2025. 10. 21. 16:03ㆍProfiles
Actor Yoon Hyun-min makes a powerful return to the small screen as chaebol heir Park Seong-jae in KBS 2TV’s weekend drama 화려한 날들 (Our Golden Days). With a nuanced performance that captures both warmth and loneliness, Yoon is crafting yet another defining role in his career.
🧩 Profile – Yoon Hyun-min (윤현민)
- Date of Birth: April 15, 1985
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Height: 184 cm
- Agency: Run Entertainment
- Former Occupation: Professional baseball player (Hanwha Eagles, Doosan Bears)
Before stepping into acting, Yoon Hyun-min had an unusual start—as a professional baseball player. He debuted with the Hanwha Eagles in 2005 and later joined the Doosan Bears before retiring in 2008. His career took a complete turn when he watched the musical Finding Kim Jong-wook in Daehak-ro and fell in love with acting.
He made his stage debut in 2010 with the same musical and soon began building his screen presence. His breakout came with tvN dramas Witch’s Romance (2014) and Discovery of Love (2014). Since then, he’s starred in popular series including My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol, Tunnel, Witch at Court, Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter, and Get Revenge, showcasing an impressive emotional range.
Yoon’s charm also extends beyond acting—his natural sincerity and warmth have made him a beloved guest on variety shows like My Little Old Boy and I Live Alone.
💼 Park Seong-jae in Our Golden Days
In Our Golden Days, Yoon portrays Park Seong-jae, the third-generation heir to a conglomerate and the head of a major corporate division. He is the long-time friend of protagonist Lee Ji-hyeok (Jung Il-woo). Seong-jae seems flawless—successful, refined, and confident—but beneath that perfection lies deep loneliness and emotional scars.
Growing up in a cold, high-pressure family environment, he yearns for warmth and genuine connection. Yoon captures these inner contradictions with precision—projecting both composure and vulnerability.
In an interview, Yoon explained,
“Seong-jae looks perfect on the outside, but he’s actually very lonely and human. I wanted to portray the subtle layers of his emotions so that he wouldn’t come off as just another cliché chaebol.”
His performance delicately balances Seong-jae’s friendship with Ji-hyeok and his quiet affection for Ji Eun-oh (Jung In-sun), forming a heartfelt love triangle that anchors the emotional depth of the story.
This marks Yoon’s first KBS weekend drama in five years since Men Are Men (That Guy Is the Guy). Speaking about his comeback, he said,
“I was drawn to the warmth and humanity of this story about family and reconciliation. This time, I wanted to play a more realistic and compassionate man.”
💬 Character Dynamics
- Lee Ji-hyeok (Jung Il-woo): Seong-jae’s close friend and moral counterpoint. Their long friendship is tested by personal ambitions and love.
- Ji Eun-oh (Jung In-sun): The woman Seong-jae silently loves. Her kindheartedness awakens his desire for sincerity and emotional connection.
- Go Seong-hee (Lee Tae-ran): His stepmother and Eun-oh’s biological mother, adding layers of emotional complexity to his family relationships.
Through these intertwined relationships, Park Seong-jae evolves from a “perfect chaebol” into one of the most emotionally grounded characters in the drama.
🎭 Actor & Character – A Subtle Mirror
Yoon Hyun-min’s real-life personality aligns closely with his character. Known for his calm, straightforward, and introspective nature, he brings authenticity to Seong-jae’s controlled but emotionally complex demeanor.
He once said,
“What intrigued me about Seong-jae was that he’s a man of perfection who still carries a sense of emptiness. That contradiction makes him real.”
Yoon also spoke fondly about his chemistry with co-star Jung Il-woo:
“We became real friends on set. The director even said during our first shoot, ‘You two really feel like longtime friends,’ which was encouraging.”
🌟 Yoon Hyun-min’s Charm Points
- From Sportsman to Leading Actor: A rare success story of a former pro athlete turned respected actor.
- Emotional Precision: Skillfully expresses subtle vulnerabilities beneath a composed exterior.
- Authentic Warmth: His down-to-earth personality in both dramas and variety shows makes him relatable and admired.
In Our Golden Days, Yoon Hyun-min’s Park Seong-jae transcends the typical chaebol archetype, portraying a man yearning for genuine human connection amid perfection. His layered performance adds depth and resonance to the drama’s exploration of love, family, and redemption.