Ma Dong Seok, the star of the blockbuster The Roundup franchise, recently shared heartfelt gratitude for his wife, Ye Jung Hwa, revealing their journey through tough times.
On the 16th, Ma Dong Seok, aka Don Lee, attended The Roundup: Punishment appreciation showcase at Megabox COEX in Seoul. Director Huh Myung Haeng and actors Kim Mu Yeol and Lee Dong Hwi also attended the event. Ma Dong Seok participated in the movie both as an actor and producer.
Ma Dong Seok expressed, “I am most grateful to the audience who made this miracle happen. Secondly, I want to thank the staff, production team, and fellow actors.” He then turned his gratitude towards his wife, Ye Jung Hwa, stating, “When my wife first met me, I was very poor. I was planning the movie in a small room, covering the walls with 40-50 sheets of paper. She could have thought I was strange, but she saw me through my struggles and injuries, always taking care of me.”
He continued, “It hasn’t been long since I became well-known and improved my financial situation. I’m deeply thankful to my wife, who stood by me through poverty and helped me with ideas and support.”
Ma Dong Seok’s journey to success was far from easy. He had to live with relatives and worked tirelessly to escape poverty. Over ten years, he held various jobs, including dishwashing, manual labor, building cleaning, truck driving, working in a fishhook factory, bartending, club bouncing, and coaching at the gym. Notably, he worked as a club bouncer for five years, facing constant risks of injury. He debuted as an actor relatively late at 35 and has since gained tremendous popularity.
Ma Dong Seok and Ye Jung Hwa, who have been publicly dating for eight years and registered their marriage three years ago, are set to hold their wedding ceremony on the 26th.
Meanwhile, The Roundup franchise has made history by achieving over 40 million cumulative viewers across its four films. The latest installment alone surpassed 10 million viewers in just 22 days, making it the fastest in the series to reach this milestone.
>> Ma Dong Seok Reveals His Transformation Over the Years: From a Cute Boy to a Beastly Man
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