Jung Bo-seok recalls how a collapsed anti-communist drama led to his 1986 TV debut

Jung Bo-seok's path to television was anything but planned.

On June 23, a new episode of Wonderful Life — Song Seung-hwan's YouTube channel — went up with Jung Bo-seok as guest. The Chung-Ang University theater-and-film graduate walked through the chain of near-misses that got him in front of a camera.

He had intended to sit the broadcasting company entrance exam after graduation, but that particular year no exam was held. Around the same time, KBS anti-communist dramas like Daedonggang and Mulgyeol were pulling strong ratings, with the Security Planning Board (안기부) backing their production costs. Jung auditioned for the follow-up to Mulgyeol and passed. Then the project collapsed entirely. "In 1986, during a strong wave of democratization, the Security Planning Board found it burdensome to provide funds," he said, "so they withdrew support and the work itself fell through."

What saved him was a stranger. A director he had never met was heading to a 6·25 special drama as assistant director and put Jung's name forward anyway. That drama was Baekmagoji (1986), a work depicting the life of General Kim Jong-o, who led the Battle of Baekmagoji to victory. Jung was cast as a vice captain alongside Park Yong-su, Jang Seung-hwa, and Seon-woo Jae-deok. No audition required.

He's not sentimental about it. "It was not a standout role and my acting was not visible," he said, "so it just ended as one of my works."