On February 6, 2022, Actor Park Ji-hu, who played the role of “Nam On-jo” in the Netflix original series All of Us Are Dead, surprised over 2,454 Hanyangians by writing a post as a Hanyang University (HYU) student on the online community, Everytime. This was a week after the “K-Zombie” drama ranked as the No.1 TV show within 24-hours of its release. Park Ji-hu, who had back then recently become a HYU freshman in the Department of Theater and Film, had responded to posts saying, “I know you are watching, On-jo.” Not only humorous and pleasant in character, but she is also loved very much as a sincere actor, playing other roles like “Kim Eun-hee” in the award-winning film House of Hummingbird and “Eun-young” in Black Light. Looking forward to her future work, the Hanyang Journal met Park Ji-hu, a passionate actor and baby lion.
This interview took place with the help of the Virtual Mate IC-PBL Lab, at the HYU Sports Science Convergence Center.
#Actor Park Ji-hu
Q. How did you become interested in acting?
A. When I was in sixth grade, I was suggested to study acting at an academy in Daegu, which is where I am from. As my dream was to be a broadcaster at that time, I thought it was a good opportunity to get familar with the camera. I was also very outgoing, so my family told me that I should experience it if I wanted to, and so I did. Then in my second year of middle school, I filmed a work called House of Hummingbird, and it was so much fun to do scenes and meet new people. When the film was released in 2018, I found that I could meet the audience and share sincere stories with people I met for the first time, which is a charm of acting that I could not help but fall into. By then, acting was what I enjoyed the most, so I decided that acting should be my career path.
Q. On your Instagram account, the “story highlights” are filled with the names of the characters you have played so far, showing your fondness for each of them. Which character is most memorable among the various characters that you have played?
A. Honestly, I really like them all as I played each of them with affection. But if I have to pick one, I think it is “Eun-hee” from House of Hummingbird. It is through her that I felt many things and became interested in acting. I will think of her even after a long time, and she will always be present somewhere in my heart. That is why I always say that “Eun-hee” is like my first love.
Q. In All of Us Are Dead, the lively character of “On-jo” was impressive and easy to empathize with. When acting as such characters, what is your philosophy or commitment as an actor?
A. Whenever I act, whether it is a character, a situation, or a script, I always try to be sincere and engage wholeheartedly. I feel that there is a difference between just pretending to act and actually becoming that character. Of course, the audience may or may not feel the difference, but it is definitely different for me as an actor. Depending on how much I concentrate, the feelings I get are different, which is why I always try to act by feeling all of those things 100 percent.
Q. Do you have a favorite genre or film?
A. I like to watch all kinds of genres, but I especially love movies like Little Women, Late Autumn, Notting Hill and Comrades: Almost A Love Story. I also like heartbreaking romance films, such as Us and Them, which is a genre that I would love to act some day in the future. As for drama, I enjoyed watching My Mister, The Light in Your Eyes, My Liberation Notes, and Our Blues. I think I get sentimental when I watch these or similar works.
Q. There must be a lot of requests for casting recently. How do you decide on taking a role, or which genres do you want to try?
A. Although I am not in the position to choose, there are great works sent, and I discuss a lot with members of the company before making decisions. As I am a freshman, I want to try genres like college romance or romantic comedy. While All of Us Are Dead had some real-life actions like kicking and falling, I would also like to try more intensive ones after I get better at action.
#Baby Lion, Park Ji-hu
Q. At the beginning of the semester, All of Us Are Dead had just been released. Are there any differences in the campus life or the reactions of students between now and back then?
A. Back then, at the beginning of the semester, I was not very close to my colleagues, but since we are in the Department of Theater and Film, we stayed up all night together to work and had opportunities to talk. At first, they said they were nervous that I might be taking the same classes as them. But now, they say that whenever their friends ask for my autograph, it feels cool. Also, they used to say that it was fascinating to see me on the screen, but now they say it feels as if the screen version of me is slightly fake. Because of my screen-self, they often say to me that they feel a sense of closeness with me. Now we are very close friends.
Q. How has your campus life at HYU been so far?
A. I am fully satisfied. There is a lot of teamwork required in the Department of Theater and Film, which I am enjoying very much. I am participating in a workshop right now, as part of the planning crew. It feels like I have become a true university student, so I am proud and learning a lot. Although, with a lot of hills here, my knees sometimes hurt getting to the Olympic Gymnasium. Other than that, I think everything is okay.
