Actor-Painter Park Shin-yang: "I Had 4 Back Surgeries, But I'm Not Retiring from Acting"

Actor Park Shin-yang, 57, opened up about a health crisis more than a decade ago and shared how it led him to pick up a paintbrush.

Appearing on the YouTube channel Art Humanities on Jan. 25, Park recalled, “About 13-14 years ago, I was working non-stop and ultimately collapsed. I ended up having four back surgeries. I also had longstanding thyroid issues, and for a while I could barely get out of bed.” He added that during that time he was consumed by one feeling: longing. “I wanted to understand that intense longing that wrapped around my body and mind―that’s what drew me to painting.”

Park admitted he wasn’t exactly a star student in art class growing up―if anything, he got scolded. But studying acting in Russia changed how he experienced art. “I spent my days in theaters, cinemas, galleries, and museums, asking what art really is. Then one day, looking at a painting, the emotion hit me like a wave. I realized, ‘I’m not someone who doesn’t understand art,’” he said.

Comparing acting and visual art, Park explained, “In acting, I’ve always tried to deliver truth. But in film and TV, an actor can sometimes hide a little behind a character or story. With painting, there’s nowhere to hide. It feels like standing naked before people―like you’re out on a plain. Visual art forces you to confront yourself and stand there anyway.”

As for rumors he’s stepping away from the screen, Park shut them down. “I don’t know where that came from, but actors don’t retire,” he said. “You take on roles that suit your age and your moment. I’m constantly thinking about the right films and dramas. No need to worry.” He also referenced his book "The Fourth Wall", noting, “Acting and painting are different mediums, but they’re connected―they’re both expressions.”

Park will stage a large-scale solo exhibition in March titled "The Fourth Wall", presenting works that extend a core concept of theater and cinema into visual art.

Park Shin-yang Exhibition: "The Fourth Wall"

Dates: Friday, March 6, 2026 - Sunday, May 10, 2026
Venue: Sejong Center, Sejong Museum of Art, Galleries 1 & 2 (Full Venue)
Hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)