If you've seen more than a few k-dramas, you may recognize Park Gyu Young even if you don't know his name. The 60-year-old actor has been in so many k-movies and k-dramas that he is sure to seem familiar.
But he may have landed those roles, he says, because he already looks like the guy next door.
Right now he is juggling two roles at the same time. He plays the father of Rain's character Lee Hyun Wook in "My Lovable Girl" and he plays the traitorous Kim Ja Jeom battling Lee Jin Wook in "The Three Musketeers." In the last year he has pulled off two other roles, playing Ye In Im, in another historical drama "Jeong Do Jeon" and doing a cameo in "You Who Came From The Stars."
In the last few years he has played quite a few dad roles. Besides Rain he has been dad tp Ji Sung and Lee Jang Woo.
He played the corporate dad who eventually warms to Choi Kang Hee in "Protect The Boss" and the shoe counterfeiter dad who warmed to Kim Sun Ah in "I Do I Do."
He also appeared in two films in 2013, playing roles in "I Am A King" and "Happiness For Sale."
Park Gyu Young has been juggling roles since his career as an actor began. His career started back in 1985. In that year he appeared in the films "College Story" and "The Parting." The same year he played a part in his first drama, MBC's "Bestseller Theater."
And he has not stopped working in dramas or films since.
In a Guerilla Interview on "Star Date," the actor was announced as being more popular than the members of many boy bands but he only found that amusing. He is sure he is only more recognizable.
His interviewer said that once upon a time Park Young Gyu was considered a very handsome actor, cast for his looks, but ever since he switched to comedy roles people more often refer to him as being "cute."
But Park Young Gyu does not think being "cute" is how he continues to land roles. He told the interviewer that his biggest strength was looking like the guy next door. That's how he can convincingly play both the head of an entertainment agency and a shoe counterfeiter. And being talented naturally helps him succeed at both kinds of roles.
