Lee Jun-young, who cried while working part-time at a convenience store, after 100 failed attempts

The Cold Reality Faced After Debuting at 18: Tears Shed Under the Convenience Store's Night Lights

In 2014, Lee Jun-young made a glamorous debut as a new member of the group U-KISS at the young age of 18. However, a harsh reality awaited him behind the dazzling lights. As U-KISS's activities in Korea gradually decreased, a long hiatus followed, and with virtually no individual activities, he had to suffer through extreme financial hardship. In particular, his family's difficult circumstances and the need to pay off debts became a weight too heavy for an eighteen-year-old boy to bear.

With his income cut off, Lee Jun-young eventually started a night part-time job at a convenience store in front of his house to make a living. During this time, when an idol chasing a dream had to guard a convenience store counter every night, he felt complex emotions while watching his colleagues receiving cheers on large award ceremony stages. The question, "We are in the same profession, so why am I like this?" would not leave his mind. Rather than blaming himself, he decided to keep moving.

The most heartbreaking moment was when he ran into his agency manager while working at the convenience store. Seeing the manager who had come to buy cigarettes, Lee Jun-young felt so ashamed of his situation that he burst into tears without being able to say a word. It was the outcry of a boy who never wanted anyone to find out he was working part-time because of debt. Lee Jun-young later recalled the suffocating memory, saying, "I heard the manager hyung also cried after he dropped me off at home."

"Don't get in the way, just go back" — Prejudice against idol-turned-actors and 100 rejections

The path for Lee Jun-young, who decided to transition to acting, was not smooth either. The industry's gaze toward actors who were former idols was not just cold, but sharp. He even heard harsh words at audition sites, such as "Don't get in the way, just go back." The atmosphere of the filming sets at the time, which reportedly started and ended with sighs, fully illustrates the psychological pressure he had to endure.

Although he studied acting through self-teaching and delved deep into scripts, reality was ruthless. He failed auditions more than 100 times. Amidst numerous rejections and indifference, instead of giving up, he pushed himself harder. He endured with the single thought that he must not get exhausted, chanting the mantra, "I will definitely succeed." The time he spent gritting his teeth eventually transformed him from a mere idol-turned-actor into an actor with genuine acting skills.

From U-KISS to 'Mask Girl': The power of an actor proven by 12 years of tears

Since his debut with U-KISS in 2014, Lee Jun-young has gone through a turbulent period of activity for a long 12 years. However, he did not stop. He has solidified his position as a trending actor by appearing in major works including the Netflix series 'Mask Girl', as well as 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', 'Weak Hero Class 2', 'Badland Hunters', and 'The New Employee Chairman Kang'. His past financial hardships and audition failures have now become nourishment that adds depth to the characters he portrays.

He does not stop at simply reminiscing about the past; he constantly seeks out new roles. Having once again proven his acting skills through the recent JTBC 'The New Employee Chairman Kang', he has now established himself as an actor that everyone trusts and watches. The tears the 18-year-old boy shed at the convenience store counter have been transformed into the passion that shines before the stage and the camera 12 years later.

Lee Jun-young ahead of military enlistment, promising to return with his next work 'Four Hands'

Currently, Lee Jun-young is planning to take a brief hiatus as he prepares for a new leap as an actor. Ahead of his military enlistment on the 21st, he is also accelerating preparations for his next project to keep his promise to his fans. He is expected to appear before viewers once again through the work 'Four Hands', scheduled for release in August.

His journey from enduring hard times to becoming a trending actor resonates with many. The times he endured, comforting himself with "I must not get tired, I must go," gathered to create the Lee Jun-young of today. He is now stepping over the pains of the past and walking silently toward his next stage.

From U-KISS to a trending actor: A journey filling his filmography

Lee Jun-young, who debuted as a new member of the group U-KISS in 2014, later transitioned to acting. He has built his filmography by appearing in various works such as Netflix's 'Mask Girl', 'When Life Gives You Tangerines', 'Weak Hero Class 2', and 'Badland Hunters'.

Recently, he proved his acting skills by appearing in JTBC's 'The New Employee Chairman Kang'. Ahead of his military enlistment on the 21st, he will meet viewers through his next work 'Four Hands', scheduled for release in August.

"I will definitely succeed"... Times endured with desperation

Lee Jun-young recalled the moments he comforted himself while going through difficult times. He said, "I said 'I will definitely succeed' many times," and "From then on, I gritted my teeth and endured." He confessed that he held on with the thought that even if it was hard, he must not get exhausted and must go until the end.

He also silently endured the cold gaze toward actors from idol backgrounds. Although he was most hurt when he heard the words "Don't get in the way, just go back" at an audition site, he did not stop.

Reflecting on 12 years of trajectory through appearance on 'You Quiz on the Block'

On the afternoon of the 8th, the tvN variety program 'You Quiz on the Block' featured actor Lee Jun-young as a 'You-Qizer' to share his story. He reminisced about his 12-year career from joining U-KISS as a new member at age 18 to becoming a trending actor today.

During the broadcast, Lee Jun-young specifically shared the details of the hiatus during his U-KISS days when there were no activities in Korea or individual activities.