At the age of 32, Park Seo-joon can be listed as one of the most accomplished South Korean actors to grace our television and movie screens.
Born Park Yong-kyu on December 16, 1988, in Seoul, South Korea, he began his career in 2011 by appearing in the music video of Bang Yong-guk's single 'I Remember.' He later appeared in other television dramas such as 'Dream High 2' and 'Pots of Gold' and hosted the popular music show 'Music Bank' from 2013 until 2015.
He gained popularity in 2015 with the drama 'She Was Pretty' alongside Super Junior member Siwon Choi. The same year he was featured in his first thriller film, 'The Chronicles of Evil.'
From then on, Park Seo-joon's rise to stardom continued to go upward as many fans continue to swoon over the handsome actor. From 'Fight for My Way' to 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim,' many of his projects became major hits not only in Korea but also abroad.
But what is it that makes this Korean oppa appeal to many?
Many fans say that it comes from his many different layers -- from his versatility as an actor to his approachable personality seen on his YouTube vlogs.
It's also worth taking note that Park Seo-joon looks immaculate in all of his clothing, all thanks to his 6'1” frame that he can rock anything from sweatshirts and even a bowler cut (have you seen 'Itaewon Class' yet?).
While we can go on and on about what makes Park Seo-joon the “ultimate oppa,” getting to where he is now is undeniably a long journey for the actor. Let's take a look at how he evolved from a baby to his 32-year-old self in this gallery.
Smiling baby
Baby Seo-joon had already nailed his killer smile way before he made his debut on screen.
Toddler Seo-joon
If Park Seo-joon were ever part of our class, we would've listed him as a class cutie in a heartbeat.
Youth
In one of his interviews, Park Seo-joon said he was timid during his youth to the point that he can't even bring himself to order food at a restaurant.
Teenager Seo-joon
To get out of his comfort zone, Park Seo-joon began joining acting classes in high school. In an interview with T Singapore, he revealed he's thought of little else apart from improving his craft. He believed it was too late for him to go for his dreams but still pursued theater in university.
College / Military Seo-joon
By the time he hit his 20s, Park Seo-joon immediately enlisted to finish two years of South Korea's mandatory military service. This little “sacrifice” to his career proved to be beneficial for Park Seo-joon (and us) because we won't be seeing him leave the limelight any time soon!
Acting debut
In 2011, Seo-joon made his official debut in the world by appearing in Bang Yong-guk's music video “I Remember.” Even though this is his first gig, one could immediately see his potential as an actor at first glance!
Dream High
Great actors all had to start somewhere, and Park Seo-joon is no exception. In 2012, Park Seo-joon starred in 'Dream High 2' alongside idols like GOT7's JB and Jinyoung, and SISTAR's Hyolyn.
Awards
Following his small roles, he also acted in different dramas, including 'One Warm World', where he was nominated as “Best New Actor” at the 50th Baeksang Awards. He also scooped up more awards in the following years for his acting gigs in 'Kill Me, Heal Me' and 'She Was Pretty.'
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
In 2016, Park Seo-joon starred in the historical drama 'Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth' alongside Go A-ra, Park Hyung-sik, and Kim Taehyung. The actors were able to form a close bond together that even up to this day, Seo-joon, Hyung-sik, and V remain good friends.
Fight for My Way
The year 2017 was a great turning point for Park Seo-joon as he starred in the youth romance drama series 'Fight for My Way' alongside Kim Ji-won. The series was a major hit in Korea and still loved up to this day.
Midnight Runners
Another big accolade for Park Seo-joon is his first big-screen leading role in 'Midnight Runners' in 2017, where he won the Best New Actor Award in the Grand Bell Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim
The following year, he was dubbed as the “master of the romantic comedy” by the Korean Press after appearing in the romantic comedy-drama series 'What's Wrong with Secretary Kim.'
The Divine Fury and Parasite
Park Seo-joon celebrated his 30s by appearing in pivotal roles in different South Korean films like 'The Divine Fury' and 'Parasite.' Also, can we mention abs?
Itaewon Class
Early this year, Park Seo-joon graced us with the character Park Sae-royi in the JTBC series 'Itaewon Class.' The drama was such a success and was praised for its interesting story development and colorful performances.
Dream
In the coming year, Park Seo-joon is slated to appear in the movie 'Dream' alongside singer-actress IU.
Park Seo-joon
As the years go by, Park Seo-joon only continues to become more handsome and talented. We wonder, what else could be up to his sleeve in the coming years ahead?
