The whole world, as children, knows the song. Baby Shark is one of those melodies that has crossed the years without ever losing its sparkle. With over 17,316,090,173 views in ten years, the video has become a universal symbol of modern childhood. We have all heard it somewhere: in a car, in a schoolyard, in a living room, on a phone. And in the middle of this global wave, there was a seven-year-old boy, full of energy, dancing without imagining for a single second that this moment would become a planetary phenomenon.
Ten years have passed. That boy has grown up. He is now 17 years old, and he returns to tell his story in his own words. The interview took place by email on September 8, in a simple, sincere, unfiltered exchange. No staging, no pre-written answers: just a teenager answering with honesty, looking back at his past with gentleness, and talking about his present with calm.
What strikes you first is his way of remembering. He doesn't dramatize anything, he doesn't minimize anything. For him, Baby Shark is a childhood memory like any other, but a memory that touched the whole world. He knows that millions of people still remember him, but he doesn't carry that as a burden. He carries it as a chance, as a starting point that allowed him early on to discover the power of music and content.
Today, he returns with WAVE, which opens a new chapter in his musical life. No longer the child we saw dancing, he is a young man searching for his voice, exploring electropop, training, learning, still finding his path, but moving forward. He doesn't claim to have found his definitive style yet. He wants to try, discover, make mistakes, start over. He wants to show who he is now, without denying what he has been.
What makes this encounter touching is its simplicity. He talks about his training, his family, his desires, his love for baseball, his desire to learn English to speak directly to fans. Nothing is forced. Nothing is artificial. We discover an adolescent moving forward with sincerity, patience, and a true desire to grow.
Ten years after making the whole world dance, he returns to finally introduce himself under his true face: Geonroung Park, whose official stage name is now Baby Shark Boy.
1. You gained worldwide attention at a very young age thanks to “Baby Shark”. Now that you are 17, how do you look back on this experience?
Geonroung Park: "When I first appeared in Baby Shark Dance, I had no idea the video would become this famous. Today, it is both a very special childhood memory and an important starting point in my life. What surprises me most is that almost ten years later, people all over the world still remember it, and new children discover it every day. It is very special to know that a moment from my childhood has become a memory shared by so many people."
2. Growing up in the spotlight can be difficult. What was the most complicated part for you in transitioning from child performer to teenager?
Geonroung Park: "My experience was a little different from what people imagine when they hear the word 'celebrity'. After Baby Shark Dance, I continued to appear in Pinkfong contents and other programs from time to time. Over the years, I realized how many people had seen the video and remembered me. Being recognized could sometimes surprise me, but the biggest challenge was figuring out what I really wanted to do for myself. That is something I am still exploring today."
3. How did the viral success of “Baby Shark” influence your personality, your confidence, and your artistic ambitions?
Geonroung Park: "More than anything, it gave me gratitude and the courage to try something new. Knowing that something I took part in brought joy worldwide means a lot to me. The fact that people still remember me almost ten years later encouraged me to take this new step. With WAVE, I wanted to show another side of me — not just the child people know, but the person I am today, with my own voice and my story."
4. Do you feel pressure to build a new artistic identity?
Geonroung Park: "Baby Shark is an important part of my history, and I am grateful that many people discovered me through that. But I also want the public to see other aspects of me. WAVE is my first opportunity to show who I am now. Of course, there is a bit of pressure to present something new, but I try to turn that pressure into motivation."
5. Which music styles or performances interest you the most right now?
Geonroung Park: "I listen to many different genres, so I don't want to limit myself for now. I am drawn to music that combines performance and personal expression. With WAVE, I was able to explore electropop and dance, which was really exciting. I want to continue trying different genres and styles to discover what suits me best."
6. What kind of training do you currently follow? What does a typical day look like?
Geonroung Park: "To prepare for WAVE, I regularly practice singing, choreography, and performance. I also prepare content related to the release, like upcoming shoots. I still have a lot to learn, so I focus on progressing step by step. I also want to improve my English so I can communicate more directly with fans around the world."
7. How does your family support you in your artistic journey?
Geonroung Park: "My family has always listened to what I wanted to do and supported my choices. Since I started very young, they helped me keep a balance between my activities and my daily life. During the preparation of WAVE, they encouraged me to enjoy the process without putting too much pressure on myself, and that helped me a lot."
8. Do you already have projects or content planned for the future?
Geonroung Park: "For me, WAVE is a new beginning, not a one-time project. I want to continue exploring music and other forms of content to show different facets of me. I prefer to gain experience through diverse opportunities rather than defining a precise direction right now."
9. A message for the fans who have been following you since childhood?
Geonroung Park: "I am truly grateful to everyone who remembers me and supports me since Baby Shark Dance. It is incredible that something I did so young continues to connect me to people worldwide. Today, with WAVE, I have the chance to share my own voice and my story. I hope people will enjoy seeing how I have grown and that they will follow this new step."
Credits: © Pinkfong
10. How do you see your place in Korean culture as it shines globally?
Geonroung Park: "It is inspiring to see music, cinema, animation, and other forms of Korean culture touch a global audience. Baby Shark Dance is still the most-viewed video in the world, and participating in Korean content that has crossed so many languages and cultures showed me very early on that music can transcend borders. I am still at the beginning of my journey, so it is too early to define my place. For now, I want to continue developing and one day create performances capable of touching an international audience."
11. Are there any artists you would like to collaborate with?
Geonroung Park: "There are so many artists I admire, in Korea as abroad, that it is hard to choose. I had the chance to work with JOOHONEY (MONSTA X) on WAVE, and seeing how he brought his energy to the track was a great experience. In the future, I would like to collaborate with artists from different genres to discover new facets of me."
12. Can you share an unknown side of you?
Geonroung Park: "People know me as the energetic kid from Baby Shark Dance, but what they might not know is that I really love the process behind a performance: practicing, learning, seeing things build up. And another thing: I love baseball. I play in an amateur team, and I even bought myself a new baseball pants for my birthday yesterday. It is something I really enjoy outside of music."
