It is difficult to believe that Jo Jung-Suk, now one of the most successful and loved actors in Korea, was once so impoverished that it could not afford 180,000 krw, about 122 USD, to avoid a decision that alters life. The man who now commands over 100 million KRW (about 69,000 USD) for dramatic episode and 500 million krw (about 342,000 USD) for advertising spot, once a military exemption was granted not through privilege, but through pure economic difficulties.
Although often mistaken for a chaebol heir thanks to his composed and refined image, Jo’s first life was far from luxurious.
A life modeled by loss and difficulties
Born in 1980 as a child late from a 40 -year -old mother, Jo’s life took a devastating turning point when her father died unexpectedly. At just 21 years old, he became the only head of the family for his family. By balancing school and survival, Jo worked an exhausting series of part-time works, from the assistant of the café to the manual worker, all by supporting the widowed mother.
After three attempts, he finally gained admission to the Soul Institute of the Arts, relying on student loans to get by. But in his second year, he reached a breaking point, unable to stipulate further loans because of the bad merit and to face an imminent military enrollment notice, Jo admitted that he had almost given up.
“I really liked to give up”, He later said, reflecting on that period. “But I thought of my mother and I decided to go on.”
Military exemption: from criticism to sympathy
When the news of his military exemption emerged at the beginning of his career, he aroused backlash and suspicion. But Jo never moved away from the dispute. He clarified that he never tried to dodge the service through escapades such as enrollment in the specialization school or civil service exams. The investigations have shown his honesty.
The truth? He was granted exemption pursuant to the “economic difficulty” clause, a category reserved for those who have domestic activities lower than 13 million KRW (about 8,900 USD) and a monthly income below 180,000 krw for family member. In other words, he qualified because his family was struggling to survive.
A self -produced success and a family man
Jo’s story is of determination, resilience and transformation. Today it is at the height of the entertainment industry in Korea, thriving through films, dramas, musicals and varieties shows. His cheerful and witty person and versatile acting made him earn love at national level and compared to the sector level.
In 2018, Jo married the famous singer Gummy after five years of appointments. The couple welcomed his daughter Ye-Won in 2020 and remain one of the most worshiped families of K-entertainment.
From the rock background near the celebrity, the journey of Jo Jung -u is not only stimulating, it is a testimony of perseverance and self-control belief.
