Many South Korean celebrities began their careers in different fields before finding fame in the entertainment industry. While some pursued entertainment initially, others transitioned from various professions, often achieving notable success. A common background among these celebrities is sports. In this article, we will explore several well-known figures who made the leap from sports to the entertainment world.
Ahn Bo Hyun
Ahn Bo Hyun, now a successful actor, started his career as a model. Before entering the modeling world, he was a competitive boxer. He began boxing in middle school at Busan Physical Education Middle School and continued his training at Busan Physical Education High School. Representing Busan, he won a gold medal in the -69 kg weight class at the National Boxing Championships hosted by the Korea Amateur Boxing Federation. However, a series of injuries forced him to quit boxing during his senior year of high school.
Sung Hoon
Sung Hoon is a prominent figure in various dramas but initially pursued a career in swimming. From elementary school through college, he excelled in the butterfly stroke, setting new records at the 2002 MBC National Swimming Championships and the University Championships. Despite a promising start, his performance declined after undergoing disc surgery, prompting him to shift from swimming to acting. He has mentioned that observing Park Tae Hwan’s achievements around the same period influenced his decision to leave swimming.
Nam Joo Hyuk
Nam Joo Hyuk, known for his standout performance in the Disney Plus series Vigilante, initially worked as a model before becoming an actor. His sports background includes a significant stint in basketball. He played at Gyeongnam Middle School for three years and showcased his basketball skills in TV dramas. However, he had to end his sports career after undergoing two surgeries for a shin injury. He later succeeded in the modeling division of YG K-Plus, marking the beginning of his acting career.
Anton
Anton, an SM Entertainment boy band RISE member and the son of artist Yoon Sang, was a competitive swimmer before his entertainment career. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he started swimming at age five and competed at a high level for a decade. At age 12, he won first place at the New Jersey Junior Championships and ranked 10th nationwide among junior swimmers at 13. The closure of pools across the U.S. due to COVID-19 led him to pivot to music, successfully auditioning for SM Entertainment and debuting with RISE.
Kim Yo Han
Kim Yo Han gained attention as a contestant on Produce X 101 and later joined the group X1. He is currently active with the boy group WEi. Before entering the entertainment industry, Kim dedicated 13 years to Taekwondo, winning two national youth championships and one national championship. His impressive Taekwondo skills earned him a spot as a national reserve player and a scholarship to study Taekwondo at Sangmyung University. His transition to entertainment occurred during college when he was approached by his current agency, leading to his debut in an idol group just a month later.
Yoon Doo Joon
Yoon Doo Joon, the lead vocalist and leader of the idol groups BEAST (now known as HIGHLIGHT), was passionate about soccer from a young age. He initially aimed to enter a physical education program during his school years. His rigorous soccer training earned him a reputation for his well-developed physique. Yoon has mentioned that if he hadn’t become an entertainer, he might have pursued a career as a physical education teacher. He also served as an ambassador for the K League, promoting soccer. A documentary about Big Bang inspired his shift to entertainment he watched in high school.
Key
Key, a member of the idol group SHINee, revealed his past as a competitive water skier on the MBC variety show I Live Alone. He shared that he competed in water skiing during his middle school, winning several awards and team events. Key transitioned from water skiing to becoming an idol during high school, continuing his sports activities until he entered high school.
Park Bo Gum
Among actors with a background in swimming, Park Bo Gum is a notable example, alongside So Ji Sub and Sung Hoon. Park Bo Gum swam competitively until the 8th grade at Mokdong Middle School but had to quit due to a slump. During high school, he dreamed of becoming a singer-songwriter and was preparing for a music career. However, he decided to pursue acting after accepting an offer from his agency, which led to his successful career.
Yuna
Yuna is a member of the five-member girl group ITZY under JYP Entertainment. Known for her striking appearance even before her debut, she also achieved notable success in sports. From 5th grade in elementary school through 2nd year of middle school, she was an active floorball player. As the ace of her team, she wore jersey number 7 and won championships in city and provincial tournaments, also representing Gyeonggi Province in national competitions. She was even recognized with an individual award from a member of the National Assembly.
Shin Mina
Shin Mina made her debut in October 1998 as a model for the fashion magazine Kiki when she was in her second year of middle school. She attributes her athletic abilities to her mother, a former basketball player. Shin Min A excelled in sports from a young age, competing as a track athlete before transitioning to modeling. Although she also had a talent for swimming, she chose to focus on her entertainment career after her modeling debut, which paved the way for her current success.
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