Ji Chang-wook, "Just because the results are bad, it doesn't mean I disappear"... An actor's attitude toward failure

Actor Ji Chang-wook revealed the pressure he felt when the performance of a work did not meet expectations and the realizations he gained while overcoming it. Appearing on the tvN variety program "You Quiz on the Block," Ji Chang-wook shared stories about the worries any actor can experience and his own process of growth.

"Just because the results are bad, it doesn't mean I disappear"

Ji Chang-wook mentioned situations where he does his best for the success of a work, but the results do not come out as expected in terms of performance. He said that during times in the past when he lacked experience, he went through periods of worry where he felt stress and pressure, as if he himself were disappearing if the performance of a work was not good. According to the subtitles and remarks in the video, he explained that while he has not reached a clear conclusion regarding these worries, he is learning through experience.

Recalling times when the performance of subsequent works was sluggish, Ji Chang-wook conveyed that he learned the fact that he does not disappear just because the results are not good. He said that not all results can be good, and the experience of failure is an unavoidable necessity. He also mentioned that only by experiencing failure can one realize that it is not the end, and one can also learn how to escape from such a situation.

"The thought of needing to protect my mother, the driving force of my childhood"

Ji Chang-wook cited his mother as the driving force that sustains his life. Explaining the situation where his mother suffered a lot after his father passed away early, he revealed that since he was young, he has had the thought that he must protect his mother as a son, a family member, and as a man. Recalling the alleyway where he used to walk holding his mother's hand during his childhood, he said he thought he would protect her once he grew taller than her.

Specific anecdotes related to his mother's livelihood were also shared. According to Ji Chang-wook, his mother ran a small restaurant in the neighborhood, operating a meat restaurant and a spicy fish stew (maeuntang) restaurant. He shared memories of going there himself during his childhood to help with serving, cleaning the grills at the meat restaurant, or cleaning the tanks at the spicy fish stew restaurant while his mother worked busily running the shop alone.

He continued with honest stories about economic difficulties. Mentioning that he did not have the means to lead a typical school life because tuition was expensive, he revealed his experience working various part-time jobs, such as in coffee shops and makgeolli bars, along with a close friend. In particular, mentioning the daily wage he earned while working at a courier company, he said his goal at that time was to ensure his mother would no longer suffer and would not have to worry about money.