Biography
Park Bo-young is a beloved South Korean actress known for her charming screen presence and versatile acting skills. She made her film debut in 2006 and rose to fame with the critically acclaimed movie Scandal Makers (2008), which became one of the highest-grossing Korean films of its time. Park is especially recognized for her roles in romantic comedies and fantasy dramas, such as Oh My Ghost (2015), Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (2017), and Doom at Your Service (2021), where she captivated audiences with her heartfelt performances and natural charisma. With her youthful appearance and emotional depth, Park Bo-young remains one of Korea’s most trusted and bankable leading actresses.
Profile
- Name: Park Bo-young
- Birth Name: Park Bo-young (박보영)
- Birthday: February 12, 1990
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
- Height: 158 cm (5 ft 2 in)
- Instagram: @boyoung0212_official
- Twitter: N/A
Fun Facts
- Her MBTI is ISFP.
- Park Bo-young is frequently cited as an ideal type by many men, particularly those who favor cute personalities.
- She is known as an actress universally loved by people of all ages, but especially as a long-standing ideal type for many men for over a decade.
- Despite her petite height, she tends to be quite noticeable in public.
- She has rarely used social media.
- She reportedly developed a pollen allergy recently, though she didn’t have it before.
- She doesn’t attend many public events.
- At the Blue Dragon Film Awards, she won Best New Actress in 2009 for Scandal Makers and attended the ceremony for ten consecutive years, either as a nominee or presenter. Her consistent presence earned her the nickname “Blue Dragon’s Favorite Actress.”
- Due to her frequent roles in CJ E&M productions such as A Werewolf Boy, Oh My Ghost, and Wicked, she has earned the nickname “CJ’s Daughter.”
- Interestingly, she’s played a nurse three times, each time as the lead character. She has mentioned that she now has a deep understanding of the nursing profession and even memorized how to administer injections.
- Park Bo-young is a self-proclaimed stationery enthusiast. She likes to have pens and stationery items organized by color and, although she often misplaces them, she enjoys replenishing her collection when that happens.
- She used to dislike mint chocolate, saying it tasted like toothpaste, but has since become a fan after developing a taste for it.
- She’s a fan of artist Koo Ja-hyun’s prints and owns some of his work.
- Her favorite films are Notting Hill and the John Wick series.
- She enjoys rice more than bread, prefers soju over beer, and likes to add eggs to her ramen.
- She used to strongly dislike the nickname “Bbo-vely” (a combination of “Bo-young” and “lovely”), as it didn’t match the serious roles she wanted to take on.
- Park Bo-young is widely admired for her generosity and consistent charitable efforts.
- Her ideal type used to be someone mentally healthy, but she’s jokingly said that now she prefers good-looking men.
- She’s very shy with strangers and tends to observe people quietly when in public.
- She has a habit of sticking her tongue out when nervous, which has been caught in many photos at official events.
- She can’t tolerate injustice, and said she gets angriest when she feels she’s being treated unfairly.
Career
Early Beginnings & Breakthrough (2006-2010)
Park Bo-young officially began her acting career in 2006 with the high school television series Secret Campus, where she starred alongside Lee Min-ho. During this formative period, she also took on roles in the historical epic The King and I and the Peabody Award-winning teen drama Jungle Fish with Kim Soo-hyun. These early projects provided a crucial foundation for her burgeoning career, allowing her to hone her skills and gain initial exposure.
Her career experienced a monumental breakthrough in 2008 with the comedy film Scandal Makers. This film achieved immense commercial success, attracting 8.3 million viewers and becoming the top-grossing Korean film of that year. Her portrayal of a “spunky teenage mom” received widespread critical acclaim, leading to multiple “Best New Actress” awards in 2009.
The overwhelming success of Scandal Makers also endeared her to the public, earning her the affectionate title of “Nation’s Little Sister”. She further expanded her filmography with the human rights-themed omnibus short film If You Were Me 4 in 2009. The instant and widespread success of Scandal Makers not only launched her into stardom but also immediately branded her as “Nation’s Little Sister.”
Navigating Challenges & Resurgence (2010-2014)
In 2010, Park Bo-young faced legal disputes with her former agency and a film production company, leading to a multi-year hiatus. She returned in 2011 as the “PiFan Lady” for the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival and officially resumed acting in 2012 with the horror thriller Don’t Click.
That same year, she starred in the blockbuster A Werewolf Boy with Song Joong-ki, which surpassed 7 million admissions. In 2013, she joined the variety show Law of the Jungle, and in 2014, she broke away from her innocent image by playing a tough, foul-mouthed teen in Hot Young Bloods. Her comeback showcased both resilience and a bold shift in her acting range.
Mainstream Success in Film
Beyond her early triumphs, Park Bo-young continued to build a strong filmography, featuring a mix of genres and consistently strong performances that have contributed to both critical acclaim and commercial success.
Notable successes include The Silenced (2015), a mystery thriller set during the Japanese occupation , and On Your Wedding Day (2018), a successful romance film where she reunited with actor Kim Young-kwang. Her most recent film, the disaster thriller Concrete Utopia (2023), co-starring Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-joon, garnered significant acclaim. For this role, she received a Popular Star Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards (2023) and Best Actress at the London East Asia Film Festival (2023).
