Although it was raining on the day of the photo shoot, the atmosphere at Changdeokgung Palace Complex was more peaceful than ever. Park was wandering around heavy footed, as if he was getting himself mentally prepared for his upcoming military service. As he was comparing the youth of his role in the newly-released drama A Record of Youth with the rich history of the palace, Park experienced an epiphany. “I think youth represents self-reflection. Since every second that passes will never come back, I believe that every moment symbolises youth. Hence, these notions motivate me to use my time wisely.” In an exclusive interview, Vogue discusses youth and future with Park Bo Gum.
Can you tell us a bit about your new drama A Record of Youth?
A Record of Youth narrates the story about a group of youngsters who are striving to make their dreams come true as well as depicting their growth during the process. For me, the message of the story is that youth is not defined by your physical conditions nor by your age, it is defined by your determination.
In A Record of Youth, you are working with Park So Dam, the protagonist of the Oscar award-winning Korean film Parasite. How are you two getting along?
We both gained a thorough understanding of our characters and we tried our best to vividly portray them through our acting. Personally, my favourite part of this drama is when the two overtly exchange their thoughts.
Can you describe your personal style? And which style are you hoping to experiment with in the future?
I would say that I am a minimalist. I love trying on clothes of different styles to see which suit me the best. I sometimes read fashion magazines for inspiration too. If I have the chance to participate in films and photo shoots in the future, I would want to experiment with preppy or punk looks.
Since your military service starts on 31 August, how do you feel leaving your fans for two and a half years? Are you feeling nervous?
I will always keep in touch with my fans. We are like best friends who always support each other. I believe that during my days in the army, they will pray for me and will continue supporting my work, such as A Record of Youth, Seo Bok, Wonderland, etc. I promise that I will fulfil my military duties and become stronger upon my return.
You released your latest single All My Love on 10 August, available for purchase in Korea and Japan from 12 August. Is All My Love about your love for your fans?
Absolutely. I not only want to express my gratitude for my fans’ support, I also want to let them know that their friends will always be there for them. This will be my last gift for them before my military service. Singer Sam Kim, who wrote All My Love, completely understood my thoughts and ideas, covering everything that I wanted to express and thus rendering the entire recording process more enjoyable.
When was the last time you came to Hong Kong? Are you looking forward to interacting with the fans in Hong Kong again?
I came to Hong Kong during my Asia Tour in March last year. I am so looking forward to meeting my fans in Hong Kong again. The team, other actors and I feel really thankful that they expressed their love and support on the company’s website. I hope that everyone can stay safe and spend quality time with their kins until my next visit. I know that this is a rather tough period, I will keep supporting my fans in Hong Kong to show my gratitude. May God bless you all.
Photographer: Janghyun Hong
Stylist: Eunyoung Sohn
Features Editor: Sohyun Cho
Hair Stylist: Heung Kwon Baek
Makeup Artist: Jinkyoung Baek
Stylist : Hyeyoung Lee
Location: Changdeokgung Palace
Wardrobe: Louis Vuitton
Editor
Vogue Hong KongCredit
Translation: Marco Lee
