Park Seo Joon in Singapore - 'Guess Who'
Press Conference
With just 6 years of experience under his belt, Park Seo Joon has risen in popularity from starring in hit dramas like Kill Me, Heal Me and She Was Pretty. Despite his critically acclaimed debut in 2011 which has since amassed a strong international fan base, this is only Park Seo Joon’s first Asia fan meet tour!
Most recently Seo Joon starred in an action-comedy movie - Midnight Runners. This is only his fourth film since his debut and he has already won the title of Best Actor in the 54th Grand Bell Awards and in the 37th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. Fans of Park Seo Joon would have all caught Midnight Runners in the movies when it came out early September this year. On screen, Park Seo Joon and co-actor Kang Haneul appear to have great camaraderie. Have you ever wondered how things are like behind-the-scenes of the movie? Well, we managed to get some insights for you!
When asked on his relationship with co-actors such as Kang Haneul and Lee Kwang Soo, Seo Joon was full of praise, stating that he was thankful to have been given the chance to work with such great people and that it was only because they were able to build good relationship and rapport with each other that filming could go so well.
When asked on his relationship with co-actors such as Kang Haneul and Lee Kwang Soo, Seo Joon was full of praise, stating that he was thankful to have been given the chance to work with such great people and that it was only because they were able to build good relationship and rapport with each other that filming could go so well.
We wonder if Park Seo Joon has as much rapport with all his other co-actors as well. Looking back, a large majority of films he has starred in are romantic-comedies. Seo Joon is also known to be a shy person by nature, so what special preparation does he go through to produce such a flawless on-screen personality? Turns out that there is in fact no special preparation - he simply forgets about himself and his shy nature, completely immersing himself in the role while thinking and feeling as his character would. In addition, Seo Joon also mentioned that prior to any event, he often brings along his pair of headphones and music to get himself into the mood that he needs to portray.
Next, he was asked how he tries to overcome this shy nature of his while with his family and friends. A very honest Seo Joon replied that instead of trying to overcome it, he embraces and accepts it as a part of his nature that he cannot change and views it as a strength rather than as a weakness. In contrast to his shy nature Seo Joon is also known for his leadership abilities that has been recognised by many in the industry. To that, Seo Joon stated that he doesn’t lead by choice. Instead, he is often put in a position where he is forced to lead as he is usually the hyung (older brother) amongst the rest, or even just due to his role as a lead actor.
After talking about his life as an actor, the questions dug deeper into his personal life. These included asking about the most typical questions we were asked as a child: What do you want to be when you grow up? Unlike common answers from children who want to be doctors and policemen, Seo Joon had in fact dreamt of becoming a Baseball Player! This dream grew out of his pure love for watching and playing the sport. When asked if he still finds the time to play now, he sheepishly replied that his body simply does not allow him to do so anymore. We beg to differ though, look at that body! Everyone knows that in addition to being the nation’s boyfriend, Seo Joon also carries the title for being a fit actor. When asked for the recipe as to how he has managed to maintain his physique, his reply was simple - constant exercise and eating healthily.
After talking about his life as an actor, the questions dug deeper into his personal life. These included asking about the most typical questions we were asked as a child: What do you want to be when you grow up? Unlike common answers from children who want to be doctors and policemen, Seo Joon had in fact dreamt of becoming a Baseball Player! This dream grew out of his pure love for watching and playing the sport. When asked if he still finds the time to play now, he sheepishly replied that his body simply does not allow him to do so anymore. We beg to differ though, look at that body! Everyone knows that in addition to being the nation’s boyfriend, Seo Joon also carries the title for being a fit actor. When asked for the recipe as to how he has managed to maintain his physique, his reply was simple - constant exercise and eating healthily.
Unbeknownst to Park Seo Joon, this ‘healthy’ diet was temporarily threatened as he got to try some of our local favourites - pandan cake and coconut water! Much to our delight, Seo Joon thoroughly enjoyed them, digging in to his slice of cake for more helpings. He shares that he actually loves eating cake, but restrains himself from eating it as part of his ‘eat clean’ regime. Given that he ate quite a few mouthfuls of cake, that day could have been his cheat day!
Much to our surprise though, Seo Joon did not seem to have tried our other Singapore dishes like the all time favourite Chilli Crab. As mentioned earlier, this is Seo Joon’s first time to Singapore but just earlier this year, his good friend and co-star Kang Haneul had also been in Singapore. Many were curious as to whether Haneul had shared with Seo Joon anything to do or try in Singapore. Sadly the answer was a no - Seo Joon explained - as they were both too occupied to have caught up with one another properly in the midst of their busy schedules. Seo Joon looked slightly disappointed as he sighed, complaining about how Haneul had promised to meet up when he was back in Korea but ended up being enlisted in the army instead.
