'Weak Hero Class 2,' adopted from Wavve to Netflix, is promising a colorful array of content targeting viewers worldwide.

On the morning of the 21st, a production presentation for the Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' was held at Hotel Naru in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Director Yoo Soo-min, creator Han Jun-hee, and cast members Park Ji-hoon, Ryu-un, Choi Min-young, Lee Jun-young, Yoo Soo-bin, Bae Na-ra, and Lee Min-jae attended the event.

'Weak Hero Class 2' depicts the tragic survival story and brilliant growth of a model student, Yeon Si-eun (played by Park Ji-hoon), who transfers to Eunjang High School carrying the trauma of having fought against violence for a friend but ultimately failing to protect them, vowing never to lose another friend again.

Director Yoo Soo-min said, “I am happy to show the next story after Class 1 to viewers around the world. The central narrative we considered while making the series is the process of growing from a boy to a man. While Season 1 dealt with pain and growing pains, we thought about how to become an adult afterward. In that process, I envisioned the keyword of reconciliation, with oneself and with the world. I focused more on the viewing pleasure than in Class 1.”

Park Ji-hoon returns as Yeon Si-eun, who carries deep scars from not being able to protect his friend Ahn Soo-ho (played by Choi Hyun-wook). It is expected how his desperate survival story and brilliant growth will unfold as he transfers to Eunjang High School, determined not to lose another friend.

Park Ji-hoon shared, “I tried to express my emotions more deeply. Unlike Class 1, I worked to show more intensity in my gaze. It is an honor to work with Netflix from Class 1 to Class 2. I am happy to show the character Yeon Si-eun to many people and have them witness the growth together. It feels heartwarming and touching.”

He continued, “I met actors with different energies for Season 2. There were energetic, weighted, and sharp energies. It was nice to encounter various new characters. I was worried about whether Yeon Si-eun could make new friends, but the energies from the Season 2 cast were great. I had so much fun shooting that I almost forgot about Season 1. The actors' energy was great and made the production smooth.”

Director Yoo Soo-min praised, “I was grateful that Park Ji-hoon’s body and heart remembered Yeon Si-eun. Thanks to him, I resolved some concerns I had as a director. From the first shoot to the last, he was Yeon Si-eun itself. Playing the main character in a series is a challenging task. It must have been painful and lonely due to the weight of that role, but he quietly persevered, overcame, and did his best until the end. I want to express my gratitude.”

Ryu-un gained over 10 kg to build the character Park Hoo-min. He said, “Park Hoo-min is a righteous leader of Eunjang High School, overflowing with a sense of justice, strength, and a strong sense of friendship and loyalty. At first, I tried to show a bright and cheerful side. As the story progresses, I aimed to show more intensity in order to protect my friends.”

Choi Min-young plays Seo Joon-tae, the class clown of Eunjang High School. He said, “Seo Joon-tae is the school representative class clown chosen by the bully group led by Choi Hyo-man, and he gains the will to want to change for the first time after meeting Yeon Si-eun. He is someone who stands up against Choi Hyo-man to protect his friends. He is the only non-combat member. He continuously changes while being motivated by friends and also gives them inspiration. There is a solidness in Joon-tae that appears to be the weakest.”

Yoo Soo-bin plays Choi Hyo-man, a member of the bullying group aiming to join the strong alliance. As the brother of director Yoo Soo-min, he said, “My brother, the director, gave me a lot of ideas. He provided many ideas about Choi Hyo-man's viciousness and vile emotions. I was thankful that I understood them well.”

Regarding why he declined the role twice, he humbly replied, “To be honest, I was unsure after reading the script. Since it was my brother’s work, I felt I needed to help. I thought there might be someone younger who could do better than me. I refused with the thought of considering the director, but I ended up accepting it because of the encouragement.”

In this production, the character Na Baek-jin, who constantly threatens the Eunjang High School quartet, is played by Bae Na-ra, who received acclaim for her role in 'D.P.' Season 2. She expressed, “Na Baek-jin is the top of the bully alliance with a poker face, not revealing her thoughts. She is a model student who does well in her studies but is a dual character managing the bullies of various schools. Throughout the journey, creator Han Jun-hee helped me navigate smoothly like a captain and helmsman. They provided overall direction and did not hold back on honest feedback.”

Lee Jun-young, known as 'the son of Netflix,' plays Kim Sung-jae, a free spirit who does not want to belong anywhere or to anyone and only seeks 'fun.' With a mischievous yet somehow chilling smile, Kim Sung-jae's extraordinary performance is even more anticipated. Lee Jun-young successfully transformed his acting, 180 degrees different from his previous work, 'When Life Gives You Tangerines.'

Lee Jun-young stated, “Kim Sung-jae is a friend with a dual nature. He is a member of the alliance whose inner thoughts are difficult to read. As he approaches the characters around Park Hoo-min, he evokes new inspirations in Yeon Si-eun. And excitement. Rooftop action scenes? I aimed for a more realistic expression. I spent time synchronizing with Park Ji-hoon on set and exchanged various opinions, with the director providing guidance. Thanks to that, we created something good.”

He added, “I am honored to be appointed as the son of Netflix. I have had opportunities to take on new challenges and projects with Netflix. I am grateful for the opportunities provided. I feel overwhelmed by the love from my previous work. I feel very sorry for Kim Myung-hee. This time, I believe I can show a completely different side of myself, and I personally look forward to it,” he said with a bright smile.

Lee Min-jae, as Park Hoo-min’s loyal friend and strong action-oriented character Go Hyun-tak, meets the audience. He described Go Hyun-tak as “an action-oriented guy with a strong sense of loyalty. I had a lot of thoughts that action was the way to survive. It was challenging to do both action and acting. However, I think I did well while discussing a lot with the staff on set,” he said with a smile.

This work is the result of the collaboration between director Yoo Soo-min, who successfully added unique action to the conventional school genre, and chief planner Han Jun-hee. The harmony of the youthful actors, led by Park Ji-hoon, whose performance deepens with Yeon Si-eun's growth, alongside Ryu-un, Choi Min-young, Yoo Soo-bin, Bae Na-ra, Lee Min-jae, and Lee Jun-young, is a highlight.

Park Ji-hoon remarked, “We tell a story of intensified action and more desperate emotions. Please enjoy how Yeon Si-eun confronts and makes friends with new friends and unravels incidents.” Director Yoo Soo-min also stated, “More diverse characters appear compared to Class 1. I think this is a character-centric, relationally rich, and action-packed story. Please look forward to how this story concludes.”

The Netflix series 'Weak Hero Class 2' will be released globally on April 25 (Fri) via Netflix.

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