Lee Sang-yoon, the late Lee Soon-jae who led his graduation from Seoul National University after 13 years

Actor Lee Sang-yoon Graduates from Seoul National University's Department of Physics After 13 Years of Waiting

Actor Lee Sang-yoon revealed that it took him 13 years to graduate from the Department of Physics at Seoul National University. His academic journey, recently shared through broadcasts such as KBS 1TV's 'AM Plaza,' captured his intense struggle to balance acting with his studies, as well as the advice from a senior actor that allowed him to finally complete his degree.

In the episode of KBS 1TV's 'AM Plaza' aired on the 3rd, Lee Sang-yoon appeared ahead of his performance in the play 'The Merchant of Venice.' During the quiz show segment, it was revealed that Lee graduated from Seoul National University after 13 years, drawing attention to the reasons behind his long academic journey.

Reasons for Considering Dropping Out and the Situation at the Time

A Physics major at Seoul National University, Lee Sang-yoon entered the university with excellent grades, scoring in the 370s out of a possible 400 on the CSAT. However, he had to delay his graduation while pursuing his acting career. He explained his situation on a past broadcast, saying, "As I started acting while enrolled, I thought it would be difficult to do both, so I considered giving up on my studies."

At the time, he intended to stop his studies to focus on acting, and it is known that he struggled deeply with the decision, even thinking, "How much meaning would a Seoul National University diploma really have?" despite the encouragement from those around him.

Advice from the Late Lee Soon-jae: "Finish What You Started"

At the crossroads of dropping out, what changed Lee Sang-yoon's mind was the advice from the veteran actor Lee Soon-jae, whom he met through a production. Lee Sang-yoon consulted Lee Soon-jae about his dilemma, and Lee Soon-jae advised him, "You should graduate. The experience of seeing something you started through to the very end will be a great asset in your life."

This advice resonated deeply with Lee Sang-yoon. He stated, "Those words truly touched me," and revealed that thanks to the senior actor's teaching, he was finally able to receive his diploma, even though it took a long 13 years. Meanwhile, it was also mentioned that Lee Soon-jae is an alumnus of Seoul National University and a senior from the same school.

Moving Forward with the Play 'The Merchant of Venice'

Lee Sang-yoon completed his studies, keeping the "importance of the experience of finishing what one starts" given by his senior close to his heart. Currently, based on this diligence, he is focusing on preparing for the stage ahead of his appearance in the play 'The Merchant of Venice.'