When Disney+ announced that the In The SOOP series would be getting a spin-off, In the SOOP: Friendcation, fans were excited to hear that the Wooga squad would be starring in the series. The Wooga squad is a friend group consisting of BTS‘s V, Park Seo Joon, Park Hyung Sik, Choi Woo Shik, and Peakboy. Wooga is an abbreviation for the phrase “Are we family?” (Woori-ga Gajok-inga? 우리가 가족인가?).
The friends have been spotted with each other for both work and play over the years and fans are obsessed with their dynamics. The question many have, however, is how exactly did this mix of stars become friends?
When V was cast in Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth in 2016, fans were excited to see him in his first acting role. The period drama’s cast list included Park Seo Joon, Go A Ra, Park Hyung Sik, and SHINee’s Minho. The drama’s extremely gorgeous line-up quickly attracted attention worldwide and fans of all the actors tuned in.
Despite the difficulties and pressures, V completed filming and was able to have a good time during production. In particular, fans noticed that Park Seo Joon took on a mentor role with V and was proactive in helping the rookie actor behind the scenes.
This was probably very exciting for V as he mentioned that Park Seo Joon was the cast member he was most scared to meet and that it was “difficult to get close to him” at first! V also talked about how cool Park Seo Joon was and how he paid for many meals when the cast went out together during interviews.
Everyone’s first impression!! 😎👍👍 #hwarang #kdrama #koreandrama #화랑 pic.twitter.com/xVooj1zvq9
— KBS WORLD TV (@KBSWorldTV) January 20, 2017
Park Seo Joon and V also became close with another member of the cast, Park Hyung Sik, another known member of the Wooga squad, during filming. Park Hyung Sik is known for his role in Strong Woman Bong-soon and is a member of the boy group Z:EA.
Park Seo Joon eventually introduced the two to his friends, Choi Woo Shik and Peakboy.
Park Seo Joon and Choi Woo Shik, known for his role as Kim Ki Woo in Parasite, first crossed paths in the drama Shut Up Family in 2012. Similar to V’s initial reaction to him, Choi Woo Shik has talked about how Park Seo Joon could barely look at him and was “basically” raised by him on the set of the show.
In the case of musician Peakboy, he and Park Seo Joon go back very far and were friends in their first year of high school! He met Choi Woo Shik because of Park Seo Joon as well.
The group of five obviously got along well enough to become one of the closest groups of celebrity friends out there! From supporting each other at fan meetings and reality programs to their many friend vacations, Wooga squad is definitely squad goals!
