Being able to create a successful career in the entertainment industry is hard, but doing it while juggling academics on the side is harder. While some are able to do it on a shorter timeline, several celebrities in Korea have publicly talked about taking much longer than usual to graduate, even more than a decade!
Here are some of the notable names among them:
Jang Dong Yoon
The actor enrolled in Hanyang University in 2011 in the Department of Economics and Finance. But during his final year, he got his big break, and academics took a backseat, inevitably. The actor finally graduated in 2026, sharing the news with fans through social media.
Lee Chung Ah
The actress reportedly enrolled in Hanyang University’s Department of Theater and Film in 2003. But in 2004, her movie Temptation of Wolves saw massive success, catapulting her into stardom and a busy schedule that wasn’t compatible with full-time academia. Lee officially attended her graduation ceremony in February of 2014, taking nearly 11 years to finally bag the degree.
Shin Ye Eun
Shin began her university life in 2016 as a performing arts student at Sungkyunkwan University. However, she also made her acting debut in 2018 and has seen an upward career graph ever since. Shows like The Glory and Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born accelerated her growth even further. Finally, after ten years of balancing studies and a rising career, the actress wore her graduation gown in August 2026, sharing the joyous moment with fans through social media.
Park Subin
Former Dal Shabet member Park Subin, also known as Dalsooobin, entered the entertainment industry at 16 in 2011. Despite her grueling schedule, she managed to balance studies and idol life. However, she missed out on a proper school life from the age of 15 due to her career. This only made her more determined to finish her university degree despite the difficulties. In 2012, she enrolled im Konkuk University through early admission. Majoring in Theater and Film at Konkuk University’s College of Art and Design, she was one of just 14 applicants accepted into the program for 2013. After 13 years of hard work, she finally graduated in August 2026.