WHICH SELF-MADE CELEBRITIES TURNED THEIR LIVES AROUND?

[ 2/5/2011 ]

The expression ‘a dragon rising from a humble stream’ is becoming outdated even in the entertainment industry. These days, celebrities born into ‘power elite’ families and blessed with superior genes are attracting attention. However, some have achieved success solely through passion, talent, and a relentless drive to overcome hardship. Rain, Lee Hyori, Bae Yong-joon, Kim Jang-hoon, Won Bin, Jang Yoon-jung, Seo Taiji, Jung Woo-sung, Lim Chang-jung, Jo Hye-ryun, and Jo Kwon are representative self-made stars who transformed their own lives. ◆ Lee Hyori, ‘The Barber’s Daughter’… Rain Succeeded Through His Fighting Spirit Despite her glamorous appearance, nationally renowned singer Lee Hyori was the daughter of a poor barber. As the youngest of one son and three daughters, she lived with all six members of her family in a single room until middle school because they were so poor. Lee Hyori once revealed on a television program, “When we moved, I had to hide among the moving boxes so it would look as though there were only three siblings.” ‘The Barber’s Daughter,’ the 13th track on her third solo album, is a song about the hardships and sorrows she experienced at that time. She also said that even now, after becoming a star, she visits the barbershop in Sadang-dong where she lived 20 years ago whenever she is struggling. ‘World Star’ Rain is a representative self-made celebrity. Despite extreme poverty, he achieved his current success through relentless determination. His persistent effort and willingness to take on challenges became the driving force that transformed him into a global star beyond Asia. His historic achievements include becoming the first Korean artist to hold a solo concert at Madison Square Garden in New York, being named one of Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People in the World,’ and working on a film with the Wachowskis, the creators of ‘The Matrix.’ ◆ Bae Yong-joon, from a Minor Role to a Korean Wave Star… Kang Ho-dong Overcame His Wrestling Background and Strong Dialect Korean Wave star Bae Yong-joon is regarded as the wealthiest celebrity stockholder and one of the most successful entertainers. Although he may appear to have been born with every advantage, he rose to the ranks of top stars despite having only a high school education at the time, surpassing prominent actors who had studied theater and film at university. He later attended college. In 1993, while working as a staff member at Hapdong Film Company, he was cast in a minor role on set and seized an opportunity that changed his life. After rising to stardom through writer Jo So-hye’s ‘Sunny Place of the Young,’ he maintained his peak popularity for nearly 20 years through strict self-discipline and continuous self-improvement without becoming complacent. During his adolescence, his family fell into financial difficulty following his father’s sudden business failure. Young Bae Yong-joon reportedly considered acting the fastest way to earn money. Kang Ho-dong overcame prejudice against his strong regional dialect and background as a traditional wrestler to become the leading figure among television hosts. He surpassed many experienced seniors and juniors who had trained for years to become hosts and ultimately became one of the nation’s most beloved MCs. Although he entered broadcasting with the title of national wrestling champion, he likely faced countless obstacles. At the time, his strong Gyeongsang Province dialect was considered a significant disadvantage to becoming a major star. Nevertheless, beginning in 2007, he set a remarkable record by winning five Entertainment Awards across Korea’s three major terrestrial broadcasting networks. ◆ Jang Yoon-jung, ‘The Rooftop-Room Girl’… Kim Jang-hoon Overcame Depression, Panic Disorder, and Suicide Attempts Jang Yoon-jung, known as the Cinderella of trot music, is another self-made star who succeeded through determination. Before her debut, she pursued her dream of becoming a singer while living alone for three years in a rooftop room without heating or gas. Her family was forced to live apart because of enormous debt, and she had poor credit before making her debut. Jang Yoon-jung once confessed, “The room was so cold that I could only fall asleep after warming my body with a hair dryer.” Above all, her financial difficulties shaped her into the exceptionally frugal person she is today. Although she began earning a substantial income after becoming a famous singer, she still saves 70% of everything she earns. Singer Kim Jang-hoon overcame panic disorder, depression, and suicide attempts to succeed as a singer. Despite frequent illnesses, two suicide attempts, and more than 10 brushes with death, he never abandoned his passion for music. After enduring a long period of obscurity, he became a charitable star known for deeply understanding the struggles of disadvantaged people. ◆ Middle School Graduates Seo Taiji and Jung Woo-sung Broke Through Prejudice to Achieve Stardom Seo Taiji and Jung Woo-sung achieved success by overcoming society’s prejudice surrounding academic credentials. Although the world may have regarded them as ‘troubled youths’ because they did not even possess high school diplomas, they fulfilled their dreams by devoting themselves passionately to the arts. Seo Taiji left technical high school during his first year and became the ‘President of Culture’ through sheer passion and determination for music. He challenged the belief that rap could not be performed in Korean and pioneered a new chapter in the history of Korean hip-hop. Seo Taiji’s statement that “Dropping out of high school allowed me to focus more intensely on music” encourages society to reconsider its obsession with academic credentials. Actor Jung Woo-sung is also a self-made star who overcame poverty and a middle school education to achieve stardom. He began working part-time while in middle school because of his family’s financial difficulties and eventually had no choice but to leave high school to support himself. Jung Woo-sung said, “My entire family lived together in one room because we were poor, but I never once resented our poverty.” ◆ Won Bin, ‘The Miner’s Son’… Lim Chang-jung Overcame Poverty and 10 Years of Obscurity Actor Won Bin was born to a miner in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, and achieved success entirely through his own efforts. After graduating from a technical high school in Chuncheon, he worked at an auto repair shop while pursuing his dream of becoming an actor. The country boy reportedly decided to become an actor because of his parents, who had struggled throughout their lives. While watching TV one day, Won Bin decided to become an actor because he thought, “It seems like celebrities can earn money easily.” He then moved to Seoul without any money and pursued opportunities in the entertainment industry while delivering newspapers and working as a manual laborer. Lim Chang-jung also became a star after overcoming poverty and enduring a long, difficult period of obscurity lasting approximately 10 years. Jo Hye-ryun was born as the fifth daughter among one son and six daughters in a poor family. She became another inspiring example of someone who achieved success through relentless determination. 2AM member Jo Kwon overcame life in a single basement room and eight grueling years as a trainee before becoming a member of one of the nation’s most popular idol groups. He also recently moved people by giving his hardworking parents a home of their own.