Park Ji-hoon Returns in “Weak Hero Class 2” with Deeper Emotions and Fierce Battles

Netflix’s new original series Weak Hero Class 2 (written by Park Hyun-woo and Yoo Soo-min, directed by Yoo Soo-min) premieres globally on April 25. The series follows the story from Weak Hero Class 1, which first aired on Wavve in November 2022.

A Darker Chapter of Growth and Violence

Weak Hero Class 2 tells the brutal survival and radiant coming-of-age story of model student Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon), who transfers to Eunjang High School burdened with trauma after failing to protect his friends. Determined not to lose anyone else, he chooses to confront even greater violence.

In Class 1, Yeon Si-eun lost his close friends Ahn Su-ho (Choi Hyun-wook) and Oh Beom-seok (Hong Kyung). Now, in a new environment, Si-eun meets new allies but must fight harder than ever to protect them.

Park Ji-hoon said, “It’s hard to define this season in one word because it carries so much meaning. If anything, it’s a story of a boy’s growth as he faces stronger violence.”

Notably, Class 1 received widespread praise for Park’s expressive performance, especially through his eyes. “I didn’t try to force emotions like sadness or anger,” he explained. “I just tried to understand Si-eun’s emotions, trusting the audience would feel them too. Rather than trying to act, I aimed to absorb the situation. I think my love for the character helped me express him better.”

Evolving Fights and a Fresh Ensemble

Asked if we’ll see similar acting in Class 2, Park said, “I tried to go even deeper emotionally. I wanted Si-eun’s desperation to come through in his eyes.” He added, “I hope viewers look forward to the new relationships Si-eun forms and how he faces new challenges.”

Si-eun’s fighting ability has also evolved. “His combat skills have increased significantly, so much that I even questioned, ‘Was Si-eun always this strong?’ He doesn’t want to fight but keeps getting dragged into violence. Thanks to memories of training with Su-ho and continued struggles, he’s grown in action too. There’s more than just his signature pen fights this time, he uses other objects too,” Park shared.

Park Ji-hoon remains the only returning cast member from Class 1, leading the new season with a fresh ensemble. “There was a new sense of pressure,” he admitted. “Some actors brought high-speed energy, some brought grounded power, and others had razor-sharp precision. I was worried whether Si-eun could make new friends, but I really felt the energy from the cast. It was so fun, I barely thought of Class 1 during filming.”

Director Yoo Soo-min, who helms both seasons, shared, “Since we created Class 1 together, we talked a lot based on those memories. Park Ji-hoon’s body and heart truly remembered Yeon Si-eun. As a director, I was able to resolve many challenges thanks to him. I want to thank him for embodying Yeon Si-eun from beginning to end, carrying the heavy burden of a lead character across both seasons with such dedication.”

Weak Hero Class 2 premieres April 25 on Netflix.