he admitted to feeling a little unsure.
“I was worried about falling behind or being rusty,” he admitted. “But the moment I started working with the team, I realized again—nothing meaningful can be done alone. That sense of collaboration, of being with good people and telling a good story—that’s what I want more of in my 30s.”
Though fans praised his visuals, Park chuckled when recalling how he tried to downplay Ho-soo’s attractiveness.
“I told the director I wanted Ho-soo to look as plain as possible,” he said. “At one point, we did a 2:8 parting for his hair during a wedding scene just to make him look stiff—but even then, people said he looked cool. I think it’s because the audience grew to love the character first, and that made them see him as appealing.”
Known for playing characters with unrequited or bittersweet love stories—from Yumi’s Cells to The Witch to Our Unwritten Seoul—Park Jin-young is eager to explore a new kind of romance on screen.
“Honestly, I want to try a love story where things move a bit faster,” he laughed. “In The Witch, we only talked in the last episode, and in Unknown Seoul, we barely even held hands. Next time, I’d love to do something where both characters realize their feelings quickly and just go for it.”
When asked what he’d say to himself now that Unknown Seoul has wrapped, Park was honest, as always.
“I’d say, ‘This too has passed. Now prepare for what’s next.’ But also, I’d want to say, ‘Ho-soo, you did well.’ That mix of gratitude and growth—that’s what I’m feeling right now.”
With that, Park Jin Young leaves behind Ho-soo’s quiet strength, but carries forward his own, rooted in honesty, empathy, and a desire to keep growing.
