From K-Pop Agency Rejections To Audition Fails — Rising Actor Opens Up About His Rough Career Path
A rising Korean actor candidly shared about his difficult unknown days and his sense of responsibility toward his family.
In a video released on the 22nd on Jung Jae Hyung’s YouTube channel, actor Wi Ha Joon appeared as a guest. He spoke about his childhood growing up in Wando, South Jeolla Province, saying, “I had a strong desire to earn money quickly and support my family.”
He added, “My parents worked in the aquaculture industry, and I often saw them struggling financially. That made me want to succeed even more.”
Driven by this responsibility, he chose to move to Seoul. Wi reflected, “I vaguely wanted to become an entertainer, so I came up here without a specific plan.” His first path was to become an idol. Sharing his experience auditioning with agencies like SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, he said, “I danced with determination during the rhythm test.” However, he was rejected. Wi Ha Joon revealed, “I took it more calmly than I expected and started thinking about other paths.”
He then enrolled in an acting academy and shifted his focus to acting. “When I started acting, I realized I was really bad at it,” he said, “But that just made me more determined to improve.” Correcting his dialect was particularly challenging. Wi admitted, “I couldn’t even speak standard Korean properly at that time,” and shared, “I had to start from the basics again.”
The reality was tough. Even after joining an agency, he faced difficult times unlike what he had hoped for. Wi Ha Joon confessed, “The hardest part was after I joined the company,” explaining, “I kept auditioning and kept failing.”
He especially noted, “As a male rookie, I got a lot of attention, but every time I didn’t meet expectations, it was even harder,” adding, “Each rejection made me feel more sorry. That period was the toughest time to endure.”
Meanwhile, Wi Ha Joon is currently starring as insurance investigator Cha Woo Seok in tvN’s Monday-Tuesday drama Siren, which began airing on the 2nd. He plays a character who investigates mysterious deaths around a woman he loves and eventually falls in love with her. Wi Ha Joon expressed confidence, saying, “This role combines charisma and sensitivity,” and added, “I think I can show a different side of myself than before.“
