Park Bo-gum Shines in Netflix’s ‘Goodbye Earth’ as a True Symbol of Agape Love
Park Bo-gum possesses an extraordinary charm — both on and off the screen. His warmth is bright yet never frivolous, and his depth is heavy yet not burdensome. These nuances come alive in his role as Gwan-sik in Netflix’s Goodbye Earth. Gwan-sik is a man who speaks more through actions than words, quietly standing by his loved ones’ sides.
In a recent interview, Park Bo-gum shared his feelings about portraying Gwan-sik, a resilient, loyal man devoted to his lifelong love, Ae-soon, played by IU. Despite appearing less frequently on screen than fans might have wished, he expressed gratitude, saying, “I was simply happy to be part of a project where every actor is a protagonist.” He praised writer Lim Sang-choon’s script for vividly painting 1960s Korea and added, “Just to have this work included in my filmography is an honor.”
Goodbye Earth premiered with four episodes every Friday from March 7 to 28, totaling 16 episodes. Its popularity soared, ranking No.1 in Gallup Korea’s ‘April’s Most Favorite TV Program’ and staying in Netflix’s Global Top 10 across 32 countries for seven consecutive weeks.
Park worked hard to embody Gwan-sik, even gaining 5kg and applying darker foundation to achieve the sun-tanned athletic look demanded by director Kim Won-seok. As Gwan-sik transitions into adulthood, becoming a father, Park focused on capturing the unconditional, agape love his character embodies. “I tried to express how precious Ae-soon and our children are,” he humbly revealed.
The adult Gwan-sik is portrayed by veteran actor Park Hae-jun. Park Bo-gum expressed deep thanks, noting, “Thanks to my senior, the emotional flow between young and adult Gwan-sik felt seamless. He strengthened the overall aura of Gwan-sik.”
Fans highlighted the natural synchronicity between Park Bo-gum and Gwan-sik’s character, attributing their similarities to Park’s well-known respectful and kind demeanor. “Gwan-sik is someone I’d like to emulate,” Park confessed. He emphasized learning from Gwan-sik’s unwavering character but humorously added, “Unlike Gwan-sik, I’m much more straightforward and expressive.”
Through this project, Park was reminded of the enduring power of good writing. He shared, “Goodbye Earth made me reflect on the kind of adult I want to be. It made me think more deeply about family and about expressing love and appreciation to those around us.”
When asked which seasons his projects fit best, he smiled and said, “Reply 1988 is winter. Goodbye Earth is spring. And my upcoming drama Good Boy will be for summer. Now all we need is a project for fall.” Thus, with each project, Park Bo-gum solidifies his place not just as a youth icon but as a profound actor of his generation.
