Park Seo-jun and IU’s Film “Dream” Sets a New Standard for Balancing Music and Acting

Actor Park Seo-jun demonstrated just how successful K-pop idols can be in diverse fields through his film “Dream,” which he starred in alongside singer-songwriter IU and premiered in April 2023. The movie tells the story of Yoon Hong-dae (played by Park Seo-jun), a football player who coaches a homeless soccer team, and Lee So-min (played by IU), a rookie director who attempts to document this journey as a documentary. At the time of the film’s release, the production team stated that all of Park Seo-jun’s football scenes were filmed in real life without any CGI, and he realized the immense difficulty of playing on water due to the different resistance compared to solid ground, which impressed him with the skills of professional footballers. Park Seo-jun recalled feeling nervous about returning to acting after four years since his TV drama “Itaewon Class,” but the supportive atmosphere on set, thanks to his senior actors, helped him complete the project steadily. Specifically, when speaking about IU, he said, “I never thought of her as a younger junior; I regarded her as a truly great artist.” He added, “It’s unbelievable that she has succeeded as both a singer and an actress, and it’s an honor for me to have worked with her since I’ve been her fan.” He also mentioned, “The filming was so enjoyable that it was a pity it ended, and I hope we can work together again in the future.” IU has perfectly balanced her music and acting careers by appearing in both Hollywood projects such as “The White Lotus” and various Korean films and dramas. This trend is spreading throughout the entire K-pop industry. According to foreign media, Korean dramas like “Ravel 1994” and “Ravel 1988” feature numerous K-pop idols in various roles—including lead, supporting, and guest appearances—allowing them to pursue both their musical and acting careers. Leveraging their existing fan bases and performance experience, they are rapidly growing as actors and solidifying their status as “multitalents” within the K-pop industry.