Korean superstar Park Bo-Young has declared she will never wear that heavy “Mojiri” makeup again after filming Disney+’s thriller “Gold Land.” The actress, known for her bright rom-com roles, underwent a dramatic physical change for the gritty crime series.
Park played Kim Hee-ju, an airport employee who discovers 86 million euros worth of gold bars. The character spirals into greed and paranoia as she flees with the treasure. To portray Hee-ju’s exhaustion and desperation, Park lost weight and barely wore any makeup during production.
The director Kim Sung-hoon wanted Park to look thinner and more drained. He asked her to skip makeup entirely. At first, Park hesitated, thinking she should wear at least a little. But she soon removed almost all of it to match the character’s bleak mental state.
Park later joked about the heavy promotional makeup she wore for “Mojiri,” a playful segment on Yang Se-chan’s YouTube show. There, she and co-star Lee Kwang-soo painted bucket hats and circular breads on their faces, nicknaming themselves “Gwangjiri” and “Parkjiri.” She called that experience fun but said the “Mojiri” look is “never again” after the intense “Gold Land” shoot.
“Gold Land” launched on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, with its first two episodes on Disney+. The 10-episode thriller releases two new episodes every week. The series asks what ordinary people would do if they suddenly found 86 million euros in gold. Would they return it or keep it?
Park admitted this is her first crime drama. She wanted to challenge her “honest” public image. The director told her that many people think she would return the money if she found it. She wanted to prove otherwise by embracing greed and moral ambiguity.
Hee-ju comes from a dysfunctional family and has never been happy. Park lost weight throughout filming to convey her character’s anxiety and tension as she ran away with the gold. The actress said she could relate to Hee-ju’s desire for wealth. She enjoyed living vicariously through that greed, even though it was not a joyful experience.
Director Kim praised Park for completely shedding her public persona. He said she disappeared into the role of Kim Hee-ju. Her emotional journey and action sequences were exceptional, he noted. The film shows greed as an internal struggle, not something visible on the surface.
UK viewers can stream “Gold Land” on Disney+. The show has drawn attention for Park’s bold departure from her “National First Love” image. Fans are impressed by her willingness to appear worn out and makeup-free.
Park’s transformation marks a turning point in her career. She is no longer just the cute rom-com star. She is now ready for darker, more complex roles. Her “Moriji” makeup joke hints at how exhausting that transformation truly was.
For British audiences, “Gold Land” offer a gripping survival thriller with universal themes of greed and morality. Park Bo-young’s raw performance makes it a must-watch on Disney+ this spring.