There’s a heartbreaking reason behind his actions.
21 minutes ago
In the latest episode of Shin Dong Yup‘s “Zzanbro,” actors Ji Jin Hee and Hong Seok Cheon appeared as guests and looked back on their careers. During the episode, Ji Jin Hee opened up about a difficult experience from his rookie days as an actor.
According to him, it was extremely difficult for a newcomer to land a leading role in a drama, but he was lucky enough to be cast as the lead in a long-form drama. Ji Jin Hee recalled proudly telling his family that he had landed the role. He said he had already filmed up to two episodes. At the time, late-night shoots that continued until dawn were common, but Ji Jin Hee was so excited that he did not even feel tired.
When you’re a rookie, it’s really hard to be cast as the lead of a drama. I was lucky enough to become the lead. So I went home and bragged that I had become the lead and that I would appear in a long-form drama. I filmed up to episode two. Back then, filming until dawn was normal, but I didn’t even feel tired.
— Ji Jin Hee
Then, everything suddenly changed.
The female lead was replaced, and I ended up having to leave, too. The director called me, so I went with my manager, but the director couldn’t say it. As soon as we came out, my manager said, ‘Listen carefully. The director is saying he’s taking you out. You don’t know what could happen in the future, so you have to endure it.’
— Ji Jin Hee
Ji Jin Hee said he initially refused, but his manager tried to persuade him to accept the situation. In the end, Ji Jin Hee left the drama. But when he returned home, he could not bring himself to tell his family the truth. So, instead, he pretended to keep going to the set.
I said I wouldn’t do it, but my manager said, ‘Do you think a rookie will get another chance to play the lead? You just have to do what they tell you.’ After I left the project, I went home, but I couldn’t say that I had been cut. I had nothing to do, but I pretended to go filming every day. I lied for two or three months.
— Ji Jin Hee
The situation became even more painful as the drama’s broadcast date approached. Ji Jin Hee’s mother had been proudly telling people that her son would be appearing in the drama. Eventually, he had no choice but to tell her the truth! He said, “In the end, I told her, ‘Mom, I’m not going to be on the broadcast. I got cut.’ I could feel her crying after she turned around.”
Ji Jin Hee added that the drama went on to become extremely famous and successful. Hearing the story, Hong Seok Cheon joked, “Maybe it became that successful because you left,” making everyone laugh.
Read more about Ji Jin Hee here:
New K-Drama Male Leads Kiss—And Tell How They Actually Felt About It