Park Bo-gum

Born in Mok-dong, Yangcheon District, Seoul, South Korea on June 16, 1993, Park is the youngest of three siblings. "Bo-gum" (寶劍) means 'precious sword'. His mother died when he was in fourth grade. He started learning to play the piano when he was in kindergarten and was a pianist and choir member at church. He was also on the varsity swimming team of Seoul Mokdong Middle School.

During Park's sophomore year of high school he sent a video of himself singing and playing the piano to prominent talent management agencies which led to several offers. Park, who initially wanted to be a singer-songwriter, later changed his career path after a suggestion that he would do well acting. He graduated from Shinmok High School in 2012, and enrolled at Myongji University as a Musical Theater undergraduate in March 2014. Despite his acting career, he maintained an active collegiate life and represented his university's cultural overseas exchange program in Europe. Park has also directed a one-act play based on Anton Chekov's works, and served as music director in his graduating class's production of Hairspray. He received his baccalaureate in February 2018.