[Edaily Reporter YUN GI BACK ] There was no trace of a glamorous star. He was an ordinary young man reading a book on the subway without a mask, and when the battery on his wireless earbuds ran out, he bought a pair of wired earbuds to use instead. Actor Park Jin-young’s unpretentious daily life is drawing attention. Having risen to stardom as a leading actor by capturing both high ratings and public interest with tvN’s “100 Days of Lies,” he is now showcasing another side of his charm through his approachable and down-to-earth demeanor in everyday life.

Recently, photos of Park Jin-young riding the Busan subway have been circulating on online communities and social media. Wearing short shorts and pink socks, he was sitting in a seat reading a book without a mask. The sight of him using public transportation without any attempt to disguise himself has drawn significant attention.
Park Jin-young also explained the situation himself. During a live broadcast, he confessed, “It was a little heartbreaking that no one recognized me, but I was still able to ride comfortably without a mask.” The reason he was wearing wired earbuds was nothing out of the ordinary either. He explained that the battery on his wireless earbuds had died, so he had to buy a pair of wired ones in a hurry. Regarding the pink socks that became a talking point, he joked, “Those are actually pretty stylish.”
She also revealed her keen interest in reading. Her published reading list included 28 books, such as Osamu Dazai’s *No Longer Human* and works by Haruki Murakami. The sight of her opening a book while on the go offered another glimpse into Park Jin-young’s everyday life.
This down-to-earth nature stands in contrast to the persona he portrays in his recent drama, making it all the more striking. In *100 Days of Lies*, Park Jin-young plays Kim Tae-woong—who also lives as Hideo Sato—portraying a character with a complex inner world. He takes on the role of a character torn between his Korean roots and the reality of having to live as a Japanese person, while sharing a heartfelt romance with Kim Yoo-jung.
The show’s success is also evident. “100 Days of Lies” set a new series high with a nationwide viewership rating of 10.7% for its 10th episode, which aired on the 8th. In the TV drama cast buzz rankings for the first week of November released by Good Data Corporation, Park Jin-young ranked first and Kim Yoo-jung ranked second. This proves that Park Jin-young has established himself as one of the key actors driving the show’s popularity.

His thoughtfulness on set has also been a topic of discussion. On the YouTube channel “Baek Eun-ha’s Give and Take,” which was released on the 13th, Park Jin-young revealed that although there were difficult moments during filming, he couldn’t easily voice his struggles because he was aware of his co-star Kim Yoo-jung’s shooting schedule and workload. This anecdote illustrates how he prioritized the situation of his co-star over his own hardships.
Park Jin-young’s popularity didn’t happen overnight. Having begun his acting career in 2012 with “Dream High 2,” he has expanded his standing as an actor through various works, including “Psychometry: That Guy,” “Yumi’s Cells Season 2,” and “Unknown Seoul.” While continuing his music career as a member of GOT7, he has steadily built up his filmography, and through this latest project, *100 Days of Lies*, he is once again proving his competitiveness as a leading actor.
A down-to-earth young man reading a book on the subway and an actor who exudes a powerful presence on screen—these two contrasting sides actually highlight the charm of Park Jin-young even more clearly. From his unpretentious daily life and serious attitude toward his work to his proven acting prowess. Park Jin-young’s appeal to the public goes beyond mere star power. His career is drawing even more attention because his natural, down-to-earth charm is being complemented by his growth as an actor.