[Interview] Park Ji-hwan, Why He Volunteered To Be Incapable

On the morning of the 21st, Park Ji-hwan talked about the Disney+ original series "The Murky Stream" (written by Cheon Sung-il, directed by Choo Chang-min).

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"The Murky Stream" is an action drama set in Gyeonggang, the center of Joseon's commerce, where all money and goods flow. The story follows people who dream of overturning a corrupt world and living with dignity. The series is helmed by director Choo Chang-min, who drew over ten million viewers with "Masquerade", and written by Cheon Seong-il, returning to historical drama 14 years after "The Slave Hunters".

Park Ji-hwan plays Mu-deok, the head of Mapo Naru's dockworkers. With his powerful presence and explosive acting, he commands the screen while anchoring the story through subtle emotional expression and rich nuance.

Known for his memorable performances across both film and television, Park Ji-hwan shared that his biggest source of strength comes from his colleagues.

"I'm surrounded by amazing people. If I went around wielding the sword of patriotism all by myself, I'd have burned out long ago. It's okay to lean on your peers", he said with a laugh.

He also spoke about his acting philosophy, emphasizing the importance of humility.

"I always remind myself that I'm not that capable. The moment you pretend to know something, you end up realizing how much more you don't know".

When evaluating himself, Park Ji-hwan said he focuses on doing his best, rather than the outcome. He even has a rule not to watch his own performances once filming wraps.

"It's up to others to evaluate me. If I've done my best, that's enough. You can't always be perfect. If you judge yourself too harshly, you'll never act well", he said firmly.

Park Ji-hwan also expressed deep admiration for director Choo Chang-min, calling him a mentor who reawakened his passion for acting.

"I've never met an elder like him. Even if it were a battlefield where I knew I'd die, if the director said 'Go', I'd go. Dying while fighting alongside such a great commander wouldn't be so bad. I've completely fallen for him", he said, laughing.

He added, "This is truly the peak of the director's career. I keep telling him he must make another project soon-his time has fully ripened".

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"The Murky Stream" is directed by Choo Chang-min, written by Cheon Seong-il, and features Rowoon, Shin Ye-eun, Park Seo-ham, Park Ji-hwan, Kim Dong-won-II, Jeon Bae-soo. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2025/09/26~2025/10/17, Fri on Disney Plus.