[TF Interview] Park Bo-kyung, the 'lottery' of her acting career that has truly hit
Played with passion as Park Hyun-sook, head of the sales department"2026, the year I used up all the luck in my life."Actress Park Bo-kyung recently met with
at O2 Tower in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to discuss the TVING original series 'The First Place Winner Also Clocks In'. /Elzilai Entertainment[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] For actress Park Bo-kyung, 2026 is truly a year like winning the lottery. After a long hiatus, she has returned to acting and received the Best Supporting Actress award at this year's Blue Dragon Series Awards, marking a new turning point in her acting career. Park Bo-kyung, who has opened a new golden age at her own pace after a long wait. This is why her next chapter in her acting career is even more anticipated.Actress Park Bo-kyung recently held an interview at O2 Tower in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, with to commemorate the release of the TVING original series 'The First Place Winner Also Clocks In' (written and directed by Yoon Young-bin). Playing the role of Park Hyun-sook, she shared various stories related to the work.The drama is a K-office comedy about team leader Gong Eun-tae (played by Lee Joon-hyuk), who endures day by day being pushed around, but after winning the lottery, he goes to work with a different mindset, carrying 1.3 billion won in winnings instead of a resignation letter. It concluded on the 13th, with a total of 10 episodes.Park Bo-kyung led the drama as Park Hyun-sook, the head of the sales department at Hongsung International. She is a character who has been in charge of the company's frontline from the bottom up. Now, as a department head, she is drawing a big picture for Hongsung and looking for someone who can complete that picture.In this way, Park Bo-kyung portrayed a boss who recognizes her employees' achievements, a leader who takes responsibility in times of crisis, and a mother who feels sorry for her family. She completed the image of a boss one would want to meet in reality by blending warmth within a solid charisma."I remember a comment that said, 'My deputy manager needs to see this.' (Laughs) The director explained that Manager Park is not only good at her job but also the first person to rush to a family event and give 3 million won. As soon as I heard that, I understood exactly what kind of person she was."The most important aspect for Park Bo-kyung in building the character was the image of someone who is 'good at her job.' She wanted to portray a character who earns the respect of those around her through her skills and attitude, not just the authority that comes with her position.Park Bo-kyung led the drama as Park Hyun-sook, head of the sales department, in 'The First Place Winner Also Clocks In.' /Screenshot from the broadcast"She's someone who came to the company to work. I was curious about what a truly competent woman would look like, and what it would be like to be respected by those around her. I learned a lot from the lines. Manager Park always valued principles, but people were always more important than those principles. I found that aspect truly admirable."To this end, Park Bo-kyung focused on expressing Park Hyun-sook's static authority. Instead of raising her voice or showing strong actions, she aimed to reveal the character's weight through restrained glances and demeanor."My authority doesn't come from how I speak. I thought people around you make you that way. When praising, look them directly in the eye, and when pointing out mistakes, comfort them. The advice to look at someone clearly only when you have something to say was a great help in creating the character."Besides being a competent professional, Park Hyun-sook also had the face of a 'working mom' balancing work and childcare. For Park Bo-kyung, who is raising two children herself, this setting was particularly meaningful. She explained, "It's true that being a 'working mom' is tough, but I didn't want it to be portrayed as too difficult.""The director asked me, 'Bo-kyung, how were you before you came to filming today?' My children cheered me on, saying, 'Mom, go do well.' While talking with the director about that, we discussed how we didn't want 'working moms' to be portrayed as too difficult. I wanted to create a character who doesn't lose her maternal instincts but is also good at her job and respected by her subordinates."This sentiment was infused with the time Park Bo-kyung had personally experienced. Park Bo-kyung married actor Jin Sun-kyu in 2010 and has a daughter and a son. She then had an acting hiatus of about 8 years due to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare. However, Park Bo-kyung calmly reflected, "I raised my children because I am a mother, and that's how the hiatus happened.""On set, they asked me, 'We have to go for filming out of town, would that be okay?' Of course, that's something an actor has to do. At that moment, I realized I shouldn't use my children as an excuse. So, I wanted to do even better on set."As she resumed acting, Park Bo-kyung discovered emotions she hadn't even realized she had. She recalled, "After an audition, I came home and talked to my husband a lot."Park Bo-kyung expressed her determination to become an actress who can give strength to others with positive influence. /Screenshot from the broadcast"My husband said, 'My dear, you seem excited.' It was only then that I realized, 'I really wanted to do this.' I had never shown such feelings while raising my children. I didn't want my husband to feel sorry, and I tried not to feel that way myself to avoid feeling depressed. But I guess I was really excited and happy. (Laughs)"Her mindset towards acting also changed during this hiatus. She said, "I think I've gained some leeway." "In my 20s and 30s, I used to struggle and be afraid when I failed auditions. But now, I think of roles as connections. Now, if I don't get a role, I can let it go, thinking, 'It wasn't my role.'""It means I've become an icon for friends who have similar hiatuses. Hearing that made me realize how important my future endeavors are. Until now, I've just done the work given to me without thinking I would influence anyone. But to hear that I'm giving some kind of hope to someone, I feel like I really need to live well."The time she has steadily accumulated has led to valuable results this year. In July, Park Bo-kyung won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 5th Blue Dragon Series Awards for the Netflix original series 'Lady Doua.' In addition, by consecutively showcasing 'The First Place Winner Also Clocks In,' her golden age as an actress has begun."I feel like I've used up all the luck in my life. Things I never dreamed of keep happening. After receiving the award, senior Kang Mal-geum told me, 'Bo-kyung, a big door will open, and that door will be heavy. But when you open that door, you'll find a vast world and people. Open that door.' I think that door is 'The First Place Winner Also Clocks In.' Every time someone tells me they enjoyed the work, I feel like I've done a good job."That's why 2026 is a stroke of luck similar to 'winning the lottery' for Park Bo-kyung. She said, "I think I'm an actress who follows the title," and added, "Through this work, I've had round interviews, and this is a lottery-like moment in my life.""I watched a video of Kim Hye-ja telling young actors, 'I know how hard it is to sit here.' Those words were a great comfort. Her words have power because of the life she has lived and the filmography she has built. I also want to become an actress with a positive influence who can give strength to someone someday."[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]subin7134@tf.co.kr
