The 'Gyeongseong Creature' star Park Seo-joon discusses work pressures, the challenges of being called a 'top star' and highlights workweek policies in Korea.
South Korean star Park Seo-joon is currently busy promoting his upcoming Netflix series, 'Gyeongseong Creature,' which is set to release on December 22. He recently spoke up about the show and the difficulties he faces while handling work pressure, as he appeared in an episode of Na Yeong-seok‘s YouTube channel, Fullmoon.
On December 12, Park Seo-joon shed light on the heavy burden of carrying the term 'top star.' He said that he feels extremely grateful to his fans, and that it is their unconditional love and support that push him to work harder and give his best.
The 'Parasite' actor highlighted the challenges stemming from the 52-hour workweek policy in South Korea. He stressed that under this schedule, it often takes a year to finish a project, citing his own two-year experience and commitment to filming 'Gyeongseong Creature.' He said, "Recently, with the introduction of the 52-hour workweek system, it takes almost a year for one project. So, rejecting is something I have to do, but the process is very difficult."
Based on that, he stated that he would rather decline the offer promptly rather than keep scripts for weeks without replying, which he deems is impolite to the production team. He said, "These days, rejecting proposed projects is the most difficult. I’m very thankful for the offers for great productions, but I’d rather audition [than go through this]." He further added, "But I learned something. Rejection must be done quickly. Holding onto the script for two to three weeks is not a courtesy to the producers."
Expressing gratitude for the opportunities that are put before him, he shared the difficulty in turning down projects due to the constraints of the workweek policy.
'Gyeongseong Creature' stars Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee in the lead roles as a wealthy owner of a pawn shop and a a specialist in finding missing people, respectively. Set in 1945 during Japan's colonial rule over Korea, the story revolves around two individuals encountering monsters born from human greed.
Park Seo-joon is one of the most successful actors in South Korea, and has done a diverse range of projects. His cameo in 'The Marvels' and lead role in 'Concrete Utopia' have put him on headlines now more than ever. His popularity extends beyond K-dramas, evident in his appearances on Korean variety shows like 'Jinny’s Kitchen' and 'Youn’s Stay,' showcasing his versatile talents.