tvN ‘You Quiz on the Block’ broadcast capture

Actor Lee Jun-young shared a story from the past, revealing that during his U-KISS days he worked a part-time job at a convenience store and ended up in tears.

On the broadcast aired on the 8th of the tvN variety program ‘You Quiz on the Block’ (hereafter ‘You Quiz’), actor Lee Jun-young appeared and looked back on his 12-year journey, marked by sweat and tears, from his 2014 debut as Jun of the group U-KISS to establishing himself as a leading actor.

During a lull in U-KISS activities, Lee sought a breakthrough through acting. He candidly shared, “It was very hard for me not having any activities, and when I watched the big award ceremonies, many of my friends appeared, and I was very envious.”

“They have the same job as me, yet they are on stage receiving cheers and looking great. But what am I? Why am I like this? Then I decided that instead of spending time thinking about things like that, I should get moving (I thought),” he said, adding that he also felt a sense of responsibility because his family circumstances had become difficult at the time.

tvN ‘You Quiz on the Block’ broadcast capture

With no group activities, at the time Lee worked a part-time job at the convenience store near his home. He recalled, “Back then my manager happened to come in to buy cigarettes, and I was so ashamed that I said nothing and cried a lot. I absolutely did not want to be found out, and having even that seen made me so embarrassed.”

He said he later heard that after dropping him off that day, his manager also cried, adding, “I was told I always said to my manager, I will definitely succeed. And I just grit my teeth and endured. ‘Do not get exhausted! You have to keep going!’ I think that was the thought I had most often.”

Afterward, Lee got hold of scripts and taught himself acting. In the process he failed more than 100 auditions, but through steady effort he ultimately reinvented himself as an actor active in major projects, including JTBC ‘New Hire Chairman Kang’, Netflix ‘Totally Fooled’, and ‘Weak Hero’.