Believe in yourself and move forward amidst the waves of regret
Essay by Park Joong-hoon, a 40-year veteran actor

Since his debut in the 1986 film "Kambo," actor Park Joong-hoon has made people laugh and cry at the center of fin-de-siècle popular films such as "Mimi and Cheolsu's Youth Sketch," "Two Cops," and "Killing My Wife."
Having established himself as a representative actor of South Korea, leading numerous box office hits, he has published an essay 40 years after his debut.
As an actor, director, husband, and father, he has openly shared his inner thoughts, the affection he feels for his life, and the praise he gives to his loved ones, all of which he has never publicly revealed in a single book.

Beyond the roles of actor, director, husband, and father
A work called Life Taken Out for the First Time

Many people remember actor Park Joong-hoon as a 'comedy specialist'.
And I smile when I think of him.
This is also evidence of the years of doing my best to make people laugh.
But he actually says:
Even during those times when I ran with a smile on my face, there were countless regrets.
He confesses that he has moved forward by embracing regrets as a part of life rather than avoiding them, sometimes confronting them head on and sometimes laughing at them.

The fun days, the nerve-wracking days, the happy days, and the days until I got back up again.
This book contains the anxieties of a top star hidden under the dazzling spotlight, the fears of facing new challenges, and the footsteps of an actor who ran to live a life without regrets despite all of this.

This book contains the honest life story of actor Park Joong-hoon, who honestly admits that he himself is not a perfect person.
As you read, you may feel hurt, frustrated, and somewhat sloppy, but his human charm always moves the reader's heart and makes them root for him.

If reflection is a forward-looking thought to learn from past mistakes and not repeat them in the future, regret is considered to be an obsessive attitude of just beating one's chest and trying not to do so.
Even though I lived with such a generous heart, now that I think about it, there are so many things I regret.
--- From the "Prologue"

The average life expectancy of Koreans is 85 years, which is 75,000 hours.
That's about as much time as I can have in my life.
If 10 million people see my two-hour film in theaters, I've been entrusted with 20 million hours.
I am so happy and honored that I was able to make people laugh for that long.
And I consider it a great fortune in my life.
Another reason why I consider myself lucky.
--- From "Lucky One"

There is something I don't believe.
It means that someone has a lot of pride.
It's not that stars have high pride, their wives have high pride, and the chairman doesn't have high pride.
The size of human pride is the same.
However, there are those who are in a position to show off their pride and those who have no choice but to endure it.
People are all the same.
--- From "Pride"

I was able to act and be called by my father's name for the entire six months of filming.
Although I can no longer touch my father's body, he was and is still by my side.
My mother protects me from heaven and gives me courage when I am having a hard time.
It's been 26 years since my father passed away, but I still miss him.
If someone were to ask me to act out 'Longing', I'm confident I could do a really good job.
More than anyone else.
--- From "Take All My Fortune"

To be able to move someone's heart and offer them a moment of comfort—isn't that the greatest compliment an actor can receive?
And actually, I console myself by playing such characters.
Because I'm not a perfect person.
Because he is a person with many flaws and vulnerabilities.
From 'My Gangster Role'
I always ask myself when faced with an important choice:
'If I don't do this, will I regret it when I die?'
If I were to die as a director without ever making a single film, I would definitely regret it.
When I hesitated about whether to do something or not, I lived my life making the choice to 'do it'.
Even if I regret it, I chose the path of doing and regretting it rather than regretting not doing it.
And then after doing it, I try not to regret it.
Because it's the path I chose.
--- From "Don't Regret"

Film acting can be said to be acting with the eyes, but if there is no gun in the eyes, it is difficult to convey emotions.
Even if it's not an action scene, acting is something you express with your body.
So, for an actor, the body can be said to be an instrument, like a piano for a pianist.

--- From "Physical Strength is Acting Skill"