Jung Il Woo Reveals Surprising Career Shift: From Acting to Running a Food Business

Jung Il Woo Reveals Surprising Career Shift: From Acting to Running a Food Business

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Jung Il Woo, a well-known South Korean actor, has surprised fans by sharing his new venture into the food business. The actor, famous for his roles in dramas like Unstoppable High Kick and Moon Embracing the Sun, revealed that he now makes his own kimchi and dumplings as part of a personal business.

The announcement came during his appearance on the KBS variety show Problem Child in House, set to air on August 7, 2025. Jung Il Woo appeared alongside Lee Tae Ran, his co-star in the upcoming drama Glorious Days.

Jung Il Wooโ€™s Unexpected Business Confession

During the show, Jung Il Woo surprised everyone by revealing his new business.

โ€œIโ€™m running a business now. I personally make around 200 heads of kimchiโ€ฆ and I even developed my own dumplings.โ€

The cast reacted with laughter and shock. Comedian Joo Woo Jae joked, โ€œAre you looking for a business partner?โ€ while Hong Jin Kyung, a TV personality, playfully scolded him, โ€œWhat do you even do?โ€

Jung Il Woo explained that he has always been interested in cooking. His decision to start a food business came after years of thinking about life beyond acting.

Struggles in His Acting Career

Jung Il Woo also opened up about the challenges he faced in his career. He rose to fame in 2006 with Unstoppable High Kick but admitted that early success brought doubts.

โ€œIn my 20s, I received so much love after High Kick, but it also made me think about quitting. I didnโ€™t think I had enough talent. So many people had more charm than me.โ€

A serious car accident made things even harder. He had to take a year and a half off for recovery, during which he missed over 50 acting offers.

โ€œIโ€™ve done lead roles, and Iโ€™ve taken smaller roles tooโ€”the size doesnโ€™t matter. But when people started saying, โ€˜Jung Il Woo is over,โ€™ it really fired me up.โ€

He used the criticism as motivation, treating every new project as if it were his last.

Comeback with New Drama Glorious Days

Despite his new business, Jung Il Woo is not leaving acting. He is preparing for a major comeback in Glorious Days, a KBS weekend drama premiering on August 9, 2025.

In the drama, he plays Lee Ji-hyuk, a successful but complex man who faces lifeโ€™s hardships. The show explores themes of family, love, and personal growth.

Fans are excited to see Jung Il Woo return to the screen while also supporting his new food venture.

Whatโ€™s Next for Jung Il Woo?

With his acting career still strong and a new business to run, Jung Il Woo is balancing multiple passions. His kimchi and dumpling business adds a fresh chapter to his life, showing fans a different side of the actor.

Also read: Jung Il Woo and Chun Ho Jin Show Generational Conflict in Arm Wrestling Match for New Drama โ€œOur Golden Daysโ€

Credits: News compiled from verified entertainment sources.