Making a name for oneself in the entertainment industry is not easy, and people with dreams to make it here have to pay the price. Whether it is loss of privacy, always being in the spotlight, or dropping out of school. It all comes down to making a mark in the industry. Education is important and a good way of securing your future even if you do not make it anywhere else, but some brave souls break from the system and take the risk. Here are ten celebs that dropped out to focus on their dreams.
1. Rosé
Rosé from the popular K Pop girl group Blackpink talked about her decision of dropping out of school in Australia to come and train in South Korea as terrifying. In her interview with Vogue Australia, she spoke about her decision to leave school and the objections raised by her teachers and friends. She was 15 when she made such a tough decision.
2. Seungri
Seungri from the legendary K-pop band Big Bang dropped out of college to focus on his career. He had also previously dropped out of high school due to his activities as a Big Bang member. He then passed his GED, an equivalent of a high school diploma. By then, Big Bang was at its peak and due to their activities, Seungri was missing out on his classes leading to probations. He finally decided to leave and later joined Global Cyber University to study online.
3. Kim Hyun Joong
The Boys over Flower famed actor is regarded as the biggest Hallyu star of the 2010s. He is a member of boyband SS501 and dropped out of high school to pursue music. He cleared his high school to enter university but could not complete his course due to a tight schedule. He finally enrolled in Chang-Woo University to study stage production management.
4. Minzy
Minzy, the youngest member of the now-defunct girl group, 2NE1, dropped out of high school to focus on her career. She was 15 at the time and decided to focus on her activities as a 2NE1 member. She later registered for the qualification exams to get her high school diploma.
5. Jaemin
Jaemin from NCT dropped out of middle school and did not return back there. He was busy with his schedule and ended up quitting school. Jaemin talked about this on TvN's My English Puberty. He also talked about his struggles of not being able to make friends and missing out on school life.
6. Kang Daniel
Kang Daniel gained popularity after winning the second season of Produce 101 and joining the project group, Wanna One. After the group dissolved, he established himself as a successful solo artist. There was a rumor that he was kicked out of his high school. While appearing on MBC's Radio Star, he addressed the rumor and refuted it. He said that he dropped out on his own as the school was expensive.
7. Mark Tuan
Mark is part of the popular K Pop band Got7. He was scouted by JYP and invited to audition. Mark did not have any interest in a music career but went ahead with it after his family and friends encouraged him. He was selected, and he moved to South Korea to train after completing his 10th grade and then dropping out.
8. Doyoung
She is from NCT who dropped out of high school to focus on his future. Doyoung was school president when he was selected to be a trainee at SM Entertainment. Apparently, after getting scouted, he dropped out of school but told his classmates that he was going to study abroad.
9. Hoya
Hoya is a former member of boyband INFINITE. Since he was young, he knew he wanted to work in the music industry. This wasn't received very well by his family. He also dropped out of school to pursue a career as a musician.
10. Sunmi
Sunmi is a member of the now-defunct girl group Wonder Girls. She dropped out of high school along with group member So-Hee as they were busy promoting in the US. Then passed her qualification exams and joined a university to pursue higher education. She had left the group to do so but returned as a solo artist and rejoined the group.
