PARK BO GUM

is a South Korean actor and host (born June 16, 1993). He gained acclaim with his diverse range of roles in television dramas: playing a cello prodigy in Cantabile Tomorrow (2014), a psychopathic lawyer in Hello Monster (2015), a genius Baduk player in Reply 1988 (2015) and the real-life Crown Prince Lee Yeong in the historical drama Love in the Moonlight (2016). From May 2015 to June 2016, he hosted Music Bank on KBS2.

Biography

Born in Seoul on 16 June 1993, Park is the youngest of three siblings. His mother passed away when he was in fourth grade. His name means "precious sword" (寶劍). He started learning to play piano when he was five and initially wanted to be a singer-songwriter.

Park was in the swimming varsity team of Seoul Mokdong Middle School. During his sophomore year of high school, he sent a video of himself singing and playing the piano to prominent talent management agencies which led to several offers. Park, who have never thought of becoming an actor, later changed his career path after a suggestion that he would do well acting. After graduating from Shinmok High School, he enrolled at Myongji University's Film and Musical Studies Department. In 2015, he represented his university's cultural overseas exchange program where he traveled to cities in England, France, Italy and Switzerland.

Considered a "New Generation Hallyu Star", Park is also known for his upstanding persona. Colleagues describe him as kind and polite with the Korean media dubbing him the "National Man of Good Influence". In addition, advertisers often cite his "boyishness and manliness", "easygoing and high-class image" and "bright and positive vibe".