The Unexpected Incident That Changed Jung Hae In’s Career Forever

Actor Jung Hae In might be one of the most popular Korean actors today, but his start into acting was so abrupt that nobody saw it coming, not even the actor himself.

While many know that Jung’s first acting experience was through a musical in school, there was a specific incident that first  prompted him to consider acting as a real career. When Jung Hae In was just a student, he was street-cast at a movie theater, right after taking his college entrance exam. The actor admitted that at that time he had no interest in acting but eventually found himself entertaining the dream.

They asked if I wanted to try acting and handed me a business card. At the time, I wasn’t interested in acting and bragged about it to my mom. But later, things completely changed. I never thought about becoming an actor during school, and I assumed I would live an ordinary life like my peers. It feels like destiny

— Jung Hae In

He prepared for month to join the Theater and Film Department at the Pyeongtak University and graduated with a major in acting. But the actor revealed that when he entered the department, he realized his peers were way ahead of him.

I don’t know what kind of courage I had, but I realized there were people who had been preparing for this for a long time. I realized that unless I worked twice as hard, school life would be tough.

— Jung Hae In

Jung recalled that this sudden career shift was so shocking to his parents, it earned him the silent treatment from them for weeks. His father was especially against the idea.

They didn’t say anything for weeks. My mom was more open to discussing it, but my dad was very adamant.

— Jung Hae In

Needless to say, the decision to switch careers worked out extremely well in favor of Jung. The casting agent he had met years ago certainly had a commendable eye!