Actor Park Jinyoung reignited long-buried memories of a first love, delivering a heartfelt performance that immediately tugged at viewers’ emotions.
On the March 6 premiere of The Shining, Park Jinyoung played Taeseo, a man searching for his own path, and delivered a grounded, sincere portrayal. He delicately traced the emotions of reuniting with a first love after years apart.
In the story, Taeseo and Euna (played by Kim Minju) are each other’s greatest comfort. But as they pursue their own goals, the two slowly drift apart. When Euna suddenly tells him, “I want to spend time entirely for myself,” Taeseo quietly accepts the breakup — a fateful, divergent choice that left viewers with a lingering sense of regret.
Ten years later, now in his 30s, Taeseo starts a new life as a subway train operator. Along the way, he discovers the value of a calm, day‑to‑day life, gives up the path of becoming a big‑company developer, and chooses the life he truly wants — a choice that resonates deeply. One day after work, a notification from the music streaming app account he once shared with Euna brings her back to mind, and the two ultimately meet again at a subway station.
Park Jinyoung captures Taeseo’s complex inner world and the passage of time with nuanced acting. Even after the breakup, Taeseo’s quiet perseverance drew strong empathy. His journey to abandon the “safe” route and pursue a life he genuinely desires moved many. In particular, the simple line “It’s been a while” condensed a decade of emotions into a single moment, striking a chord with viewers. Anticipation is building for Park Jinyoung as he continues to deepen the character’s narrative.
Meanwhile, The Shining airs two back‑to‑back episodes every Friday at 8:50 p.m. on JTBC.