Park Ji-hoon Sweeps JoyNews24 Industry Survey Following Blockbuster Film and Streaming Success
Actor and singer Park Ji-hoon dominated the 22nd-anniversary industry survey conducted by JoyNews24, capturing top spots across multiple entertainment categories for 2026. One hundred forty-two industry professionals—including entertainment agency staff, broadcasting personnel, content creators, and entertainment reporters—participated in the survey, which ran from October 15 to 21, JoyNews24 reported.
Park secured first place in the film rising star category, second place for best film actor, and third place among the year’s most influential power figures. He also earned strong marks in the drama categories for best actor and rising star.
“I think these results came about because there were people who looked upon me favorably and cheered me on,” Park told JoyNews24. “I am grateful that the sides of me shown through various activities this year were evaluated well, and it feels even more meaningful because entertainment insiders and reporters chose me directly.”
Box Office Records Set by The Man Who Lives with the King
The historical film The Man Who Lives with the King drew 16.93 million moviegoers to become the second-highest-grossing release in South Korean box office history. Set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, the movie follows a village elder who volunteers his town as a place of exile to revive the local economy, alongside a young deposed monarch living in banishment. Yoo Hae-jin starred as village elder Eom Heung-do, while Park played the deposed King Danjong, Yi Hong-wi. Yoo Hae-jin extended personal invitations to only Park and Kim Min for the VIP screening of Assassins, an exception to his usual practice of rarely inviting actors to avoid placing pressure on them. Park credited his senior cast members with creating an environment where they could connect naturally without forced efforts to win favor.
Television and Music Projects Expand Performance Range
Following his work on the historical film, Park transitioned to the Tving original series Becoming a Legend of the Military Cook, playing military cook Kang Seong-jae. The streaming project required a shift toward grounded, comedic realism, contrasting with his intense historical portrayal.
“In The Man Who Lives with the King, I worried about how to capture the complex emotions of Yi Hong-wi in my gaze and facial expressions, whereas in Becoming a Legend of the Military Cook, I focused on naturally executing cooking movements while also conveying the character’s emotions,” Park told JoyNews24.
Alongside his acting schedule, Park maintained his music career through solo releases, concert tours, and a reunion with his former project group, Wanna One. The group’s reunion performances drew reactions from longtime supporters who had awaited their return to the stage together.
“The feeling of gratitude toward the fans who waited for Wanna One for a long time is the biggest thing,” Park told JoyNews24. “It felt special to be able to stand on stage again and meet fans after each of us had been active in our respective places.”
Industry professionals and box office rank revealed in survey
How many industry professionals voted in the JoyNews24 survey?
One hundred forty-two entertainment industry insiders, including broadcast personnel, content producers, agency employees, and reporters, participated in the 22nd-anniversary survey conducted between October 15 and 21, JoyNews24 reported.
What box office rank did The Man Who Lives with the King achieve?
The film recorded 16.93 million admissions, placing it as the second-highest-grossing movie in South Korean box office history, according to JoyNews24.
Which historical figures do Park Ji-hoon and Yoo Hae-jin portray in their blockbuster film?
Park plays the exiled young monarch King Danjong (Yi Hong-wi), and Yoo Hae-jin plays village elder Eom Heung-do in the 1457-set feature The Man Who Lives with the King, JoyNews24 reported.
Which streaming platform distributes Becoming a Legend of the Military Cook?
Tving distributes the original series, which stars Park as military cook Kang Seong-jae, JoyNews24 reported.