Ji Jin-hee reveals he was dropped from a drama lead role after just 2 episodes as a rookie

Ji Jin-hee was cut from a drama lead role after filming only two episodes — and he kept it secret from his family for two to three months.

The actor appeared as a guest on the YouTube channel 짠한형 신동엽 on July 6, alongside Hong Seok-cheon. "This is a sad story," he began, recalling how rare it was to land a lead role as a rookie. The opportunity felt almost unreal. "It was something that shouldn't have happened. But luckily I became the lead. I went home and told them a long-form drama was coming out," he said. "But I was cut after filming 2 episodes."

Here's what happened: the original female lead left the production. When a new female lead came on board, an actor from her agency took Ji Jin-hee's spot. The director called him in and apologized, but danced around the actual reason. His manager had to spell it out once they left the office. "What the director said means they're removing you," the manager told him. Ji Jin-hee had no idea what might happen if he showed up on set.

The manager urged him to stay anyway. "Such an opportunity doesn't come again for a rookie," he said.

Ji Jin-hee couldn't tell his family. With nothing to film, he'd leave the house and wander around before coming home, telling his mother filming was going fine whenever she asked. He only confessed when the first broadcast date got close. His mother turned away and wiped her tears.

(The drama went on to become "very famous and successful," he noted, without naming it.)