Park Ji Hu Is The K-Drama Actress We Can't Get Enough Of And There's No Doubt That She'll Continue To Bloom

When All Of Us Are Dead started its next-level promotions, I couldn't help but think, "Oh, just another Korean take on a zombie apocalypse." When I saw the trailers of Little Women, I assumed, "Oh, just another thriller about money." When I saw Park Ji Hu, I thought, "Oh just another pretty face." As you might have guessed by now, I was wrong.

Park Ji Hu is definitely a breakout artist. Not only did she star in two thrilling Netflix Originals in 2022, she also left a lasting impression with both visuals and effective acting. She was stubborn, emotional, and a bit naïve—all relatable traits when you look back at your coming-of-age era.

Park Ji Hu for K-loka by Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022

Hope like a hummingbird

Like how the tiny, feathered friend symbolizes hope, Park Ji Hu's debut was full of optimism. She started in a short film and played a few minor characters before landing the lead role in the indie feature film, House Of Hummingbird. Before you knew her as Nam On Jo in All of Us Are Dead and Oh In Hye in Little Women, she played Eun Hee in this award-winning film that premiered at the Busan International Film Festival 2018.

The dramatic movie went on to bag more than 50 awards globally, including grand prizes at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Heartland Film Festival. Park Ji Hu also received individual recognition as the best female rookie and best actress at distinguished competitions, such as the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and the London East Asia Film Festival. A true standout among young Hallyu stars, she is also the youngest to receive the Best Actress award at the Tribeca Film Festival.

All of us were hyped

As Park Ji Hu mentioned in an exclusive interview with K-loka by Cosmopolitan Philippines early this year, she was the same age as high school junior On Jo when she filmed All Of Us Are Dead. Her role was a typical coming-of-age drama character—impulsive and full of hope. She powered through the crazy events unfolding before her and wasn't afraid of showing her vulnerable side, especially when she lost one of her best friends.

Her performance in the drama set the bar high for Korean TV fans. It's also impressive how she juggled the filming with her high school duties at the time. She actually turns 19 in November this year and just like her co-star Yoon Chan Young, she's also studying theatre and film at Hanyang University. Variety shows and glossy magazines alike had her booked and busy. All of these built our anticipation for when we're going to see her acting next. And with Little Women, she did not disappoint at all.

Park Ji Hu for K-loka by Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022

Little women, big impact

The next Park Ji Hu K-drama that came out placed her beside huge names in the industry. Her eldest on-screen sister Oh In Joo was played by Kim Go Eun, who belongs to the same label—BH Entertainment—as the maknae (youngest). Expectations were definitely high as the multitalented actress starred in hit series like the two seasons of Yumi's Cells, The King: Eternal Monarch, and Goblin. Their other sister was Oh In Kyung, played by Nam Ji Hyun, who also had roots as a child actress like Park Ji Hu. She then transitioned to lead in various series like Suspicious Partner, 100 Days My Prince, and 365: Repeat the Year.

Other popular supporting characters also starred in the mystery series, such as Wi Ha Joon (from Squid Game), Uhm Ki Joon (from The Penthouse series), and Uhm Ji Won (from Birthcare Center). We even got cameos from two-time Best Supporting Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards, Oh Jung Se (When The Camellia Blooms and It's Okay to Not Be Okay), and one of the most sought-after and celebrated actors today, Song Joong Ki.

Aside from the stellar cast, the story was also loosely based on a Louisa May Alcott novel known around the world. Fans of the classic book tuned in to the unique Korean adaptation. It was directed by Kim Hee Won, too, who was behind another Netflix hit, Vincenzo. In an online press conference for the drama covered by The Korea Times, the director recounts how careful she was in selecting the actors for Little Women. She said she looked for actors that met two criteria: "Either it is the actor that the viewers want to see or that the production staff would want to work with." She then mentioned how the cast and crew were both a dream to work with, including praises for the attitude of young actor Park Ji Hu.

The buzzworthy drama definitely holds a special place in the heart of its maknae. "It was a great joy for me just to count down to when the episodes aired each week," says Park Ji Hu. "A lot of people have remembered me and supported me as In Hye through Little Women. Going forward, the K-drama will be a great driver for my career."

Park Ji Hu for K-loka by Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022

Like sisters in real life

Beyond the Hallyu impact, the promising actress shares that she found a new family while filming the K-drama. We asked about her on and offscreen relationship with her sunbaenims (seniors) and Park Ji Hu details how she's quite different from her Little Women role. "On-screen, In Hye finds her sisters' love to be a burden. But in reality, I was so honored and grateful to be loved by Kim Go Eun and Nam Ji Hyun that I didn't want to leave their side. You could say they were very similar on screen and off screen—they really cared for me and looked after me."

If you look back on the interactions between In Joo, In Kyung, and In Hye in the drama, you could tell that there's really tender care there. So naturally, we were curious about what happened after the filming of the drama. Was she still in touch with the two women she called eonnie? Park Ji Hu fondly shares that she does and she's grateful to them "We have a group chat titled 'Assi-deul' (little women). We talk to each other a lot. I rely on them and share my thoughts with them a lot, just like sisters."

Onward and upward

Her two most memorable roles now have definitely set the tone for what the Park Ji Hu brand is all about. Reflecting on the characters, we asked her what Nam On Jo would say to Oh In Hye as someone who's the same age as her. She relays, "In Hye is rational, while On Jo is emotional. So I think On Jo will tell In Hye to be kind with her words, to not just think about herself but try to work together with her sisters and to be considerate and respectful of others. Overall, On Jo will cheer on In Hye."

With her impressive performances, it's only fitting that she already has another exciting project lined up for her aside from the second season of All Of Us Are Dead. This time, she'll be back on the big screen, specifically for Concrete Utopia, a disaster film that also stars A-list Korean celebrities Lee Byung Hun, Park Bo Young, and Park Seo Joon. The thriller seems right up Park Ji Hu's alley with her previous experience in dystopian or post-catastrophic plots. She seems to have mastered a unique genre: A combination of youth-oriented and disaster-laden. Seeing Park Ji Hu nail each role in her past projects, we know that she'll get our hearts racing again in Concrete Utopia.

Park Ji Hu for K-loka by Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2022

Wondering what else is in store for the bright young actress, we asked her how she sees herself in the future. Park Ji Hu says, "Five years from now, I'll be in my mid-20s. I want to take on more roles in romantic-comedy or coming-of-age works that I'll only be able to do in my 20s, before I grow into heavier roles in my 30s. I also want more people to recognize me as an actress as I take on more roles, and want to be able to heal and empower viewers through my character and acting."

As she takes on more projects, Park Ji Hu continues to prove that she's the Korean actress to watch out for. Paired with her diverse experience in the industry and acting chops, the actress is on her way to showing the world that she's ready to define her career—in more ways than one.

*This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

PRODUCED BY: Hanna Tamondong

LAYOUT BY: Pauline Moyano

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Netflix, Yoon Jiyong