He pushed himself for the role.
The Korean entertainment industry is known for its glitz and glam, but behind the spotlight, many stars face harsh pressures from a young age. Rising actor Park Su Oh, born in 2005, recently opened up about one such experience that sheds light on the darker side of early stardom: being told to diet at just 14 years old for a role.
In an interview with TenAsia, Park recalled the extreme measures he took as a middle schooler to secure a part in the 2019 film The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful, where he beat 1,000:1 odds to play the younger version of actor Kwon Sang Woo.
“At 14, when I should’ve been eating meat, I only ate salad and skipped meals. But I was satisfied with how I looked, and the director liked it too. It was hard on my body, but I felt good about it. I lost a lot of weight for that movie even though I was still in middle school. The thin physique I created then still affects how I look today. I used to get stressed seeing my round face in the mirror and wondering why the weight wouldn’t come off. My parents were worried since I was still growing, but to me, doing that project well mattered most.”
He admitted that he felt pressure to lose his naturally round cheeks to match the film’s sharp visual tone. Despite his young age, Park was laser-focused on performing well in the role, even if it meant ignoring his growing body’s needs. Though he’s only 20, Park is already a seasoned actor, having debuted in elementary school and appeared in over 40 dramas and 12 films. He’s well known for playing younger versions of A-list stars like Lee Byung Hun, Kim Soo Hyun, and Yoo Ah In, building an impressive résumé and gaining valuable on-set experience. But behind his calm confidence is a story that mirrors what many young entertainers quietly endure.
“I don’t think I matured faster than others. I just did what I liked—maybe that came across as focused to adults.”
His story, while inspiring, also reveals the unspoken expectations placed on child actors in Korea: to grow up fast, look a certain way, and push themselves far beyond what most kids are ever asked to do.
