Singer and actor Park Ji-hoon has expressed his firm intention to join the Marine Corps Reconnaissance Unit ahead of his enlistment next year.
Park Ji-hoon recently appeared on actress Kim Jung-nan's YouTube channel, where he candidly discussed his military enlistment plans and his concerns as an actor.
During the episode, Kim Jung-nan prepared a home-cooked meal for Park Ji-hoon, her junior colleague from the same agency who played her son in the film "Beautiful Audrey," and the two shared a conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.
When Kim Jung-nan asked about his enlistment plans, Park Ji-hoon replied, "I really have to go next year." When asked, "Didn't you say you wanted to join the Marine Corps?" he explained, "The age limit for the Marine Corps is 29, and since I'm 28 now, I have one year left."
Park Ji-hoon showed his determination, saying, "People often tell me, 'You'll regret it if you go,' but when someone tells me not to do something, I want to do it even more." He added, "It's not just the Marine Corps; I want to join the Marine Corps Reconnaissance Unit. I heard you have to be specifically selected even within the Marine Corps."
When Kim Jung-nan remarked, "Your mother must be very worried," Park Ji-hoon joked, "Actually, my mom is really happy about it. She tells me to 'go somewhere tough.' I guess I still have some growing up to do." He then added, "I think my mom finds that kind of attitude cool."
The two also talked about their film "Beautiful Audrey," in which they both appeared.
Kim Jung-nan praised him, saying, "It was a low-budget film, so I had many regrets, but thanks to Ji-hoon, it's receiving attention again, which makes me happy. These days, many actors just read their lines during script readings, but Ji-hoon expresses all the emotions as if he were in front of the camera. I felt he was a truly precious actor. Since he's a former idol, I thought he would be very concerned about his appearance, but that's not the case at all. I thought he hadn't even washed his face."
Since then, Park Ji-hoon has risen to become a star in Chungmuro, gaining significant attention for "The King's Warden." Seeing Park Ji-hoon busy with dramas, Wanna One content, and preparing for a solo comeback, Kim Jung-nan offered sincere advice: "The busier you are, the more you need to keep your focus. Having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, I've seen many people lose their way by letting their guard down."
Park Ji-hoon also spoke honestly about his current worries. He confessed, "Lately, I've been thinking a lot about 'purity.' I wonder why I'm becoming more calculating, and I feel like I'm paying more attention to the image the public sees rather than my true self."
Kim Jung-nan comforted him warmly, saying, "Just because you've experienced the world doesn't mean you've lost your purity. The very act of reflecting on yourself is a sign of purity. You need to have those kinds of concerns for your acting to deepen. You have to go through it all."
Kim Jung-nan also shared an anecdote about actor Lee Soon-jae, noting, "Even after acting for a long time, I still get nervous." She said, "Mr. Lee Soon-jae never let go of his script. He was always nervous because he didn't want to cause any trouble for his junior colleagues. When I was young, I memorized scripts quickly and thought I was a genius, but as I got older, that wasn't the case anymore."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)