
From 'Produce 101' viral wink to '10 million actor' — Park Ji-hoon’s stunning rise
Once known for a viral wink and the catchphrase “Save you in my heart,” Park Ji-hoon is now on the verge of joining Korea’s elite “10 million actor” club. The historical drama film “The King’s Warden” has surpassed 9 million moviegoers as of March 2, putting it within striking distance of the coveted 10 million mark — a benchmark in the Korean film industry that signals blockbuster status. The film surpassed 8 million admissions on March 1 and added another 1 million in just one day, signaling strong word-of-mouth momentum and what local observers describe as an unstoppable “Wangsanam” syndrome — a shorthand nickname for the film’s Korean title. With the surge, lead actors including Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon and Yoo Ji-tae are poised to add a “10 million film” credit to their filmographies. Park, who plays King Danjong in the film, has drawn particular attention. Riding the movie’s success, his earlier starring drama “Weak Hero” has seen renewed popularity on Netflix, climbing streaming rankings in a so-called reverse run — a term used in Korea when