The Sad Reason Korean Male Models Often Work A Part-Time Job On The Side

It’s not something they have control over.

The Korean entertainment industry can be so brutal that K-Pop idols who don’t initially gain fame, like boy group VANNER, work part-time jobs just to make money. Unfortunately, it’s more common than people think to end up in that situation.

VANNER | @vanner__official/Instagram

A few Korean male models sat down with veteran supermodel Han Hye Jin to discuss the male experience in the industry, which wasn’t without its difficulties.

One of the topics mentioned was part-time jobs, which many of them weren’t strangers to. All four male models agreed that many of them work two jobs: they model and work at a café on the side.

Ahn Je Min: These days, those who model have two jobs in Korea. A lot of people work at cafés.

Kim Seung Hoo: Most of them do that a lot.

One of them, Baek Jun Yeong, even took out loans to open his own café, hoping to make a stable income while modeling. Even rookie model Kim Ji Ho revealed that he’s learning to become a DJ to earn money on the side. There’s an unfortunate reason why they have to work so hard.

As an insider of the modeling industry, Han Hye Jin explained that male models weren’t to blame. Since the modeling industry only offers a small percentage of jobs to male models per year, it’s difficult for them to have a stable income.

My sex is the major. That’s what it is in the fashion scene. For example, if there are one hundred types of work in a year, there are only about thirty for male models.

This ratio makes it so that younger models can’t do this job alone. They have to have other side jobs.

— Han Hye Jin

Although a male model might be popular and walks in the most luxurious shows, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s making as much money as you think.

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