Article: Top 10 Korean Actors Occupations Before Acting

We cannot achieve success easily or quickly. Most celebrities had other dreams when they were young or had other occupations before appearing on screens. In some cases, they trained as athletes before becoming celebrities. While working part-time to make ends meet, some stars pursued their dreams while others changed careers. Work hard, and you will achieve your dreams, as these stories show. Have you always wondered what your favorite Korean celebrities did before they became famous?

Here are the top 10 Korean actors’ occupations before acting.

1. Song Joong Ki

Since he was in elementary school, Song Joong Ki had been a promising short-track skater. He even represented his hometown of Daejon three times on a national level! During his freshman year of high school, he was forced to withdraw due to an injury that led Korea to win more medals. It was fortunate that he demonstrated his skills in the drama Triple.

 

2. Won Bin 

After graduating from a mechanical high school, Won Bin worked as a mechanic before joining the entertainment industry in 1997. Growing up, he was fascinated with motorcycles and racing cars and dreamed of becoming a mechanic. The cable network sought new actors and actresses in November 1995. Don Bin applied for the position and was accepted. The cable headquarters arranged for him to take acting classes and later signed him to an agency.

 

3. Yoon Sang Hyun

Yoon Sang Hyun, at 32, was a restaurant manager before he made his onscreen debut in 2005. In front of the restaurant was an all-girls high school. There must be a lot of students there to see the handsome actor.

 

4. Sung Hoon 

Sung Hoon was a professional swimmer - specializing in the butterfly stroke - before breaking into the entertainment industry in 2009. At his university, he won the swimming championship. In addition to training for the sport for 14 years, Hoon enrolled in university to excel. After suffering a spinal injury early in his 20s, he could not pursue swimming dreams.

 

5. Ji Jin-Hee 

Ji Jin-Hee previously worked as a visual designer and photographer in the advertising industry before joining the entertainment industry in 1999. The agency that scouted him was SidusHQ. His current job had satisfied him, so he initially turned down the offer to pursue an acting career. His agency later laid him off due to the IMF financial crisis after changing his mind.

 

6. So Ji Sub 

So Ji Sub spent 11 years training to become a professional swimmer before diving into acting. As a result of his parents' encouragement, he competed in the Korean National Games, ultimately winning third place! He started modeling to earn extra money, and after that, he began getting cast as actors, and so the rest, we know, is history.

 

7. Seo Ji Seok 

Seo Ji Suk used to be a professional sprinter before joining the entertainment industry. In high school, Seo was a four-time gold medalist across a range of sports. Ji Suk got selected for the national team at 16 years old. A car hit him while crossing the street at age 18 in 1999. And Ji Suk spent six months in the hospital. Because of his injuries, he could not continue his athletic career. A talent manager noticed him while Seo was working a part-time job, which led to his acting career.

 

8. Kim Myung Min

Kim Myung Min, an actor with star quality, worked for an apparel store in Itaewon before joining the entertainment industry. Despite his image as a serious actor, he was incredibly successful in business and getting items sold.

 

9. Nam Joo Hyuk 

Nam Joo Hyuk originally wanted to be an athlete. In particular, he trained as a basketball player. In all, he played basketball for about three years. As a point guard, he also played as a shooting guard. While on the team, he quit and played three-on-three, which he won every time. Due to shin surgery twice, he had to put his dreams on hold.

 

10. Jung Hae In 

Jung Hae In studied biotechnology in school to prepare for a specific job after graduation. A director scouted him by standing in front of an ice cream shop, where he eventually forgot about his original dream.