Director Yeon Sang-ho Praises Park Jeong-min's 'Justin Bieber-Level' Fame in Toronto

Director Yeon Sang-ho, the visionary behind the upcoming film 'The Beast', has shed light on the surprising international popularity of lead actor Park Jeong-min.

During a press conference held on the afternoon of the 10th at Megabox COEX in Seoul, for the movie 'The Beast', Director Yeon shared his experiences from the recent 50th Toronto International Film Festival.

"In Toronto, Park Jeong-min is a true star. They even call him the 'Justin Bieber of Toronto' there," Yeon revealed. "It was truly joyful to watch the film in a 1,800-seat theater packed with fans." Park Jeong-min responded with a witty remark, stating, "My popularity has significantly increased in the past two years, thanks to the unexpected warm support from the Korean diaspora."

'The Beast' tells the story of Lim Dong-hwan (played by Park Jeong-min), the son of a blind master craftsman Lim Young-gyu (played by Kwon Hae-hyo and Park Jeong-min), who uncovers the truth behind his mother's death, whose skeletal remains were discovered after being missing for 40 years. The film has already garnered critical acclaim by being invited to the 'Special Presentations' section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.

'The Beast' is set to premiere on the 11th.

Park Jeong-min starred alongside Lee Byung-hun and Kim Yun-jin in the 2023 film 'Concrete Utopia', receiving acclaim for his acting performances.

He participated in a red carpet event with director Lee Jung-jae and actor Jung Woo-sung for the 2022 film 'Hunt', garnering immense global fan reactions.

Furthermore, Park Jeong-min expanded his acting range by portraying a memorable villain in the 2021 film 'Deliver Us from Evil', winning Best Supporting Actor awards at various film ceremonies.