Gong Seung Yeon candidly revealed that he went through severe financial difficulties during the time when his younger sister, TWICE’s Jeongyeon, was quickly becoming a celebrity.
The actress appeared on tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block” on May 20, where she reflected on her long journey through the entertainment industry and the hardships she faced before finally experiencing a turning point in her career 15 years after her debut.
During the broadcast, Gong Seung Yeon shared that she first entered showbiz after being unexpectedly chosen at the age of 13 while participating in a gayageum competition.
He subsequently spent about seven years as a trainee at SM Entertainment, but never officially debuted as a singer. Looking back, she admitted that her skills were lacking at the time and said there were many exceptionally talented trainees around her.
The actress laughed, saying: “Looking back on it now, maybe it was really lucky that I didn’t debut then.”
After giving up on her dream of becoming a singer, Gong Seung Yeon decided to pursue acting instead. However, the transition has been far from easy.
He explained that he attended countless auditions only to face repeated rejections. Feeling uncertain about her future, she even began preparing for a potential career as a flight attendant while studying TOEIC and Chinese.
Although he began to gain public attention through the 2015 SBS drama “I heard it through the grapevine”, the opportunities he expected did not continue consistently thereafter.
Gong Seung Yeon confessed: “When I started earning money for a short time in my early twenties, I thought things would be fine.” However, she later found herself in a situation where she could no longer afford rent, health insurance payments or even national pension fees after work opportunities dried up.
Eventually, he left his apartment and moved back in with his parents.
The actress recalled how desperate she had become at that time, saying she personally visited her agency to ask for more audition opportunities. She revealed that she attended a huge number of auditions, even applying for roles internally and writing handwritten letters in hopes of standing out.
Gong Seung Yeon also emotionally reflected on the complicated feelings he felt watching his younger sister Jeongyeon achieve huge success after debuting with TWICE.
She admitted that although she felt incredibly proud and happy for her sister, she had also become anxious and pressured, thinking to herself that she should be better off as a big sister.
The actress explained “Because I’m the eldest, I’ve always felt responsible for guiding my younger siblings.” She went on to say that there were times when she felt upset and inadequate, believing that she had become the older sister who was less successful than her younger sister.
His honest confession attracted sympathy from viewers and highlighted the emotional pressures many actors face behind the scenes as they struggle to establish a stable career in the entertainment industry.
Meanwhile, tvN is “Take the block quiz” airs every Wednesday at 8:45 PM KST.
Sources: Daum
