5 Korean Artists Who Debuted Acting for Unique Reasons, The Triggers Are Various

In determining a career path, of course everyone has an underlying reason. Some have been planning it for a long time and some are ‘accidentally’ discovering their interest in working on a particular line of work.

The following Korean actors and actresses are also like that. They have certain reasons for getting into the entertainment industry. There are those who want to meet idols, are encouraged by those closest to them, to be involved in events that change their lives. The reasons for these five artists are quite unique.

Choi Woo Shik (post.naver.com/매니지먼트숲)

Through the tvN event titled Live Talk Show Taxi in 2015, Choi Woo Shik shared his early days as an actor. The star of the drama film Our Beloved Summer (2021) revealed that he initially wanted to study directing in Canada.

However, the ex-boyfriend she was dating for five years at the time pushed her to study acting first. His ex then registered Choi Woo Shik’s name in an acting audition. He passed and left for Korea.

Choi Woo Shik said, “I’m very grateful to him, so I still see him even after we broke up,” indicating that they kept in touch and parted on good terms. Even some time ago netizens were shocked by a photo of the actor attending his ex’s wedding in 2022.

Shin Hye Sun had mentioned that the Won Bin she saw in the kdrama Autumn in My Heart (2000) was the reason for her choosing a career as an actress. He admitted this when he became a guest star on the program Happy Together 3 in 2016.

Shin Hye Sun at that time didn’t even watch television every time Won Bin appeared because she couldn’t bear to look at her idol. Finally Shin Hye Sun also attended an acting academy when she was in 3rd grade of junior high school, entered an art high school, and studied at the Department of Film Arts at Sejong University. 

Although it started with the desire to meet Won Bin, Shin Hye Sun started to like acting and wanted to be recognized as actress. 

The reason is, since Shin Hye Sun made her debut in 2012 through Kdrama School 2013, Won Bin also hasn’t come back acting after the film The Man from Nowhere (2010). Opportunities for a project together are getting thinner, huh.

Kang Hoon had a similar reason with Shin Hye Sun when he decided to go into acting. The actor who became known through the drama The Red Sleeve (2021) also has an idol that encouraged him to enter the entertainment industry.

The idol that Kang Hoon is referring to is Taeyeon of SNSD. Through the program Radio Star in 2022, the actor admitted that he idolized SNSD after he stopped pursuing basketball and started looking for new dreams. He also thought of a way to meet Taeyeon.

With the consideration that he could neither sing nor dance, Kang Hoon chose the path of acting. He thought that there was at least a chance that he could meet Taeyeon now that he was in the same industry, even though it hasn’t happened yet.

Kang Hoon also shared his experience of pretending to have vision problems while visiting an optical shop run by parents Taeyeon in Jeonju. He did this so he could talk to them.

The story of Jang Dong Yoon’s debut as an actor is one of the most unique stories among other actors. It is known that when he was a university student in 2015, Jang Dong Yoon appeared on news programs because of his courage to catch a robber at a convenience store.

He also gained popularity supported by his good looks. Jang Dong Yoon then received many casting offers which paved the way for his career as an actor. In an interview in 2019, Jang Dong Yoon said that the experience was like a miracle for him.

In addition, Jang Dong Yoon’s active nature also contributed to his career path. He said, “If I am passive and introverted then I won’t accept the casting offer, but I actively like to try new things. When the casting offer comes, I don’t hesitate much.” Wow, that could be a valuable lesson for all of us, huh.

Lee Se Young (post.naver.com/프레인TPC)

Lee Se Young made his debut in the entertainment industry in 1997, when he was only 5 years old. Apparently it was the mother who pushed Lee Se Young to debut at a young age. Even though Lee Se Young’s mother really wanted her child to have a career as an entertainer, there was another strong reason.

 A year before Lee Se Young was born, in 1991, there was the case of the Missing Frog Boys, namely the disappearance of five elementary school students which was later found to be a murder case . When Lee Se Young was born, her mother worried that she might fall victim to it. Plus the actress has a beautiful face since childhood.

Therefore, her mother wanted to make Lee Se Young’s face recognized throughout the country. The method chosen was to make Lee Se Young appear on television as soon as possible. He also appeared on a popular children’s program, namely Popopo. Lee Se Young then became popular when she starred in the drama Dae Jang Geum (2003) and her mother’s ‘mission’ was successful.

The five actors and actresses above are now well known thanks to their acting skills that don’t disappoint. With various reasons for starting, they develop a love for work as actors and actresses.