Dominating both K-dramas and film, rising stars Park Jihoon and Byeon Woo-seok are back in the spotlight as a past project suddenly explodes in popularity again.
The series in question is JTBC’s Monday–Tuesday drama from 2019, about seven years ago: Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (hereafter 'Flower Crew'). The show follows Joseon’s top matchmakers, the 'Flower Crew', who hatch a daring scheme to transform the king’s first love—Gaettong, a woman born a commoner—into the most esteemed lady in Joseon.
In the drama, Park Jihoon plays Go Young-soo, a charming yet slightly clumsy heartthrob. As his first acting project after Wanna One’s disbandment, expectations and doubts ran high—but he quickly won viewers over with his signature appeal, earning the nickname 'flower noble'.
The real shocker came late in the series with a past-life twist. Behind Go Young-soo’s pristine looks, his backstory revealed him as 'Chilnom-i', a notorious executioner and wanted man with a bounty on his head. Park delivered a nuanced performance that captured a character living in constant fear, proving his acting range.
Solidifying his status as an adult lead through this project, Park Jihoon has since expanded his spectrum with Weak Hero Class 1, Season 2, and Love Song for Illusion. Most recently, he proved his value yet again in the record-breaking film The King’s Warden.
In the movie, he portrays Danjong Lee Hongwi, delivering an intense, layered performance that communicates volumes with just his eyes. His chemistry with Yoo Hae-jin, who plays Eom Heung-do, left a deep impression on audiences. As of the 25th, the film became only the third Korean movie ever to surpass 15 million admissions, continuing its box-office storm.
Up next, Park is set to spark another frenzy with the TVING original The Legendary Cook (hereafter 'The Legendary Cook'). He plays Kang Sung-jae, a young man from a poor background who enlists to escape reality—only to encounter a mysterious 'quest' system that turns military life upside down.
The trailer shows him wielding a kitchen knife and donning an apron, leaving a strong impression. Despite having no real military experience, his natural presence has amped up anticipation. The original creator even lavished praise on his casting, further boosting buzz. With a fresh premise that breaks the mold of typical military dramas, 'The Legendary Cook' is slated to premiere in May.
Byeon Woo-seok also made his mark in 'Flower Crew' as Do-joon, a free-spirited scholar who works as a male matchmaker. With his towering height and striking visuals, he pulled off traditional hanbok silhouettes flawlessly and practiced the biwa diligently for his performance scenes, perfecting the character.
He went on to build his filmography with Record of Youth and Strong Girl Nam-soon, then cemented his status as a breakout star by igniting a nationwide 'Seon-jae fever' through Lovely Runner. His on-screen chemistry with co-star Kim Hye-yoon was so strong that fans dubbed them the 'SolSeon couple'.
Riding that momentum, Byeon will return to the small screen after about two years with MBC’s new Friday–Saturday drama Perfect Crown. The series tells a status-defying romance between a chaebol heiress of commoner status and a royal prince who seemingly can’t have anything. Byeon plays Grand Prince Ian, a man fated never to be king, hinting at another career-defining role. The drama premieres April 10.
Back when 'Flower Crew' first aired, the two stars weren’t the viral sensations they are today. But steady work and growth have reignited interest in their earlier projects—now trending all over again. Expectations are sky-high for what they will do next.