Actor Park Jung-min Announces Hiatus from Acting for a while, “I Need Rest”

Actor Park Jung-min has announced that he will be stepping away from acting for the entirety of next year.

During his appearance on the YouTube channel 'Yo Jeong Jae-hyung' on December 1, he opened up about his decision, which came after a hectic schedule left him longing for a break.

"This year, I worked on three films, including a small independent one," he explained. "I wrapped up 'Jeon Ran'('전란') last December, finished 'Newtopia('뉴토피아')' in July, and then immediately shot an indie film. It’s been nonstop." Park revealed he has already been telling those around him about his plans to take a break next year. "If I don’t make it official, I’m worried that I won’t actually follow through," he admitted. "I feel terrible turning down offers, but I’ve had to say no to everything. Shooting five days a week and spending the remaining two handling personal matters just isn’t sustainable."

Recently, Park surprised audiences on KBS2's 'The Seasons – Lee Young-ji’s Rainbow'(‘더 시즌즈 - 이영지의 레인보우’) by revealing he has worked on an astonishing 46 projects to date. Reflecting on this impressive yet grueling run, he shared, "I’ve taken offers I couldn’t refuse, but this time, I’m determined to stick to my decision."

The actor cited exhaustion as a primary reason for his hiatus. "One day, I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize the expression on my face. It felt like I was seeing a version of myself I’d only seen in movies," he said. "Acting the same way over and over turned into a habit. To break free from that, I realized I needed rest and new experiences."

Park emphasized that this break isn’t about leaving acting behind but about exploring other facets of his life. "I want to focus on my publishing company, travel, meet people, and immerse myself in new experiences. Rather than actively searching for something, I hope to naturally discover different sides of myself."

During the interview, Park also reflected on the hardships of his early career. "In the beginning, I experienced a lot of disrespect, being ignored during greetings or waiting 24 hours for a shoot that ended up being canceled. It was humiliating," he shared. "If someone I love went through that, it would break my heart. For aspiring actors, these experiences can be even more crushing because the industry is relentless."

Park Jung-min debuted in 2011 with the film 'Bleak Night'('파수꾼'), earning widespread attention for his nuanced performance. Since then, he has built a stellar career with standout roles in films like 'Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet'('동주'), 'Svaha: The Sixth Finger'('사바하'), and Keys to the Heart('그것만이 내 세상’). Known for his meticulous portrayal of emotions and deep character immersion, Park received critical acclaim and audience admiration, earning the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for ' Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet' in 2016.

His versatility continued to shine in projects like 'Tazza: One-Eyed Jack'(‘타짜: 원 아이드 잭’ ) and the drama 'Strangers from Hell'(‘타인은 지옥이다’), where he delivered compelling performances that solidified his reputation as one of Korea's most talented actors.