Actor Park Hae-Zoon He left the public in awe not only with his performance, but with the extraordinary dedication that he poured into interpreting a cancer patient in the successful drama “When life gives you mandarins.”
Personal preparation for the role of cancer
Appearing in the episode of April 16 of Tvn “Interview on the block”, Park revealed the emotional and physical toll of the preparation for the role of Gwan-Sik, a character whose subsequent arc depicts a difficult battle with cancer.
“My father fought cancer when I was twenty years old”, Park said, visibly moved. “During the filming, I continued to see his face in mine. I was very close to him. Those memories came back to running and I couldn’t stop thinking about him.”
To offer an authentic representation, Park has undergone rapid weight loss and even dehydrate before turning intense scenes. “I asked the production team for two or three days of rest. During that period, I did not eat or drink anything, like a mixed martial arts fighter before a weight”, He explained. “It was the only way to show a body that was really weakened. When I returned to the set, the transformation naturally joined the role. The director was incredibly grateful.”
The combination of physics and emotions
His physical effort was deeply linked to personal emotions. Park shared that his father was seriously ill during filming. “I hoped he could at least watch me on TV since I couldn’t be there by his side”, he said. “The drama did well, and fortunately his intervention also went well. This meant everything for me, I felt like I was able to be a good son.”
“Working on this project has moved all my perspective”, He added. “Now, the most important thing about my life is at home.”
While fans continue to praise When life gives you mandarins For his emotional depth and founded narrative, the moving testimony of Park Hae-Joon offers a moving reminder of true humanity behind the powerful acting.
