Why actor Park Seo Jun doesn’t give in to peer pressure-led ‘healthy lifestyle’

Park recalls this time as “overwhelming”. Before scoring any significant role, he made the unusual decision to enlist in the military, thinking that focusing on physical training and gathering his thoughts would allow him to better organise his future.

It might have been an unconventional road to success, but prioritising his physical and mental health is a must for the actor. So it’s perhaps no surprise that he was chosen as wellness brand Lululemon’s ambassador in 2024. Park has prominently featured in this year’s campaign, “Together we grow,” which focuses on empowerment through movement and community building.

“To me, physical well-being contributes to my mental well-being,” he tells Tatler. “[These days], I try to work out at least four times a week to relieve stress and stay energised. [I particularly enjoy] weight training and running.”

Being part of the film industry means Park has to adapt his physical form to the demands of the role or the character he is playing at any given time. It is a physical and mental exercise that very few professionals manage to go through healthily, especially when playing challenging roles. For Park, this challenge arose when he played martial arts fighter Ko Dong-man in Fight For My Way (2017). 

“[It] was one of the most impressive projects for me, particularly in training my physical capabilities,” he says. “From the start of filming to the end, I exercised continuously for about four months. Before we began shooting, I worked out about eight hours each day to build my energy. 

“It’s memorable because once filming started, aside from taking a little time to sleep, I focused entirely on my acting and training,” he adds. “Looking back, I think it was physically demanding in some ways, but in other ways, moving my body and sweating was a great stress reliever and mental refreshment.”

Park has an impressive roster of roles to feel proud of: he played Lee Young-joon in the beloved What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), Park Sae-ro-yi in Itaewon Class (2020), he did a cameo in the award-winning Parasite (2019) by Bong Joon-ho and he made his Hollywood debut in The Marvels (2023). 

With such a busy schedule, Park has had to learn how to pace himself. Self-care wasn’t a priority at the beginning of his career, but it has certainly grown in importance in the past years. 

“As an actor, it’s easy to become immersed in new projects, which can lead to an irregular lifestyle, making it challenging to take proper care of myself,” he says. “So [these days], I take longer leaves from work to relieve stress and focus on my well-being. I believe that only by being in different environments can one break free from pressure. Sometimes, being alone can be a good opportunity to take care of oneself.”

While highlighting the importance of taking “some quiet downtime to de-stress”, Park also warns about the flip side of leading a so-called “healthy lifestyle” due to peer pressure. Indeed, the pressure to keep up with well-being practices is making people feel unwell, as shown in Lululemon’s 2024 Global Well-being Report. The overwhelming societal expectation to appear well is called “well-being burnout,” and 89 per cent of those experiencing it say loneliness is a contributing factor.

“A persistent feeling of loneliness can contribute to well-being burnout,” Park confirms. “[That’s why it’s important for me to] spend time with my close friends between projects to relax, travel and connect. The connections I have with people I value help me feel better.”

As 2024 is coming to an end, Park wants to continue to focus on his well-being. He tells Tatler how this year was made better thanks to the warm reception of Netflix’s Gyeongseong Creature season 2, and that he wants to do his best to bring more shows and movies of this calibre to his fans. 

“For the rest of the year, think my greatest hope is to enjoy good health and a simple life each day, bringing a sense of stability to my daily life,” he says. “I’m still thinking about my next project, and hopefully I will be able to share some good news about it soon.” Fans will be eagerly waiting for his plans too—but only after he gets some well-deserved rest.

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