Math instructor Chung Seung-je to debut as actor and pursue music

Renowned math instructor Chung Seung-je announced his acting debut in "Hello, Francesca" and shared his musical history during an appearance on KBS 'The Seasons S9'. Approaching his 50s, Chung revealed he previously released a trot single alongside Lim Young-woong, Lee Chan-won, and YOUNGTAK.

Chung Seung-je, a math instructor with nationwide recognition, has stepped toward new territories in music and acting. Appearing on KBS 'The Seasons S9', Chung revealed his multifaceted nature by sharing his long-held passion for music and news of his debut as an actor, alongside his primary profession as a math instructor.

"Times spent only solving math"... A math instructor's confession ahead of his 50s

During the broadcast, Chung shared his reflections on his life as a math instructor and the milestone of approaching his 50s. "Until now, I have spent my days just solving math, and I've started to feel that way," he said, expressing his honest emotions with only two months left in his 40s. He added that since last year, as he encounters parents who are younger than himself, he has felt a sense of regret, as if he had been walking in place alone while immersed in making textbooks and teaching in front of a chalkboard. However, he noted that his time with the chalkboard has not been meaningless and stated that he is happy with his current life.

He also shared details of his daily routine. Starting with his first recording at 9 a.m. and continuing until late afternoon, he maintains a pattern where he finally has his first meal only after finishing a live radio broadcast at midnight. Chung mentioned a snack combination of anchovy and frozen peanuts that he enjoys after work. This recipe, consisting of anchovies heated in a microwave for four minutes mixed with roasted peanuts taken from the freezer, is a piece of happiness for him.

Tenacity for music, from trot contemporaries to song festival auditions

The musical history hidden behind his professional identity as a math instructor also drew attention. Chung revealed that he previously appeared on a trot program and worked as a contemporary alongside Lim Young-woong, Lee Chan-won, and YOUNGTAK, mentioning a trot single album he released at that time. He also shared that he released "A Letter from Teacher Saengseon" and "It Will Work Out," songs intended to cheer on students, in collaboration with a heavy band. "A Letter from Teacher Saengseon" is a song created by compiling letters he writes to students every year on the day before the CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test).

His musical roots go back to the 2000s. Chung recalled reaching the third round of an internet song festival audition. He remembered the days of nurturing his dream of becoming a singer by connecting a guitar to a computer at home to practice singing. On this day, he showed his sincerity for music by performing a verse with the sensibilities of his past. Recently, he has been continuing his musical activities in earnest by releasing a new song, "When Will I Be Able to Love?", which contains his life story. This song was created by putting his life story into lyrics while sharing stories during a live broadcast.

"The script says 'actor'"... A new challenge, acting debut

News of his expansion into the field of acting was also announced. Chung stated that he has always remained in an artistic environment, such as operating a small theater near Hongdae and watching performances. In particular, he drew surprise by announcing his formal debut as an actor through the recent work "Hello, Francesca." Emphasizing that it is a role specified in the script rather than a cameo appearance, he announced that he has begun a new career as an actor beyond his life as a math instructor.

Stating that he feels regret when seeing students who cannot solve math problems and thus contemplates easier explanations, he said that the process of studying math is similar to the joy of eating delicious food. His attitude of wanting to convey the pleasure of solving a problem is read as a core value that penetrates the two different fields of math instructor and artist.

Source: KBS WORLD TV (YouTube)