Park Jihoon Ranks First in Actor Reputation Thanks to Success of “The Man Who Lived with a King”

Park Jihoon is significantly boosting his standing as an actor amid the success of the film “The Man Who Lived with a King.” He proved his status as a celebrity by topping the Rising Actor Brand Reputation Index released by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute.

The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute analyzed 104,757,304 pieces of big data over a one-month period from April 25 to May 25, 2026, to compile this index. Park Jihoon scored 3,255,799 in the brand reputation index, with participation scores at 713,770, media scores at 869,218, communication scores at 915,140, and community scores at 757,671. Bae Doona ranked second, followed by Park Bo-young in third place.

“The Man Who Lived with a King” is at the heart of this rise in reputation. The film attracted approximately 17 million viewers, making it the second-highest-grossing Korean movie of all time. Park Jihoon’s portrayal of King Danjong received widespread acclaim, even leading to the emergence of the nickname “Danjong Oppa” and sparking a cultural phenomenon. As clips from the film spread online, many viewers said they “rediscovered” Park Jihoon.

Model Lee Hyun-ee recently appeared on SBS’s “Dong Sang I Mong Season 2 – You Are My Destiny,” revealing her special 10-year connection with Park Jihoon. Known as a fierce fan of Park Jihoon, she even shed tears while talking about him during the studio recording.

Park Jihoon continues to be active despite the film’s success. He starred in the tvN Monday-Tuesday drama “The Legend of the Kitchen Doctor” and released a solo album in April that featured a more mature musical style. Meanwhile, he is also working on the reunion of the group Wanna One, allowing him to thrive as both an actor and a musician.

Wanna One debuted in 2017 through “Produce 101” Season 2, with Park Jihoon finishing in second place and gaining massive popularity among the public. The group became extremely famous thanks to their slogan “Save you in my heart,” which meant “I will keep you in my heart.”