Jung Jun-won opens up about 10 years of obscurity before 'Wise Doctor's Life' breakthrough

Jung Jun-won broke down the decade of doubt that preceded his breakout in a video released August 5 on broadcaster Ha Ji-young's YouTube channel, titled [SUB] 정준원의 이야기.

He debuted in 2015 with the film 조류인간 (Bird Man). For the next ten years, he remained largely unknown. Then came last year's MBC drama 언젠가는 슬기로운 전공의생활 — 언슬전 for short — and suddenly he had a mainstream audience.

"Until just before 언슬전 opened, that was the most difficult time I experienced while living," he said. Before the casting came through, he'd gone further: "I even thought, 'I guess I'm not cut out for this.'" His take on the industry was unsparing. Acting is a job where luck matters. You have to be chosen.

He said he learned that not giving up on what you love eventually brings opportunity, then immediately walked it back. "I don't think this applies to everyone. It's difficult to say this carelessly to others. I was really a miraculous case of good luck." (Rare to hear someone qualify the hustle-pays-off speech in the same breath.)

The video dropped amid an attitude controversy that followed his August 1 appearance on MBC's 놀면 뭐하니?, where he and co-star Gong Hyo-jin appeared to promote their upcoming drama 유부녀 킬러. Program panelist Ha Ha stepped in via SNS comments: "I was at the scene and he was so cute and fun. He's not a professional entertainer, so please look at him cutely and enjoy the entertainment."

Gong Hyo-jin also posted on Instagram: "This husband who really vomited after filming. I couldn't save him. I'm sorry."

Critic Kim Do-hoon pushed back, writing that Jung should not "create a strange introvert concept" and that "if you are a professional who receives appearance fees and stands in front of a camera, a professional attitude is necessary."

Jung had attended the production presentation for 유부녀 킬러 — a Friday-Saturday drama — at MBC in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on July 30.