Let’s recap the inspiring career journey of some 2024 K-drama leads to recharge our hope and motivation for another year
Kim Hye-Yoon
“Lovely Runner” female lead Kim Hye-yoon shared in Teo that she had to wait seven years before she got a big break in her acting career. For seven years, Hye-yoon was only given minor roles and that made her doubt her dream of making a living through acting. But because of her mentor, as she shared in Cafe Bora, she started loving herself more and appreciating small steps that can help her realize her dream. While waiting for that moment, she decided to enter graduate school. During the first semester, she received an offer to star in “Sky Castle” and more projects came after that.
Byeon Woo-Seok
Hye-yoon’s leading man in “Lovely Runner”, Byeon Woo-seok, experienced the same ordeal of waiting for a big break in acting. According to Sbs Star, he experienced approximately 100 rejections and received a comment that he’ll only last for a few years in acting. In Teo, Woo-seok shared that he even experienced dismissal from the role after script reading. His lay-off experience is one of the reasons that made him question his capability of becoming an actor. Luckily, he overcame this feeling by taking and appreciating small roles. Eventually, he started passing auditions and getting major roles.
Chun Woo-Hee
From “The Atypical Family” to The “8 Show”, Chun Woo-hee’s consecutive projects this year reflected her passion for acting. But before she could do what she loved, she experienced many rejections, according to the report of SBS Star. However, because of the actress’s positive attitude toward challenges, she was able to persevere through the rejections.
Kim Ji-Eun
Ji-eun is as resilient as her character in “Love Next Door” when despite experiencing failure in the college entrance exam and being stripped of financial support by her parents, she continues to pursue her acting dream by juggling part-time jobs and acting school at the same time. All these she shared in Arirang.
Pyo Ye-Jin
Did you know that the “Dreaming of a freaking fairytale” lead actress, Pyo Ye-jin was a flight attendant turned actress? Although she did not specifically share in Arirang the struggles she experienced from shifting career, we can be inspired by her calm attitude while pursuing her acting dream.
Go Min-Si
Just like Pyo Ye-jin, “The Frog” actress Go Min-si left her stable job to pursue acting. In her Arirang interview, Min-si shared that she used her savings from working as a wedding planner for two years to moved to Seoul and lived comfortably for a year. When she was about to lose her savings, she decided to work at a coffee shop. From there, she diligently pursued her acting dream.
Choi Min-Ho
If feelings of hopelessness about yourself or your career are revisiting you because of the shortcomings and mistakes you experienced six years ago and even now, then Min-ho’s way back home interview might give you hope that you and your future career will get better because he too experienced confusion for the past six years after his debut. He even called himself a “late bloomer.” Aside from hard work, remembering the feelings he had when he first did his dream job is the technique that Min-ho does to stay in love with his craft.
Perseverance, faith, humility, and (an enormous) love of acting are the keys that made the above actors achieve their dreams and continue to thrive on them. So with all things considered, which 2024 K-drama leads inspires you the most? Let us know in the comment or on our Instagram and Twitter/X.
Featured Image Credit: Kim Hye-Yoon Official Instagram
