Most stars often have to start from lows to reach their highs. They have a glamorous life on camera, making people wish to be where they are. But they often overlook that some of these stars have to endure hardships and non-ideal living conditions before seeing the light of success. Their hard work, determination, and perseverance make them thrive and often serve as inspirational stories for those who dare to dream.
Here is a list of the top 10 Korean stars that went from rags to riches:
1. Park Bo Gum
Park Bo Gum's life wasn't a bed of roses. At 22, he had filed for bankruptcy and had to pay off 30 million won only after the court ordered the creditors to write off the interests piled over the years. His father had taken the loan of 30 million won to start a business but could not repay it. And since Park Bo Gum was named a guarantor, the creditors demanded him to pay off the debt.
2. Han So Hee
Her mother scammed people and ran off with their money, so she had to pay off her mother's debt before her debut. But her mother continued to borrow money without her knowledge under So Hee's name to the point where she couldn't repay it any longer and apologized to the victims. So Hee also worked in a bar in Seoul for over a year, struggling to make ends meet.
3. Lee Ji Eun, a.k.a IU
IU's family was financially stable until they fell into debt. IU and her younger brother went to live with their grandmother. The living condition at that house was not good. They then shifted to their relative's house. There they were verbally abused. Even after becoming a trainee, her problems didn't end as she got conned by the agency she signed up with and paid them a large amount of money that her grandmother had saved up.
4. Sandara Park
Her father's business went bankrupt when she was eight years old, and her family's financial condition depleted. She worked hard to cater to the needs of her family. Her father lost her hard-earned money in gambling and then left her family for some other woman, leaving Sandara to be the family's sole earner. Her father even got arrested for failing to repay a loan, which ruined Sandara's reputation in the Philippines, due to which she started receiving fewer roles and deals.
5. Seo In Guk
Seo In Guk's family was not financially stable. His father was a welder, and his mother used to pick up recyclable trash. He wanted to become a singer. He gave several auditions but got rejected. His mother continued to pick up trash even after he debuted. He gained popularity with the hit show Reply 1997.
6. Park Shin Hye
Her popularity increased after her performance in "The Inheritors and 'Pinocchio,'" her name was listed in Forbes' "40 Most Powerful Celebrities" in Korea. Her journey was not an easy one. But with the support of her parents, she was able to fulfill her dreams. Despite suffering from financial crises, her family moved to Seoul, leaving everything behind so that Shin Hye could become a star.
7. Min Yoon Gi a.k.a BTS Suga
Suga had to face many difficulties in life before becoming who he is today. He worked an unpaid part-time job and was also not paid for the songs he wrote. He had to live off $2 a day and choose between eating a good noodle meal or taking a bus. Even after signing up with Big Hit Entertainment (which was not an influential agency back then) as a producer and trainee, he worked as a part-time delivery guy to earn money for college before meeting with an accident.
8. Jung Ji Hoon, a.k.a. Rain
His childhood was not an easy one. His family suffered from a financial crisis. Rain's father moved to Brazil to earn money, and his mother worked as a food vendor in Korea. From starving for multiple days to losing his mother due to not able to afford her medical treatment, he had to endure many difficulties.
9. Jung Yun Ho a.k.a Yunho
When Yunho was in his teens, his father went through financial trouble, due to which he had to look after his family. He also slept at railway stations when he came to Seoul to become a trainee. He was also financially cut off by his father when he decided to become a singer.
10. Dong Young Bae a.k.a Taeyang
Taeyang left his home at 13 to support his struggling family financially. When he joined YG Entertainment as a trainee, he spent his first few years cleaning the studio for the other artists in the company. Not only that, but he also used to fetch them water bottles during dance practices.
