Park Jin-young addresses viral photos of himself on Busan subway

GOT7 member Park Jin-young confirmed he was the individual in viral subway photos from Busan, where he was seen reading from a list of 28 books while wearing pink socks. During a live broadcast, the actor explained he used wired earphones because his wireless ones had no battery.

GOT7 member and actor Park Jin-young has spoken out regarding photos captured of him on the Busan subway without a mask. While traveling alone in Busan, images of him reading a book on public transportation went viral online, leading the artist to share candid reflections ranging from the fact that no one recognized him to a confident explanation of his unique fashion choice.

Photos of Park Jin-young traveling alone in Busan recently spread rapidly online. In the images, he was seen wearing wired earphones and reading a book without a mask. His unique styling, featuring short shorts paired with pink socks, also drew significant attention. Fans focused on his natural appearance as he enjoyed daily life using public transportation, appearing unconcerned by his status as a famous celebrity.

Park Jin-young's distinctive reading habits added to the buzz. His reading list, revealed alongside the images, contained as many as 28 books. Interest in his literary tastes grew as it was noted that he has read various works, including Osamu Dazai's 'No Longer Human' and works by Haruki Murakami. His deep interest in reading, alongside his activities in music and acting, presented a different charm to the public.

Following the viral spread of the photos, Park Jin-young explained the situation during a live broadcast. He confirmed he was the person in the photos, stating, "I guess I was photographed while I was in Busan. I was on the subway." He added with a laugh, "It actually hurt my heart a little because truly no one recognized me, but I was riding comfortably with my mask off." His honest reaction captured the intersection of a celebrity's desire to be recognized and the comfort of using public transit without restrictions.

He also explained why he was wearing wired earphones at the time. "I was riding the subway, and coincidentally my wireless earphones had no battery, so I hurriedly bought and used wired ones," he explained, adding, "I had nothing to do, so I read a book." He clarified that the scene in the photos was not a staged or intentional act, but a natural moment from his daily life during the trip.

Regarding the pink socks that became a hot topic online, Park Jin-young offered a bold defense. As interest poured in over his unique fashion, he jokingly said, "That is actually very sophisticated," drawing more laughter. His reaction, appearing unbothered by the gaze of others and confident in his own style, showcased his characteristic cheerful charm.

Meanwhile, Park Jin-young continues to balance music and acting as a member of GOT7 and an actor. He is currently active in the tvN drama '100 Days of Deception,' playing the role of Kim Tae-ung. In contrast to his serious acting in the production, his down-to-earth daily life—reading books on the Busan subway and sporting pink socks—has drawn interest from fans, revealing another side of Park Jin-young outside of the stage and screen.

Read the original (Korean)