K-pop stars come and go, with only a handful staying on the scene in the long run. Park Yu-chun, also known as Micky Yoochun, is among the rare few who emerged almost a decade ago and still causes traffic jams every time an appearance is announced.
The 26-year-old member of JYJ has made it in both the K-pop and K-drama markets and proved he is still among the hottest stars with the success of the recent SBS drama “Rooftop Prince.” He won his second straight Most Popular Actor in a TV Drama award at the 48th Baeksang Arts Awards earlier this year.
In the hit drama, Park plays a crown prince of the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Gak, who travels into the future to modern-day Seoul where he falls in love with Park Ha (Han Ji-min). Prince Lee, the only character who speaks in the Joseon-era style, is lost in and overwhelmed by the contemporary capital, yet his love for Park Ha is unwavering. The JYJ star said acting in such a farfetched storyline was a challenge, but nonfictional aspects made the task a bit easier.
“While acting in this drama I was able to grasp how much Lee Hee-myung, the writer of the show, misses his wife after their split six years ago,” Park said. “This made it easier to comprehend the character and act more naturally.
“I felt really sorry and sad for Park Ha when I had to leave her behind to go back to the Joseon Dynasty. The story itself was more genuine and affectionate than modern-day love stories.”
The actor said that “Rooftop Prince” has a special place in his heart as well, as his father passed away in March while it was in production. If he ever gets an opportunity to travel in time, Park said he would go back to when he lived in America with his father.
Due to financial difficulties, Park and his family left for the United States when he was in sixth grade, where he helped his father work construction jobs.
“It was a tiring job,” Park said. “I looked for ways to get away from it at the time. But looking back, I think it was one of the good memories I have had with my father. If I knew it then, I could have made it a better memory for him too.”
He moved back to Seoul and joined SM Entertainment, the agency that backed his debut with TVXQ in 2003. It was with this K-pop group that Park rose to fame, touring across Asia and releasing single after single in Korea and Japan.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. In 2009, Park, Kim Jun-su and Kim Jae-joong of TVXQ filed lawsuits against SM Entertainment over contract disputes. The three split and formed their own band, JYJ.
Despite the drama surrounding his nine-year singing career, or perhaps because of it, Park’s fans have remained devoted and the star is still one of the most talked about idols in Korea.
His foray into television started with the KBS2 drama “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” in 2010 and then followed up with MBC’s “Miss Ripley” in 2011. His starring in “Rooftop Prince” led to its phenomenal viewer ratings – the highest among all competing dramas.
“I try to forget about the pressure of acting well,” Park said. “I did not have to force myself to cry in ‘Rooftop Prince.’ Putting myself in the character’s situation naturally made me cry. I have a scratch on my face that I try to cover up with makeup when I act. But I quit doing that. Nothing should be hidden.”
Source: koreajoongangdaily
Shared By: JYJ3
Reblogged this on jinyjs.
“I have a scratch on my face that I try to cover up with makeup when I act. But I quit doing that. Nothing should be hidden”
Totally agree Chun. I actually love that scar on your face it make you look really handsome despite the imperfection~
his pimple scar is sexy~^^
The imperfection actually makes him real and unpretentious.
Reblogged this on dreamalexia.
I really admire him and so nice to hear that those bad memories he had when he was living in the states, have turn into good ones because of his dad. Yoochun is hot and imperfections in my eyes are not seen!
Our one-in-a-million Chunnie. Bravo, dear. No pinnacle of success will be higher than you deserve.
i love yoochunnie, i admire you very! but please must take care of yourself seriously! love love you!
“I have a scratch on my face that I try to cover up with makeup when I act. But I quit doing that. Nothing should be hidden.”
I truly love this aspect of Yuchun, this makes me love him more 1,000,000 times
so true! I know jyj/tvxq because of lee sun joon/park yoochun..=P
me too
same same…. >.<
Despite the drama surrounding his nine-year singing career, or perhaps because of it, Park’s fans have remained devoted and the star is still one of the most talked about idols in Korea.
jyj fans fighting~! :’)
Dear one, the marks on your face simply add character.
Oh, by the way, that construction work with your dad; I’m sure it was meaningful, but there must have been some child labor laws that were being violated. Since this was in the South, I’m not surprised.
@BAF sis I was thinking about child labor law too
is Virginia in the South?
Another excellent interview! Revealed more things about Chun’s past that I never knew…
Stay strong, Chun… it’s your past that made you who you are now!
Oh…. and about RTP as well! Didn’t know Writer Lee wrote the drama with his separated wife in mind…
Chun.. U are perfect in your imperfections! *thumbs up*