Self-professed military buff actor Park Ji-hoon finally gets to wear a real uniform in his next project — and his reaction is already drawing buzz.
On the 28th, the TVING original series Chwisabyeong Jeonseori Doeda (hereafter 'Chwisabyeong') dropped brand-new stills of Park Ji-hoon fully transformed into an army cook.
'Chwisabyeong' is a military cook-show fantasy K-drama that follows Private Kang Seong-jae, who trades a rifle for a chef’s knife and a bandolier for an apron, as he rises to become a 'legendary cook soldier.'
"I’ve always wanted to try on a uniform for a role, and I was eager for a new challenge, so I chose this project," Park said. He added, "Kang Seong-jae is fascinating because he carves out his own place while adapting to an unfamiliar environment. I was drawn to how he earns trust across the base with surprising cooking skills and builds tight bonds with his fellow soldiers."
To nail the unique role of a military cook, Park dove into practice before filming and leveled up to some serious knife skills. He also shared the challenges of selling the fantasy elements on screen. "There’s a fictional being called the 'Guardian' that delivers quests in the story. I worked hard on eye-lines and facial expressions by imagining it right in front of me," he said, teasing immersive fantasy acting.
Riding the box office success of his previous film Wang-gwa Saneun Namja, which earned him the nickname 'Danjong Oppa' from the public, Park said he now hopes to be called 'Kkang Seong-jae' through this series. "It just sounds cute, and every time people called me that on set, it made me really happy," he explained.
After the stills dropped, netizens raved, leaving comments like "His face tells a whole story and pulls you right in," "The buzz-cut is adorable," and "Our Kang Seong-jae, fighting!"
Meanwhile, Chwisabyeong Jeonseori Doeda premieres on May 11 at 8:50 p.m. KST on TVING and tvN.