Park Shin-yang Recreates Iconic 'Lovers in Paris' Serenade on Running Man

Park Shin-yang, one of the most beloved leading men in Korean drama history, sent waves of nostalgia crashing through living rooms across South Korea on March 22 when he appeared on SBS's long-running variety show Running Man and recreated the legendary serenade scene from the 2004 mega-hit drama Lovers in Paris. The moment, which saw the actor sit at a piano and perform the drama's iconic confession song "Can I Love You?" (사랑해도 될까요), left both the cast and viewers visibly moved, with fans flooding social media to declare that the 57-year-old actor simply "hasn't aged."

The appearance marked Park Shin-yang's first visit to Running Man in 13 years, his previous guest spot dating back to January 2013 in Episode 128. But more than just a variety show return, the episode served as a powerful reminder of why Lovers in Paris remains etched in the collective memory of an entire generation of K-drama fans, and why Park Shin-yang continues to command deep affection from audiences more than two decades after the drama first aired.

The Legacy of 'Lovers in Paris' and the Hallyu Wave It Helped Build

Lovers in Paris (파리의 연인) aired on SBS from June 12 to August 15, 2004, spanning 20 episodes that captivated the nation. Written by Kim Eun-sook, who would go on to become one of Korea's most celebrated drama writers with hits like Goblin and Descendants of the Sun, the series was the first installment in her famous Lovers trilogy. Co-starring Kim Jung-eun and Lee Dong-gun, the drama told a Cinderella-style romance set against the backdrop of Paris, blending comedy, heart, and undeniable chemistry between its leads.

The numbers alone tell a staggering story. Lovers in Paris achieved an average viewership rating of 41.1% and peaked at an extraordinary 57.6%, making it the most-watched Korean drama of 2004 and ranking it among the top-rated K-dramas of all time. These are figures that modern dramas, fragmented across streaming platforms and cable networks, can scarcely dream of reaching. At the time, the drama was a genuine cultural phenomenon, with its quotes, fashion choices, and romantic set pieces becoming part of everyday conversation across Korea.

Perhaps no scene was more iconic than Park Shin-yang's character serenading Kim Jung-eun with "Can I Love You?" at the piano. The confession song became one of the most recognizable romantic moments in Korean television history, spawning countless parodies, tributes, and fond memories. Other memorable elements, including the famous piggy bank scene and Park's character's signature use of the endearment "Aegiya" (baby), became cultural touchstones that transcended the drama itself.

Beyond Korea's borders, Lovers in Paris played a significant role in the early Hallyu wave. The drama was broadcast across Asia, finding enthusiastic audiences in China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, where a Tagalog-dubbed version aired on ABS-CBN, marking one of the first K-dramas to reach Filipino viewers. It earned the Grand Prize for Television at the 2005 Baeksang Arts Awards and won Best Television Drama at the 2005 Asian Television Awards, cementing its status as a landmark in Korean entertainment exports. The drama was later adapted into a musical theatre production in 2012, a testament to its enduring appeal.

Park Shin-yang's Remarkable Journey from Leading Man to Painter

Park Shin-yang, born on November 1, 1968, built one of the most impressive careers in Korean acting history. Before Lovers in Paris catapulted him to household-name status, he had already proven his dramatic range in acclaimed films like The Letter (1997) and A Promise (1998). Following the drama's massive success, he continued to deliver memorable performances in War of Money (2007), Painter of the Wind (2008), Sign (2011), and My Lawyer, Mr. Jo (2016).

However, in the years since his last major acting role, Park Shin-yang has undergone a remarkable personal transformation, reinventing himself as a serious visual artist. He began painting intensively and in January 2024 held his first solo art exhibition, The 4th Wall, at the mM Art Center in Pyeongtaek, featuring more than 20 paintings exploring themes of illusion and reality. The exhibition was accompanied by a book of the same name containing 131 drawings.

In a revealing interview on singer Sung Si-kyung's YouTube channel, Park addressed persistent retirement rumors, firmly denying them while explaining that painting and acting are essentially the same form of expression for him. He stated that he is not dissatisfied about not acting and that through art, he is expressing himself immensely. In 2025, he expanded his artistic reach internationally with a solo exhibition at the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka, Japan, titled Talking K Art. Now recognized as a 13-year veteran painter, Park Shin-yang has carved out a second career that is every bit as passionate as his first.

