Kim Hye Yoon, now a celebrated star of hits like SKY Castle and Lovely Runner, has shared the difficult story of her early career. On the January 14 broadcast of tvN’s talk show You Quiz on the Block, the actress described seven years of obscurity filled with frequent verbal abuse, over 100 failed auditions, and harsh physical conditions.
Her honest account has started a conversation about the treatment of newcomers in the entertainment industry. It highlights the often unseen struggles actors face before finding success.
The Long Struggle Before Success
Kim Hye Yoon’s journey began at age 17 when she enrolled in acting school. She landed a child actress role just nine months later but then entered a long period with very few opportunities. For approximately seven years, she worked without an agency, managing auditions, lessons, and filming completely on her own.
During this time, she took on more than 50 minor roles. She often traveled to remote filming locations by public transport or in vehicles with other supporting actors. Kim Hye Yoon revealed she sometimes waited overnight in cafes for early morning buses, only to spend up to nine hours on set without ever being called to film.
“I attended more than 100 auditions but was rejected each time, so I ended up going to auditions thinking, ‘I’ll probably be rejected again today,’” Kim Hye Yoon said on the show.
Her height, 158 cm, became a major source of insecurity. She was frequently told she was “too short” for roles. In a bid to get work, she would list her height as 160 cm on audition forms, a small lie she felt everyone knew.
Enduring Harsh Words and Winter Cold
A significant part of Kim Hye Yoon’s story involved the treatment she received on set. She openly discussed being a target for harsh criticism and verbal abuse from some staff members during her rookie days.
“There were many things said that can’t even be aired. I heard so much profanity on set,” she confessed.
She added, “When I was yelled at or cursed at during filming, I would cry on the bus or subway on the way home”.
The actress explained that she tried to build mental resilience. “I realized that if you really listen to those words, some of them are true,” she stated. She feared that if she let the discouragement take over, she would become too intimidated to perform.
The physical work environment was also tough. During winter shoots, staff would offer heaters or hand warmers to actors. However, Kim Hye Yoon felt she did not deserve such comforts and would habitually refuse, saying she was okay. This had a serious consequence during her high school years.
“My fingers swelled badly, and eventually my fingernails fell off. The hospital said it was because it was that cold,” she shared, revealing she suffered from frostbite.
The Turning Point and Current Success
Kim Hye Yoon’s perseverance finally paid off when she auditioned for the role of Kang Ye-seo in the 2018 drama SKY Castle. She beat odds of 200 to 1 to land the part, which became her breakthrough. The drama’s director later told her she got the role because she was the only auditioning actor who had memorized all the lines.
That role launched her into the spotlight. She has since become known for playing strong, proactive characters in popular series like Extraordinary You and Lovely Runner.
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Host Yoo Jae Suk praised her dedication, noting she balanced her acting career with her studies and earned university scholarships for four consecutive years. Reflecting on her path, Kim Hye Yoon sees a connection between her life and her roles.
“I think I’ve played characters who overcome hardship — maybe because I’ve lived through it myself,” she said.
Her story comes amid other recent discussions about power dynamics in South Korean workplaces. These include allegations involving other public figures, highlighting a broader cultural conversation.
Looking ahead, Kim Hye Yoon continues to build her career. She recently completed the historical comedy drama The Secret of Jeong-i and is set to star in the upcoming fantasy romance I Am Human, From Today, where she will play a 900-year-old gumiho (nine-tailed fox).
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Source: MK
