On January 14, a pre-release clip from tvN’s variety show “You Quiz on the Block” was uploaded to its official YouTube channel. Titled “Over 100 Auditions and 50 Minor Roles: Kim Hye-yoon’s Struggles Before Becoming a Romantic Comedy Star,” the video gave fans a candid look at her difficult journey.
During the interview, MC Yoo Jae-suk mentioned how she found Kim Hye-yoon endearing, which made her laugh shyly and respond, “I thought so too… but I felt embarrassed saying it.”
Yoo Jae-suk confirmed, “Yes, I find you adorable. You work so hard every time you are on variety shows that I even told the writer how much I enjoy it,” he said, drawing more smiles.
Kim Hye-yoon revealed that she started auditioning at the age of 17 in high school, attending over 100 auditions. At his busiest, he recalled attending three auditions in one day. Despite his efforts, rejection became frequent.
“I got rejected so many times that I started thinking, ‘I guess I’m just someone who can’t do it.’” he admitted. “Every time I went to an audition, I felt like I was going there to be rejected.”
One of the most persistent problems? His height. At 158cm, Kim was often told he was “too short” by roles. He confessed that it became complicated and, in desperation, he even slightly changed his height by returning to writing instead of 160 cm. “They always picked me up, but I still went around saying I was 2cm taller,” he smiled.
Incredibly, Kim Hye-yoon also appeared in 50 minor roles over the span of seven years before gaining recognition. Yoo Jae-suk commented, “It’s not easy to bear” to which she replied, “Sometimes it felt overwhelming. I wondered if I was on the right path, especially having to juggle work and my studies.”
Her honest and vulnerable story inspired fans, reminding many of the perseverance behind her eventual success. Kim Hye-yoon’s full appearance will be aired Take the block quiz to 8:45 PM KST on the same day.
Sources: Nate
