In a candid interview with MyDaily on July 1 at BH Entertainment in Seoul, actor and GOT7 member Park Jinyoung discussed his recent role in tvN’s weekend drama Our Unwritten Seoul and opened up about his army days.
A viral clip of Jinyoung dancing to Jeon Somi’s “Fast Forward” during the Ground Forces Festival caught fans’ attention due to his visibly bulkier physique. “Even the members teased me, saying I danced harder than at concerts,” he laughed. “But there was a rumor that we’d get the maximum legal leave if we performed well, so I went all out.”
Despite the “bulk-up” buzz, Jinyoung clarified, “It wasn’t bulking, it was just weight gain—‘salk-up’ instead of ‘bulk-up’,” he joked. “People kept saying I gained a lot of muscle, but I never corrected them. If that’s what they think, then fine.”
Determined to return to the screen in shape, he began cutting weight two months before discharge. “I started running every morning and evening. I also reduced my food portions—only ate big rice bowls for breakfast and cut down lunch and dinner. Then I swapped dinner with just chicken breast,” he explained.
His weight peaked at 79kg during the army. Now, he weighs 68kg, marking a significant 11kg weight loss. “My fellow soldiers helped a lot—eating snacks in front of me to train my willpower,” he chuckled.
Reflecting on military life, Jinyoung shared, “It humbled me. You start from the bottom, meet all kinds of people, and question your value in a new system. That reset helped me reapproach work with a beginner’s mindset. I hope to hold onto that humility as long as I can.”
With a renewed outlook and a fitter physique, Park Jinyoung is ready for his next chapter, both mentally and physically leaner than ever.
