An idol’s second act: GOT7’s Jinyoung writes a new chapter on screen

For years, Jinyoung has been better known as a member of K-pop boy band GOT7, which helped establish his career in the music industry. Now, a different side of him is drawing attention.

In tvN’s ongoing period drama “100 Days of Deception,” the singer-actor plays an interpreter whose seemingly cold demeanor masks a more layered personality. His restrained performance has drawn attention from viewers, some of whom were surprised to discover he was already an established K-pop star.

The discovery has taken on a life of its own online. As scenes from the drama circulate across social media, so, too, do videos of Jinyoung singing, giving his newly acquired audience a glimpse of the musical career that preceded his latest acting turn. For some viewers, the revelation is that the actor commanding their attention on screen has long had another life in the spotlight.

A new wave of attention

Set during Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, “100 Days of Deception” casts Jinyoung as Sato Hideo, also known by his Korean name Kim Tae-woong, an elite interpreter working for Japan's colonial administration in Korea. Born Korean but adopted by a Japanese military officer, Tae-woong occupies an uneasy position between two worlds.

He falls for Lee Ga-kyung, played by Kim You-jung, a former pickpocket who agrees to spy for the Korean independence movement in return for help getting to the US.

But Tae-woong keeps his feelings to himself, allowing affection to surface instead in small, understated gestures that betray the emotions he struggles to conceal.

Much of the character's complexity lies in what he leaves unsaid. Through measured expressions and barely perceptible shifts in emotion, Jinyoung conveys Tae-woong's inner conflict without resorting to overt displays of anguish or affection.

In comments released ahead of the drama's seventh episode, director Yoo In-sik singled out the actor's expressive eyes as central to the performance.

“Park Jin-young has remarkably clear eyes,” Yoo said. “When I look into his eyes, I'm immediately struck by the sense of innocence carried in his gaze.”

Yoo also praised the subtle changes in Jinyoung's gaze as Tae-woong wavers or experiences pain, noting the emotional depth the actor brings to moments that might otherwise pass without words.

The renewed attention to Jinyoung's acting has also brought his music back into the conversation.

A May performance of “When I Stop Thinking,” featuring singer Choi Yu-ree, has amassed more than 31 million views on YouTube as of Wednesday. Clips of Jinyoung performing Sung Si-kyung's “Eternally” and Kim Gwang-seok's “Around Thirty” on KBS 2's “The Seasons: Sung Si-kyung's Ear Candy” have each drawn more than 500,000 views.

From a determined trainee to GOT7

Born in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, in September 1994, Jinyoung began taking dance lessons in middle school. With no specialized dance academy in his hometown, he made three-hour round trips to Busan for training.

In 2009, he auditioned for JYP Entertainment alongside future GOT7 bandmate Jay B. The two tied for first place among more than 10,000 applicants and joined the agency as trainees.

Jinyoung made his acting debut in January 2012 with a supporting role in the KBS drama “Dream High 2,” followed four months later by his musical debut in JJ Project alongside Jay B.

Following an approximately 18-month hiatus, the duo debuted again as members of GOT7 in January 2014.

Jinyoung later recalled the uncertainty of that period, saying it forced him to recognize his shortcomings and reconsider what it meant to work toward a dream.

“When I debuted with JJ Project, I realized how much there was still left for me to improve,” Jinyoung said in a 2014 interview with OBS News. “So when I got the chance to debut again with GOT7, I pushed myself and practiced relentlessly.”

As GOT7 established itself as a prominent K-pop group, Jinyoung continued pursuing acting.

His portrayal of the teenage male lead in JTBC’s “My Love Eun Dong” in 2015 earned early praise, particularly for his emotional performance. He later took on his first major role in the 2017 JTBC series “Magic School.”

Jinyoung’s acting career gained further momentum through the romance drama “Yumi’s Cells,” in which he played Yoo Ba-bi, a charming but emotionally complex character.

He demonstrated his versatility in the 2022 thriller “Christmas Carol,” portraying twin brothers — one with a developmental disability and the other seeking revenge for his brother’s death.

The performance earned him best new actor honors at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards and the 43rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, establishing his credentials beyond television romance.

During his mandatory military service from 2023 to 2024, Jinyoung read the script for the 2025 drama “Our Unwritten Seoul,” and joined the production following his discharge.

Beyond the spotlight

Away from the stage and screen, Jinyoung has cultivated quieter interests, particularly reading, watching films and spending time alone.

His interest in books developed after he began his career as an idol. In past interviews, he recalled how the repetitive cycle of rehearsals, performances and other schedules sometimes left him feeling as though he were operating like a machine. Reading offered an opportunity to exercise his imagination and think independently.

He initially gravitated toward romance novels by French author Guillaume Musso before exploring works including Osamu Dazai's “No Longer Human,” Han Kang's “Human Acts” and Milan Kundera's “Slowness.”

Despite his reputation as an avid reader, Jinyoung has been quick to poke fun at his literary image.

“I really do love books, but I don't read that many, and I'm a very slow reader,” he said in a 2022 interview with Marie Claire Korea, joking that he had once been a little pretentious about his reading habits.

Jinyoung has also described himself as an introvert who values time alone. In a 2021 interview with Esquire Korea, he explained that solitude helps him organize his thoughts and relieve stress, and swimming was one of his favorite ways to spend his free time.

His interest in films, meanwhile, extends beyond his profession. In a 2022 interview with Cine21, Jinyoung named “Titanic,” “Howl's Moving Castle” and Wong Kar-wai's “In the Mood for Love” among his favorites, explaining that watching accomplished actors motivates him to improve his own performances.

Beyond his personal interests, Jinyoung has also supported various charitable causes, including programs for children with disabilities, disaster relief efforts and meal assistance for underprivileged children. In May, he contributed 50 million won ($37,000) to Save the Children for music education programs overseas, bringing his cumulative donations to the organization to 210 million won.