Jaehwa Bernardo

Park Ji-hoon in a scene from 'Weak Hero Class 2.' Photo courtesy of Netflix

Article (news)

For Park Ji-hoon, bromance, character growth drive appeal of ‘Weak Hero’

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745818365054Weak Hero Class 2_FirstLook_1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Park Ji-hoon in a scene from &#x27;Weak Hero Class 2.&#x27; <em>Photos courtesy of Netflix</em></span></span></span></div><p>In the months leading up to the premiere of “Weak Hero Class 2” on Netflix, the streaming giant also made the first season available on its platform, where it reportedly climbed into the top 10 of TV charts in several countries.</p><p>The warm global reception came three years after the series originally debuted on South Korean streaming service Wavve, highlighting the enduring appeal of the coming-of-age action drama.</p><p>Lead actor Park Ji-hoon credits the show’s appeal to the deep friendship shared by the young male characters, as well as their personal growth throughout the series.</p><div><strong></strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sPPQnK_GPsM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>“I think the reason why a lot of people resonated and loved the show is because it really talks about boys’ friendship,”  Ji-hoon told ABS-CBN News during a recent roundtable interview.</p><p>“I don’t know if this is the right way to put it, but maybe a little bit of bromance as well, because their friendship goes so deep that it almost looks like love from another point of view,” he said.</p><p>“You can [also] see the personal growth that they go through. It’s like a coming-of-age story as well. And all the different characters have their own charms, and the dynamics between the characters, they all work together to create this great show,” he added.</p><p>The eight-part “Weak Hero Class 2,” which premiered on Netflix on April 25, follows protagonist Yeon Si-eun (Ji-hoon) still reeling from the trauma of the events from the previous season.</p><p>Si-eun transfers to a new school, where he meets new friends—played by Ryeoun (from “18 Again” and “Twinkling Watermelon”), Choi Min-yeong (“XO, Kitty”) and Lee Min-jae (“Crash Course in Romance”)—who help him begin to heal from his emotional scars. But he also encounters fresh enemies that spark a new wave of intense confrontations.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745818399855WHclass_Unit_205_240309-089.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">(From left to right) Lee Min-jae, Ryeoun and Choi Min-yeong play Ji-hoon&#x27;s new group of friends in &#x27;Weak Hero Class 2&#x27; (with Ji-hoon pictured far right)</span></span></span></div><p>“Class 2 sees Si-eun in a time when he really desperately needs friends because he’s very traumatized. So he meets these friends who have the power to change him, just like [Choi Hyun-wook’s character] Su-ho did in Class 1,” Ji-hoon said when asked about the dynamic of his character’s new friend group.</p><p>“Not just physically speaking, but emotionally, they learn from each other so they share this dynamic where they can help each other out, learn from each other, and they all have these different, unique personalities that kind of compensate for one another,” he said.</p><p>It didn’t take much for the four stars to build their onscreen chemistry, as it naturally came as they immersed themselves in filming.</p><p>“We just had so much fun on set together. Between us and the staff members and the director, we grew very close. And because we were pouring our hearts and souls into the production together, we just naturally formed that bond,” said Ji-hoon.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745818628373WHclass_Unit_203_240111-00105.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ji-hoon and Min-yeong</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745818648036WHclass_Unit_206_240301_0026.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ryeoun and Min-jae</span></span></span></div><p>Ryeoun shared that the cast had grown so close that Min-yeong even visited them on set during a shoot outside of Seoul despite not being part of the scene being filmed.</p><p>“The three (with Ji-hoon and Min-jae) of us had a scene in Daejeon, which is a city about two hours from Seoul. Min-yeong wasn’t in the scene but he came all the way to Daejeon to cheer us on and root for us,” recalled Ryeoun, who plays Park Hu-min, the student who helps maintain order at the school Si-eun transfers to.</p><p>“That was a very touching moment,” he added.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1745818592273WHclass_Unit_204_240120-00023.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ji-hoon&#x27;s character, Si-eun, brawls with Seong-je, played by actor Lee Jun-young</span></span></span></div><p>Min-jae, a self-proclaimed fan of the first season, said he hoped viewers would remember the second season for its character chemistry and find themselves reflecting on their own youth through the story.</p><p>“I hope people would remember the chemistry of the four of us,” he said. “Whenever something comes their way, they’d bond and fight against it together. So I hope people will keep remembering what kind of friendship we shared.”</p><div><em>Check out some of the answers from the interview with the cast of “Weak Hero Class 2” in the video above.</em></div>

<p>'Weak Hero' lead star Park Ji-hoon credits the show's appeal to the deep friendship shared by the young male characters, as well as their personal growth throughout the series.</p>

'Weak Hero' lead star Park Ji-hoon credits the show's appeal to the deep friendship shared by the young male characters, as well as their personal growth throughout the series.