A Detective Race at the Art Museum: The Running Man Episode

The March 22 episode of Running Man was cleverly designed to merge Park Shin-yang's two identities as both actor and painter. Titled "Detective Agency: Find the Original," the race began with a video request from Park, who arrived at the Running Man detective office asking the members to help find a "genuine article" among fakes. The episode was filmed at the Sejong Center Art Museum, where Park Shin-yang's own solo exhibition is currently on display, giving viewers a rare glimpse into his artistic life.

The premise revolved around a theft: while receiving famous paintings from around the world, a masterpiece goes missing, and the Running Man detectives must identify the one real painting hidden among counterfeits. The setup allowed for moments that showcased Park's expertise as a painter, including a challenging painting mission that highlighted his considerable skills.

Comedy gold emerged naturally from the concept. In one standout moment, twenty world-famous paintings were edited to feature the Running Man members' faces. When Kim Jong-kook discovered his face on Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam, complete with a nearly naked, muscular body, he erupted with, "Why only me?!" sending the entire set into chaos and laughter. The episode also featured the surprise appearance of a mysterious squad of clowns that plunged the scene into fear, with the members responding with antics even more bizarre than the clowns themselves.

But the undeniable emotional highlight came when Park Shin-yang sat down at the piano and began performing "Can I Love You?" The moment instantly transported viewers back to 2004, back to the streets of Paris and the unforgettable romance that had captured millions of hearts. Fellow cast member Ji Suk-jin was visibly moved, and the studio fell into a reverent silence before erupting in applause. Multiple Korean media outlets reported that viewers responded with overwhelming emotion, many commenting that Park Shin-yang looked exactly as he did during the drama's original run, with the phrase "He hasn't aged" (나이 안 먹어) trending across social platforms.

Why This Moment Resonated: K-Drama Nostalgia in 2026

Park Shin-yang's Running Man appearance taps into a broader cultural phenomenon: the growing appetite for K-drama nostalgia among Korean and international audiences. As the Korean entertainment industry continues to produce an ever-expanding catalog of content, there is a deepening affection for the dramas that started it all, the series that laid the groundwork for the global Hallyu phenomenon that now spans music, film, fashion, and food.

Lovers in Paris belongs to a golden era of Korean drama alongside titles like Winter Sonata, Stairway to Heaven, and Full House, a period when a single drama could unite an entire nation in front of the television set. The fact that Park Shin-yang's serenade recreation drew such an intense emotional response 22 years after the original broadcast speaks to the enduring power of these stories and the deep personal connections viewers formed with them.

The timing also carries poignancy. Park Shin-yang has spent the better part of a decade away from the spotlight, quietly building a new life as a painter. His return to a variety show setting, even briefly, reminded fans of what made him so magnetic in the first place: a natural charisma, an understated warmth, and the ability to make every moment feel genuine. It also served as a bridge between generations of K-drama fans, introducing younger viewers to a drama and a performer they may only have known by reputation.

For the Running Man cast and crew, the episode represented something special as well. The show, which has been on the air since 2010, has built its legacy on memorable guest interactions, and Park Shin-yang's 13-year return delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the year. The combination of detective-themed comedy, art appreciation, and emotional nostalgia created an episode that showcased everything the variety format can achieve at its best.

Looking Ahead

While Park Shin-yang has not announced any plans to return to acting, his Running Man appearance has reignited public interest in his career and renewed calls from fans for him to take on a new drama role. He has consistently maintained that he would return to acting if he found a project that truly resonated with him, leaving the door open for a potential comeback that would undoubtedly generate enormous attention.

In the meantime, his solo exhibition at the Sejong Center Art Museum continues to draw visitors, and his dual identity as actor and painter has only added to his mystique. Whether Park Shin-yang ultimately returns to the screen or continues to channel his creative energy into canvas and paint, his Running Man serenade proved one thing beyond doubt: some performances are so powerful that they transcend time, and some artists are simply unforgettable.