Much to our surprise though, Seo Joon did not seem to have tried our other Singapore dishes like the all time favourite Chilli Crab. As mentioned earlier, this is Seo Joon’s first time to Singapore but just earlier this year, his good friend and co-star Kang Haneul had also been in Singapore. Many were curious as to whether Haneul had shared with Seo Joon anything to do or try in Singapore. Sadly the answer was a no - Seo Joon explained - as they were both too occupied to have caught up with one another properly in the midst of their busy schedules. Seo Joon looked slightly disappointed as he sighed, complaining about how Haneul had promised to meet up when he was back in Korea but ended up being enlisted in the army instead.
To wrap up, Seo Joon was asked what exactly does he think is his unique qualities that has made him the nation’s boyfriend. The humble Seo Joon was stumped at this question, pausing for quite a long while before breaking out into a laugh and saying ‘I don’t know, you can ask my fans.’ Some fans in the front rows of the press conference jumped at this opportunity, yelling out ‘your smile!’, much to the amusement of Seo Joon. He laughed it off, saying that he believes its his honesty in acting that continues to give his characters such a special quality.
As a farewell note, Seo Joon stated that he had not yet confirmed the projects that he will be involved in come 2018. However, he did promise to do his utmost in finding good projects that will show more of his capabilities in 2018 and in the future as well.
We can’t wait to see more of Park Seo Joon on screen and hope to see him back in Singapore soon!
As a farewell note, Seo Joon stated that he had not yet confirmed the projects that he will be involved in come 2018. However, he did promise to do his utmost in finding good projects that will show more of his capabilities in 2018 and in the future as well.
We can’t wait to see more of Park Seo Joon on screen and hope to see him back in Singapore soon!
Fanmeet
Guess Who’s in town? Park Seo Joon visited Singapore for his fanmeet, “Guess Who”, last Saturday and it was nothing short of fun, a load of fanservice and everything his fans could ever wish for.
The fanmeeting started off with the entrance of the Korean Heartthrob himself, supported by loud screams from the fans that filled the Resorts World Theatre donning lightsticks, headbands and even signboards that showed their overflowing love for the actor. Park Seo Joon looked extremely handsome, suiting his image of “The Nation’s Boyfriend”, as he wore a dark gray suit with a black turtleneck underneath.
After greeting the fans, the stage was set up such that he was sitting underneath a lamppost, on a makeshift bed, while he answered questions from the host. It was a very comfortable setting, which made the fans feel closer to him. Props to the staging crew for the idea of props surrounding him as he talked, unlike normal fanmeetings where the artist just sat on chairs.
The fanmeeting started off with the entrance of the Korean Heartthrob himself, supported by loud screams from the fans that filled the Resorts World Theatre donning lightsticks, headbands and even signboards that showed their overflowing love for the actor. Park Seo Joon looked extremely handsome, suiting his image of “The Nation’s Boyfriend”, as he wore a dark gray suit with a black turtleneck underneath.
After greeting the fans, the stage was set up such that he was sitting underneath a lamppost, on a makeshift bed, while he answered questions from the host. It was a very comfortable setting, which made the fans feel closer to him. Props to the staging crew for the idea of props surrounding him as he talked, unlike normal fanmeetings where the artist just sat on chairs.
Seo Joon mentioned that he wanted to reflect on himself and show everyone who Park Seo Joon is as himself and as an actor, and also that Singaporean fans are very lively and very good at expressing their feelings! Photos from his childhood then flashed on the screen as he shared a relatable story of how he used to fight with his brother, but added that he does not do so now as he is sure that he would lose to him, which caused the fans to break out in laughter. On the topic of his family, only his brother was pushed to be a baseball player, as he had more strength as a child. Seo Joon became an actor instead, which all his fans are definitely thankful for. He also has the mentality that “if I work really hard at something, I’ll be able to do it”, which is also the reason behind all his successful works as an actor.
A picture of an adorable white puppy was then flashed on the screen, and he introduced his pet, “Simba”, while smiling at the thought of his beloved pet. He was regretful though, as he wants to bring Simba around even while he has overseas schedules, but he can’t.
As he is known for his good selca (selfie) skills, the host asked him what was his secret to taking flawless selcas, to which he humbly replied that he takes many photos and chooses the best one. This prompted the fans to say “ayyyy, don’t lie”, and he broke out in laughter. He then took several selfies, that several lucky fans would then win later on in the fanmeet.
A picture of an adorable white puppy was then flashed on the screen, and he introduced his pet, “Simba”, while smiling at the thought of his beloved pet. He was regretful though, as he wants to bring Simba around even while he has overseas schedules, but he can’t.
As he is known for his good selca (selfie) skills, the host asked him what was his secret to taking flawless selcas, to which he humbly replied that he takes many photos and chooses the best one. This prompted the fans to say “ayyyy, don’t lie”, and he broke out in laughter. He then took several selfies, that several lucky fans would then win later on in the fanmeet.
The set changed once again, to a flight of stairs as his new seat, and pictures of him in a police outfit was shown on the screen. When asked to rate himself out of 100 in that outfit, he wittily replied “500”. Pictures from his days at National Service were also revealed. This gave the chance for the host to teach him one of Singapore’s popular slangs relating to National Service, “Botak”, which means having a shaved head. Seo Joon mentioned that he really learnt a lot from his character in "Ssam My Way" and that they were similar based on how they both try to think positively.
