The 2018 K-Drama dubbed him “perfect boyfriend material.”
In the last episode of Take the block quizactor Jung Hae In he talked about the period right after his most popular moment JTBC K-Drama has aired—when the world considered him the “perfect boyfriend”, but all he wanted was to hide from attention.
Jung Hae In debuted in 2013 with the K-Pop group AOAbut his real rise to fame came in 2018 when he played the role of For Ye Jinthere is the young boyfriend Something in the rain. Nicknamed that of the nation “yeonhanam” (연하남, younger boyfriend), Jung found himself collecting awards and signing endorsement after endorsement.
But with that “syndrome” of recognition, as a comedian and show host Yoo Jae Suk explained, Jung also found his physical and mental health at risk.
Even though Jung wasn’t a rookie when Something in the rain aired, it was the first time he had all the spotlight on him. Although the rise to fame was every celebrity’s dream, he remembered it “He wasn’t that happy after all” at the moment.
I think it had a lot to do with how physically exhausted I was. I wasn’t prepared, but I was giving it my all. So, in the end, it took a toll on me. I couldn’t sleep well. I struggled with terrible insomnia and… Yeah, back then, I wasn’t all that happy, to be honest.
I had no experience receiving so much love and attention at once. In a way, I needed time to adjust and learn to stay strong in everything that was happening.
—Jung Hae In
He also underlined it, as some did “I’m just starting to become an adult” in his early thirties, he didn’t know how to deal with unwarranted hatred and unfounded malicious comments.
I was 31, and let’s be honest, I was still young and just starting to figure out adult things. And I let the snide comments get to me a lot. I thought this was what the world thought of me. So I started to fear the camera and public opinion when, given my work, that was what I had to do. I’ve had moments where I actually wondered about my existence… Like, ‘What am I doing? Why am I here?’ And for a long time I stayed at home. I lived in hiding. I had something like a panic disorder… I was afraid of meeting people.
—Jung Hae In
Fast forward to 2024, Jung is definitely better and stronger now. He has since learned to accept the fact that he can’t please everyone, and so has decided to focus more on the people who support him!
So, I read all the harmful comments about me. I would ask myself “Why are these people doing this to me?” But now I know. I know for sure that there are people who love and support me. I also know that there are people who don’t care about me and even people who hate me. I realized this over time. So I wanted to know why the haters hated me… But I don’t think they have any real reasons. Or maybe yes, but there’s nothing I can do about it. So, I have overcome the desire to always be loved by everyone. I recognized that it is impossible to do so. Now I focus on being the best version of myself for the people who love and support me.
—Jung Hae In
Watch the full clip below.
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