The first half of 2026 marked a major change in Park Jihoon's career. After playing King Danjong (also known as Prince Nosan) in the historical film "The King's Warden," Park Jihoon has become a major star in the South Korean entertainment industry.
This historical film chronicles the tragic life of King Danjong, who was overthrown by his uncle (Prince Suyang). The film, which broke box office records and became the second-highest-grossing Korean film of all time, propelled Park Jihoon to the title of " actor of 16 million viewers ."
However, despite being the center of attention with the drama with a fairly heavy plot, Park Jihoon did not immediately continue his journey with similar dramas. In the same year, Park Jihoon instead appeared in a light comedy drama entitled " The Legend of Kitchen Soldier ".
In the drama, which aired its final episode on Tuesday (June 16, 2026), Park Jihoon played a young soldier assigned to a military kitchen. This character is certainly a stark contrast to the character of the unfortunate King Danjong who managed to make the audience cry a few months earlier.
Park Jihoon's decision apparently paid off. According to Nielsen Korea via The Korea Herald, the drama, which also stars Lee Sangyi, managed to maintain a national rating of 7 percent throughout its run.
Furthermore, "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" also managed to garner over 121 million cumulative digital views. The drama also topped the list of paid subscribers on the TVING platform for three consecutive weeks.
Furthermore, on film fan sites like AsianWiki, "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier" received a rating of 94 out of 100, indicating positive reviews from fans. This drama adds to the list of successful projects starring Park Jihoon.
Despite being at the peak of his career, Park Jihoon now faces a tight deadline for his mandatory military service. The actor, solo singer, and member of the boy group Wanna One is currently preparing to enlist in the South Korean Marine Corps.
According to Korean military service regulations, Marine applicants must be between 18 and 28 years old at the time of enlistment. Rather than being anxious about having to pause his career at the height of his popularity, Park Jihoon admitted he's taking the situation calmly.
Born on May 29, 1999, he said, "I'm not too worried or stressed. This is an obligation I must fulfill. I want to make the most of my military service experience and, of course, enjoy it."
Park Jihoon revealed that the most important thing for him was completing his assignment well. "I hope to complete my assignment safely and return in good health," Park Jihoon concluded. Park Jihoon's calm and mature approach to his duties is certainly commendable.
Despite having to temporarily leave at the height of his popularity, let's pray that Park Jihoon can carry out his duties safely and return healthy. What was Park Jihoon's most memorable project in the first half of 2026?
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