Park Ji-won (Korean: 박지원; born October 11, 1994), better known by his stage name Zior Park (Korean: 지올팍), is a South Korean rapper and music video director.
Life and career
Early life and career beginnings
Zior Park was born Park Ji-won on October 11, 1994.[1] He graduated from an information technology (IT) high school and attended an engineering university for one semester before quitting.[2] Park moved to the United States in his early 20s and lived in New York and San Francisco, California, with the intent of meeting angel investors with a proposal to create a music startup company in Silicon Valley.[3] Following a dispute with the friends in South Korea who were drafting the plan, the proposal fell through and Park never received it.[4] Unable to keep up with rent, he became homeless and lived in his car for a month. At that time, he was a fan of Big Sean and took note of how his songs topped charts. Park decided to become a rapper and returned to his home country.[3]
Career
Park released the collaborative single "Noise" with Mommy Son and Kim Seung-min on May 14, 2019.[5] He released his first full-length album Thunderbird Motel and its two lead singles "Sleepwalk" and "Can't Stop This Thunder" in March 2020.[3] Park released his first mini-album Where Does Sasquatch Live? Part 1 on February 16, 2023.[6] The lead single "Christian" is an alternative rock track which satirically points out how everyone lives in a contradictory manner. A month after its release, the song entered and gradually rose on music charts, ultimately peaking at number seven on the national Circle Digital Chart.[7][8]
Musical style
Park is a hip hop and R&B musician, and he writes his lyrics entirely in English.[6][7] He cites Willy Wonka of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as his role model. He aims to sell fantasy, saying that "the elements needed for a brand includes music of course, as well as video and fashion".[3] Park also draws inspiration by Jack Sparrow, Cruella de Vil, and Harley Quinn.[2] As a music video director, he utilizes the monikers Chuck Blueman and Chet Black.[4]
