Good Boy: Park Bo Gum says he'd ‘love to do an Indian musical', talks Muhammad Ali as he gears to pack a punch in upcoming K-drama

Indian Express

29-05-2025

Park Bo Gum is on a winning streak after his portrayal of the resilient Gwan Sik in the Netflix' hit When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring alongside IU. The actor is now gearing up to pack a punch in Good Boy. He takes to the boxing ring as Yoon Dong Ju, a former gold medalist boxing champion. However, Dong Ju's days of glory are behind him. How does he salvage his one-time 'good boy' reputation. He enters the police special task force through a special recruitment programme with fellow athletes Kim So Hyun and Lee Sang Yi.
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Talking to the Indian Express as part of global media interaction, the actor said when it came to choosing his projects, he had a fairly simple approach. 'When I look for potential projects, the first thing I ask myself is, is this a good, entertaining story? And the second one is: does it make me think? And also, I like to think whether this is something that you can watch with your family and discuss,' says Bo Gum.
The action comedy Good Boy follows a group of former national athletes who become police officers. Swapping medals for badges, the one time champs turn into vigilantes in their fight against corruption, injustice and crime. The actor reveals Good Boy was the first project he took on return from his military enlistment in 2023. 'This was a challenge I took on for myself. I had never done an action comedy and crime investigation genre before.'
Also read: Kim So Hyun admits there was 'no escaping' from Park Bo Gum after he didn't let her 'enjoy a meal alone'
The actor recalls Muhammad Ali's famous quote 'Impossible is nothing,' to describe his character. 'Yoon Dong Ju may seem like a simple bulldozer who only uses his fists, but inside, has a strong sense of justice'. Having earned nicknames such as the 'Nation's Little Brother' and 'Nation's Crown Prince', Park Bo Gum eventually transitioned to being known as the 'Nation's Boyfriend'. He first gained attention for his portrayal of the Baduk champion Choi Taek in Reply 1988, almost a decade ago. This was followed by several noteworthy performances in Love In the Moonlight (2016), The Encounter (2018) and Record of Youth 2020. When asked to detail a glorious moment in his 15 year career, he earnestly responds, 'Anytime someone remembers a character that I played in a project, I feel I have achieved something'.
The Korean Film Council described Bo Gum as an actor whose innocent masculinity was rarely seen in Korean cinema. Known for his portrayal of men who showcase a strength of character, and embrace their vulnerability on screen, Bo Gum acknowledges it comes from a place of empathy. 'I feel I relate well to people, maybe that's the reason I can display a full range of emotions. When I am going through a script, the first thing for me is to understand if I relate to the character I am playing. I gravitate towards stories and roles that can be conversation starters .'
As Korean content continues to be a global phenomenon across streaming platforms, Park Bo Gum who has been a prominent face of the Korean wave says , 'In the past, the subject matters that were dealt with in K dramas were not as diverse as we see today. Thanks to streaming services and different outlets, we now have a plethora of K dramas that explore different subjects, as well as genres and themes. In Good Boy too, the storylines of the many characters are relatable. Our music composer has incorporated new genres into the narrative, to give you a wholesome experience.'
The multi-hyphenate Park Bo Gum is also a singer and musician and one of the cultural ambassadors of South Korea. Known for his love to explore diverse cultures, the actor says he would love to be part of an Indian musical. 'If opportunity allows, I would love to visit India for a production, or maybe do a musical, within India. If that happens, I would love to join the cast alongside my co-star Sang Yi from Good Boy, that would make me happy.'
Good Boy's cast includes actors Kim So Hyun( My Lovely Liar),Lee Sang Yi(Spice Up Your Love) ,Heo Sung Tae( Hunt) and Tae Won Seok( Bloodhounds). The show premieres on May 31st Prime Video.