In "Weak Hero Class 2," Park Ji-hoon meets the wealthy adoptive parents Netflix and their son Lee Jun-young, aiming for an even greater leap.

Ahead of its release on Netflix on the 23rd, "Weak Hero Class 2" depicts the relentless survival and brilliant growth of model student Yeon Si-eun (played by Park Ji-hoon), who transferred to Eunjanggo while carrying the trauma of having fought against violence for a friend but ultimately being unable to protect them, determined never to lose another friend and confront even greater violence. After being available on the OTT platform Wavve for over two years in 2022, it has now moved to Netflix to meet global viewers.

When "Weak Hero Class 1" was released in 2022, the response was overwhelming. Right after the drama was released, Wavve instantly recorded the highest number of paid subscribers in 2022 and received praise for opening a new horizon for K-educational action dramas with its direction, story, action, and performances. Park Ji-hoon, who proved his remarkable acting ability as the top 1% model student Yeon Si-eun, won the Best New Actor Award at the 2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards.

"Weak Hero" has now moved to Netflix with Season 2. On the 25th of last month, "Weak Hero Class 1" was newly released on Netflix, achieving the number one spot in Thailand and Malaysia, while ranking third in South Korea and second in several other countries including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brazil. Despite being a rereleased work, it has received passionate love and proven the status of K-drama.

Now it is time for "Weak Hero Class 2." On the morning of the 21st, a press conference for the Netflix series "Weak Hero Class 2" was held at Hotel Naru in Mapo-gu, Seoul, where the cast and production team showed remarkable confidence.

Returning as Yeon Si-eun, who bears the deep scars of being unable to protect his friend Ahn Soo-ho (played by Choi Hyun-wook), Park Ji-hoon noted, "I tried to express emotions more deeply. Unlike Class 1, I made an effort to convey more desperation in my expressions. It’s an honor to be a part of Netflix from Class 1 to Class 2. I’m happy to show the character Yeon Si-eun to many people and for them to witness the growth together. I feel quite moved and emotional."

He continued, "I met actors with different energies compared to Season 1. There was a speedy energy, a heavy energy, and a sharp energy. It was great to encounter various new characters. I was worried about whether Yeon Si-eun would be able to make new friends, but the energy from the Season 2 cast was good. It was so enjoyable that I didn’t even think about Season 1 while filming. The cast's energy was substantial, which contributed to the great result."

Director Yoo Soo-min said, "I was grateful that Park Ji-hoon’s body and mind remembered Yeon Si-eun. Thanks to him, the parts that troubled me as a director were resolved. From the first shoot to the last, he was Yeon Si-eun itself. Acting as the protagonist of a series is a challenging task. It must have been difficult and lonely due to the weight of it, but he quietly endured and did his best until the end. I want to express my gratitude."

Park Ji-hoon has newly spread his wings with the big backing of Netflix. Here, Lee Jun-young, known as "Netflix's son," is set to present a fresh performance as the character Geum Seong-je. Geum Seong-je is a free spirit who wanders aimlessly looking only for "fun," wanting to belong nowhere or to anyone. Lee Jun-young's transformation in this role is another surprising change, distinct from his previous work in "When Life Gives You Tangerines."

Lee Jun-young noted, "Geum Seong-je is a friend with a dual nature. He is a member of an alliance whose true intentions are unknown. He feels new forms of stimulation to Yeon Si-eun while approaching the people around Park Hu-min, and intrigue as well. Rooftop action scene? I tried to express it in a more realistic way. We spent time matching our chemistry and shared various opinions on set, with the director also guiding us. Thanks to that, it turned out well."

He added, "It’s an honor to be appointed as Netflix's son. I have worked on projects that are new challenges or attempts as an actor alongside Netflix. I appreciate the opportunity. I feel overwhelmed by the love received from my previous work. I feel very sorry for Geum Myung. I think I can show a completely different side this time, so I personally look forward to it," he said with a bright smile.

With Park Ji-hoon, now equipped with deeper expressions reflecting Yeon Si-eun’s growth, younger actors including Ryu Eun, Choi Min-young, Yoo Soo-bin, Bae Na-ra, Lee Min-jae, and Lee Jun-young will all appear. Director Yoo Soo-min noted, "More diverse characters will appear compared to Class 1. I think it’s a character and relational hub, as well as an action hub, so I urge viewers to pay close attention."

[OSEN]