They eventually came to the topic of his abs, and one of the behind the scenes story was that he worked on the fight scene for 13 hours, and as he had to stay half naked throughout, his muscles became less obvious over time. This led to him doing situps and pushups during the free time in between filming as he felt like there were a lot of people watching him. It was not an easy journey to obtain abs, as he had to sacrifice a lot, like eating chicken breasts while his coworkers went to drink after the shoot. However, when asked about the current status of his abs, he laughed and said that they are melting. After more questions from the host, Park Seo Joon then went backstage to prepare for the next segment. A VCR was then played, with video recordings of his close friends answering questions about him, and these people included SHINee’s Minho, Lee Kwang Soo and even Hyorin from Sistar!
They eventually came to the topic of his abs, and one of the behind the scenes story was that he worked on the fight scene for 13 hours, and as he had to stay half naked throughout, his muscles became less obvious over time. This led to him doing situps and pushups during the free time in between filming as he felt like there were a lot of people watching him. It was not an easy journey to obtain abs, as he had to sacrifice a lot, like eating chicken breasts while his coworkers went to drink after the shoot. However, when asked about the current status of his abs, he laughed and said that they are melting. After more questions from the host, Park Seo Joon then went backstage to prepare for the next segment. A VCR was then played, with video recordings of his close friends answering questions about him, and these people included SHINee’s Minho, Lee Kwang Soo and even Hyorin from Sistar!
He returned wearing a green sweater over a white, collared top, that made him look all the more like the typical guy next door. 2 lucky fans were picked to go on stage and play ‘Archery’ with him. Their goal was to shoot down a stuffed toy so that Park Seo Joon himself had to carry out the “forfeit” that was within the toy. These included hugging the fans, guiding them down the stage while interlocking hands, and even aegyo (acting cute). Needless to say, the lucky fans probably had the moment of a lifetime as they got to experience multiple fanservice from him. He was extremely generous with his interactions with the fans, even to the extent of taking selfies with them and video recordings, although he was not obliged to do so, which was very endearing.
The next segment involved 2 more lucky fans, that had the chance to taste Spaghetti made personally and on the spot by Park Seo Joon himself! Due to the uncooperative stove, many fans got to ask him questions while he was cooking, and some of these questions were extremely witty. One fan asked him “What is that on your face”. “What?” “Handsomeness”. To which he replied, “Ah, I forgot to take it off today…”. Indeed, like artist like fan? Another Fan asked him what was his ideal type, and when his response was “Someone that loves me”, she immediately replied with “Saranghaeyo (I love you)”.
There were also many men that were seemingly made to attend the fanmeet with their wives/girlfriends/daughters, and the thoughtful actor even said that he would make sure that his future dramas and fanmeet would also cater to their interests so that everyone can enjoy it together.
The next segment involved 2 more lucky fans, that had the chance to taste Spaghetti made personally and on the spot by Park Seo Joon himself! Due to the uncooperative stove, many fans got to ask him questions while he was cooking, and some of these questions were extremely witty. One fan asked him “What is that on your face”. “What?” “Handsomeness”. To which he replied, “Ah, I forgot to take it off today…”. Indeed, like artist like fan? Another Fan asked him what was his ideal type, and when his response was “Someone that loves me”, she immediately replied with “Saranghaeyo (I love you)”.
There were also many men that were seemingly made to attend the fanmeet with their wives/girlfriends/daughters, and the thoughtful actor even said that he would make sure that his future dramas and fanmeet would also cater to their interests so that everyone can enjoy it together.
6 more lucky fans then got to go up on stage to receive the selfies that he took previously, which he signed and handed to them individually. These fans also got the chance to take a selfie and video recording with him, although he jokingly declined by saying “no”, but ended up still taking the video anyway.
The fanmeet seemed to have ended, but after loud chants of “Encore”, the actor resumed his position on stage for the last time, serenading the fans with 2 songs, which brought the fanmeeting to a close. All fans then had a hi-touch session with him, before other selected fans had their turn in having a meet and greet session and group phototaking with him.
Park Seo Joon promised to return soon and we too hope to see him on our Sunny Island once again!
We would like to extend our thanks to UnUsUal Entertainment for the opportunity to cover this event!
Writers
Press Conference: Amanda
Fanmeet: KaiLin
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The fanmeet seemed to have ended, but after loud chants of “Encore”, the actor resumed his position on stage for the last time, serenading the fans with 2 songs, which brought the fanmeeting to a close. All fans then had a hi-touch session with him, before other selected fans had their turn in having a meet and greet session and group phototaking with him.
Park Seo Joon promised to return soon and we too hope to see him on our Sunny Island once again!
We would like to extend our thanks to UnUsUal Entertainment for the opportunity to cover this event!
Writers
Press Conference: Amanda
Fanmeet: KaiLin
Follow us for more updates and picture releases!