Television Reign & “Romantic Comedy Queen” (2015-2019)
Park Bo-young made a highly anticipated return to television in 2015, after a seven-year absence, with the romantic comedy Oh My Ghost. Her dual role performance in the series was a commercial and critical success. This comeback solidified her status and earned her the moniker “romantic comedy queen” from the Korean press. Notably, she also reportedly became the highest-paid actress on cable channel tvN at the time, earning USD 27,000 per episode. In 2015, she also appeared in the black comedy Collective Invention and the workplace comedy You Call It Passion.
Her title role in JTBC’s Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017), where she played a character with superhuman strength, became one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history. This role further boosted her popularity and brand value, making her the highest-ranked Korean TV actor in terms of brand value in February and March 2017. In 2019, she continued her television success with tvN’s
Abyss. Her seven-year hiatus from television created significant anticipation for her return, and the choice of Oh My Ghost for her comeback, particularly with its dual roles and subsequent commercial and critical hit status, was a highly effective strategic move.
Recent Works & Future Endeavors (2020–Present)
In 2020, Park Bo-young was cast in the fantasy romance series Doom at Your Service, which premiered in May 2021. She made a notable cameo appearance as her beloved character Do Bong-soon in Strong Girl Nam-soon in 2023 , delighting fans. She starred in the Netflix original series Daily Dose of Sunshine, released in November 2023. Her performance earned her Best Actress awards at the Blue Dragon Series Awards and Brand Customer Loyalty Awards in 2024.
In 2024, she was cast as Kwon Young-ji in the Disney+ web series Light Shop. She was also invited to host the opening ceremony of the 29th Busan International Film Festival , a significant honor in the Korean film industry. Her upcoming projects include the television series Our Unwritten Seoul (2025), where her chemistry with co-star Park Jin-young has already sparked widespread speculation. She also has a confirmed leading role in the drama Melo Movie.
Personal Life
Early Life
Park Bo-young was born on February 12, 1990, in Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. She is the middle child, with two sisters. A notable detail about her family background is her father’s distinguished service in the Special Forces Brigade for 34 years.
Park Bo-young completed her foundational education at Jeungpyeong Elementary School and Jeungpyeong Girls’ Middle School, followed by Daeseong Girls’ Commercial High School. Demonstrating her commitment to acting, she pursued higher education at Dankook University, where she majored in Theater and Film within the Department of Performing Arts.
Even before her official debut, Park Bo-young showed early signs of her talent and dedication to the performing arts. Her foray into the entertainment world began in 2005, while she was still in middle school, with an appearance in a short film titled Equal. This early work garnered critical attention, earning the Challenging Reality Award at the 7th Seoul International Youth Film Festival (SIYFF 2005). Her first television exposure came during her high school years through a public commercial for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.
Relationships
Park Bo-young has largely maintained a private stance on her romantic life, a common practice for South Korean celebrities. However, her on-screen chemistry has frequently led to public speculation.
- Park Hyung-sik: She was notably involved in dating rumors with her Strong Girl Bong-soon co-star Park Hyung-sik in 2017. These rumors resurfaced in October 2024 after they attended a breast cancer awareness event, where Park Bo-young was seen removing an eyelash from Park Hyung-sik’s face. Park Hyung-sik later clarified in a January 2025 interview that the moment was misinterpreted due to editing and was an innocent interaction. Despite his denial, fans continue to express support for the pair, and Park Hyung-sik himself had previously confessed to having a “crush” on her during the drama’s filming.
- Park Jin-young: Park Bo-young and Park Jin-young sparked speculation due to captivating photos showcasing their sweet chemistry beyond their roles in the drama Our Unwritten Seoul. Her agency, BH Entertainment, released promotional photos that evoked a genuine couple atmosphere, leading fans to exclaim, “At this point, aren’t they really dating?”. The article notes their chemistry continues to garner heated discussions even after the drama’s conclusion. The recurring pattern of such speculation highlights a significant aspect of Park Bo-young’s appeal: her exceptional ability to generate believable and intense on-screen chemistry. This chemistry is so compelling that it frequently spills over into real-life speculation, even when officially denied.
Net Worth
Park Bo-young’s estimated net worth is approximately USD 30 million as of 2024, positioning her among the highest-paid actresses in South Korea.
Controversies & Incidents
Dispute with Agency
Park Bo-young faced a significant series of legal disputes with her then-management agency and a film production company in 2010, which resulted in a multi-year forced hiatus from acting. This was a major professional and personal challenge she had to overcome early in her career.
SNL Korea Incident
Comedian Shin Dong-yup drew significant online criticism in June 2025 for publicly pressuring Park Bo-young to appear on the controversial variety show SNL Korea during a live-streamed awards event. Park Bo-young was visibly flustered and awkwardly stated she would “think about it” after being repeatedly nudged.
Shin Dong-yup then jokingly “confirmed” her participation without her direct consent, which angered fans who felt she was put on the spot and pressured. Fans criticized the inappropriate pressure, especially given SNL Korea’s reputation for controversial, explicit sketches and Park Bo-young’s clean image. Neither she nor SNL Korea had officially responded to the controversy at the time of the article’s publication.
Filmography
Film
| Title | Year |
| Equal (Short Film) | 2005 |
| Scandal Makers | 2008 |
| If You Were Me 4 (Short Film) | 2009 |
| Don’t Click | 2012 |
| A Werewolf Boy | 2012 |
| Hot Young Bloods | 2014 |
| The Silenced | 2015 |
| Collective Invention | 2015 |
| You Call It Passion | 2015 |
| On Your Wedding Day | 2018 |
| Concrete Utopia | 2023 |