Male actors in the entertainment industry are often perceived to come from affluent backgrounds, but for some, the reality is far from it.
In recent broadcasts and interviews, several male actors have opened up about their difficult childhoods and how they overcame poverty to achieve success in their careers.
Jung Sung Il
Jung Sung Il, who stars in Netflix’s "The Glory", spoke about his difficult upbringing on tvN’s "You Quiz on the Block."
He shared that he was raised by his sister and sometimes had to resort to drinking water from the sidewalk blocks to quell his hunger.
“I was raised by my sister, but before she came home after school, I was hungry, so I waited for the sand to sink to drink water between the sidewalk blocks. There were times when I filled my stomach with that water.” - Jung Sung Il
Rain
Another successful actor, Rain, opened up about the loss of his mother due to poverty and how he was left with nothing after her funeral.
He was determined to make a better life for himself and achieved success in the entertainment industry.
“After my mother’s funeral, I came home and broke and threw the furniture. At that time, I lifted the bed and turned it over to find a bankbook and a letter. My mother already knew she would die and left money for her child. I clenched my teeth when I saw the bankbook. I decided to stand on my own two feet even if the world turned its back on me.” - Rain
Seo In Guk
Seo In Guk, who rose to fame after winning "Superstar K", shared that he and his mother were so poor that they had to pick up waste papers to make ends meet.
Despite this, he proudly said that he and his mother never felt ashamed of their circumstances.
“We were very poor. My mother had to pick up waste papers to maintain the livelihood of our family”. - Seo In Guk
Lee Joon
Lee Joon, former member of MBLAQ, also spoke about his poverty-stricken childhood and how he struggled to afford basic necessities like school trips and ballet shoes.
Despite this, he was determined to succeed and went on to graduate with a high rank from Seoul Arts High School and the Korea National University of Arts.
“In the past, my family was extremely poor. We didn’t have enough money so I couldn’t even join school trips” - Lee Joon
These male actors’ stories of triumph over poverty serve as a testament to the power of determination and hard work. Despite their difficult beginnings, they were able to rise to the top of the entertainment industry and become successful in their own right.
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