Park Seo-Joon is one of the newest actors reportedly added to the MCU in The Marvels. While being a large actor in South Korea, viewers in the States may only know him for his small role in Best Picture winner, Parasite. Before it, Park already had a large number of TV roles in South Korea that are worth checking out prior to his MCU debut.
His roles range from a hopeless romantic to a small bar owner with a mission, and even to a part-time worker who doesn't have any clear life goals. While it's unlikely that his new role will have Park doing much comedy, MCU fans can get an idea of his acting skills and his charisma, which are key for any successful MCU cast member.
Itaewon Class
In Itaewon Class, Park Seo-Joon plays Park Sae-ro-yi, a troubled young man who runs a bar after his release from prison. Park's character struggles with a difficult past, the tragedy of losing his father, and the discovery of the woman he loved working for a corporation he hates. Viewers are able to watch Park Seo-Joon's character develop through time jumps on the series.
At the heart of the series, Park's character is trying to prove he can do anything that he puts his mind to. Running a successful bar and taking down the aforementioned hated corporation are his two main goals. There are also romantic and comedic moments throughout the series to lighten the heavier topics and themes. Having won Best Drama Series at the 25th Asian Television Awards, it's a highly praised drama known for riveting its viewers.
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? tells the story of narcissistic vice-chairman Lee Young-Joon (Park Seo-Joon) who is fighting to keep Kim Mi-so, his secretary of nine years, from quitting. This show follows a classic k-drama trope where two people who hate each other end up falling in love.
Park Seo-Joon doesn't play too many characters this self-absorbed, so seeing him in this show was a pleasant surprise for his fans. It is lighthearted and fun with serious moments sprinkled throughout.
Fight For My Way
Fight For My Way follows a group of young adults who find themselves being the underdogs in the careers they are pursuing. Park Seo-Joon's character Ko Dong-man is a mixed-martial arts instructor who used to be famous for taekwondo. Essentially, the show is about a bunch of twenty-somethings trying to figure out what they are going to do in life.
His character is sometimes harsh and brash but eventually finds love and happiness over the show's 16 episodes. Throughout the series, fans also see some of Park Seo-Joon's fighting skills which are critical to being part of the MCU.
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
Period dramas are a hugely popular genre in South Korean entertainment. It is not a surprise that Park Seo-Joon has a role like this under his belt as well. Park plays Moo-Myung, a lower-class member of society who works his way up to becoming a highly respected hwarang warrior.
The show takes place between 57 BC-AD 935, but the stories and characters are just as relatable if they were set in the present day. Park Seo-Joon was nominated for the "Top Excellence Award, Actor" at the 31st KBS Drama Awards for his performance on the series.
Record Of Youth
Record Of Youth is about three adults trying to make it in the fashion industry. Park Seo-Joon only has a small cameo in Record Of Youth, but fans were happy to see him on the show.
Park has a cameo as a famous actor on the show and befriends one of the protagonists at an award show. It is likely one of Park Seo-Joon's roles that closest resembles himself as an actor. He is a highly respected actor on the show, just as he is in real life.
She Was Pretty
She Was Pretty is an adorable comedy with its core message being that there is more to someone than their looks. Park Seo-Joon plays Ji Sung-Joon, an arrogant but likable chief editor of a fashion magazine, who unexpectedly falls for Kim Hye-Jin, a clumsy and messy woman in his office.
The two have a classic "enemies to lovers" storyline that is full of heartwarming moments and hilarious ones. Over the course of the series, audiences get to see Park Seo-Joon's character lighten up and allow himself to fall hard for Kim Hye-Jin.
Kill Me, Heal Me
Kill Me, Heal Me was a critical and fan success in South Korea. It tackles topics such as disassociative identity disorder and child abuse. Park Seo-Joon plays Oh Ri On, a writer who is determined to expose the secrets of celebrities, in particular those of Cha Do Hyun who developed disassociative identity disorder.
The show balances comedy and more serious topics. Park Seo-Joon's performance was praised and won various awards for his work on the show.
A Witch's Love
A Witch's Love has similar themes to the earlier seasons of TV Land's Younger, since the main relationship is between characters with a sizeable age difference. It is a story centered around the cynical Ban Ji-yeon, whose attitude led to her coworkers calling her a witch to work with. Ban Ji-yeon and Park Seo-Joon's character Yoon Dong-ha meet and have an immediate connection. Ban Ji-yeon is put off after finding out about her and Yoon Dong-ha's 16 age difference.
Despite the ups and downs in their relationship, they eventually fall in love and Park Seo-Joon perfectly plays a lovesick young man. The show is outlandish and fun with bigger themes that most viewers will be able to relate to and enjoy.
I Summon You, Gold!
I Summon You, Gold!, also known as Pots of Gold, is a story about a woman who gets mistaken as a wealthy member of an elite family. She has to navigate the politics of a rich family while coming from a lower-middle-class background. Park Seo-Joon plays a younger and more innocent character in this series.
His character Park Hyun-Tae is the youngest sibling of an upper-class family who is given special treatment by his father and older siblings. It is a change from Park's other roles since he isn't the main love interest in the drama.
Family
Family, also known as Shut Up Family, was Park Seo-Joon's first television role. It is a sitcom centered around two very different families having to live under the same roof when the divorced mom of one family and the widowed father of another fall in love.
Park Seo-Joon plays Cha Seo Joon, an adorable and dorky coffee shop worker. It is a minor role, but sometimes those can be the characters who steal scenes. It's a great show to check out and see where Park Seo-Joon started out.