Q. What is the most interesting class that you are taking this semester?
A. They are all good, and most of them are hands-on courses. There is one class called "Directing Lab for Actors and Directors,” which I am particularly enjoying. Even though I know the behind-the-scenes of drama and movie taking, I have been able to learn about theater terms and theatrical components, which I did not know at all. Recently, we had to study each page of a play carefully in order to direct it on our own, to prepare for the final presentation. It was so much fun to think about how these messages can be delivered to the audience, not just as an actor, but also as a director. It is the first class on Wednesdays, and after taking the class I always feel full of knowledge.
Q. If you could recommend HYU’s most delicious food, what and/or where would it be?
A. Rather than eating school meals, I often ordered delivery food. I did try lunch at the Hanyang Plaza and ate a tuna-kimchi rice bowl. It was quite good. I have heard that the school meals at the College of Natural Sciences are also good, so I want to try them.
Q. As part of the planning crew for Dear Romance, how did you contribute to the play?
A. First of all, I helped out with the crew chief in diverse ways, including drawing up the budget and making a poster. We also created mood boards. Most importantly, we handed out tickets and guided the audience. I decorated the ticket booth to match the mood of the play, all of which were extremely enjoyable.
Q. Please tell us how you felt while participating in the theater project.
A. I think it would have been better if I could just focus on the preparation. I was filming another drama at the same time, so I had to go back and forth. But even if I could only experience parts of it, I still learned a lot. Through the experience, I realized why people work so hard at workshops. Next time, if possible, I hope to be in a position where I have more responsibility. I still have a lot to learn, such as how to write pamphlets and post reservations on Naver. Because I am still not quite good at those things, I want to take part in more active tasks; I did quite a lot of needlework, and I found it very enjoyable! So I want to try it again next time.
Q. What else are you looking forward to trying or experiencing at HYU in the future?
A. I am excited about everything that I will eventually go through at HYU. It is the festival soon, and from Lee Doo-na!, a webtoon that is set on HYU’s Seoul Campus, I have always seen the drawings of the festival held here. I am excited that I can witness it all myself. I also heard that the Department of Theater and Film has semester opening parties. There are rumors that a sports competition and barbecue will take place, which is one of the things that I would like to try. There are many things to learn from workshops as well, so I hope to try directing when I have more time.
#Baby Angel, Park Ji-hu
Q. What is your MBTI? Do you think it fits your personality well?
A. The last time I took the test, it was ESFJ. But I think I am a selective extrovert. When I meet people for the first time, I become a complete introvert. I return to my “E” self when I become closer friends with them. I am sure of “J,” though, because I have to plan everything, from what to eat to where to move to. In my opinion, I am an “F.” But my friends sometimes disagree, so perhaps I should take the MBTI test again.
Q. How do you like to spend your free time?
A. When I am home alone, I like to lie down and watch all the dramas and movies on Netflix. Sometimes I just listen to music and write a diary. But when I am with my friends at school, I always play random games. Recently, my dear colleagues let me play “tag” with them, which was very touching. I think I like games like tag where everyone can participate. I am filming the drama Little Women, and because the character I am playing loves art, I started learning to paint. I am not that good at it, but the oil paintings are so impressive that I want to keep it as a hobby.
Q. If your life was a movie, what would be the ideal background music?
A. I think I would like to have a carol as my background music. If you hear carols on the street, even if it is not the Christmas season, it reminds you of the mood of the holiday. Similarly, when I look back on my life later and “replay” it, I hope it is filled with merriness, which has been the case so far. This is really one-dimensional, but I think Life Is Good by Jessi will also be good. Or there is a song called 1:05 by The Black Skirts, a song that has a very pretty mood and lyrics. I think it would be good if I could express my life with this song.
Q. What are your future goals?
A. In the long term, my goal is for people to recall various representative works when they think of the actor “Park Ji-hu.” Something I should not forget is that I started acting because I enjoy it. I hope that I always feel excited when filming and acting.
Q. Are there any last words for the readers of the Hanyang Journal and the fellow students of HYU?
A. Through this interview, I found out about the Hanyang Journal, and thought that I should read it often. I am both glad and proud that I came to HYU and the Department of Theater and Film, which is probably because so many students and professors help and support me. I will continue to do my best in school and in my acting, so I hope you continue to watch me with expectation! Thank you.