Actor Kim Ji Hoon recently opened up about one of the darkest times in his life — a 3-year break from acting that nearly broke him.
In a video uploaded on August 6 to actress Kim Jung Nan’s YouTube channel, Kim Ji Hoon visited her home, where the two shared a meal and a heartfelt conversation. During the talk, Kim Ji Hoon revealed the struggles he faced while being out of work.
He explained that after gaining popularity in weekend dramas, he wanted to try new roles in films and different types of dramas. But the industry wouldn’t let go of his old image.
“I really believed I could do well,” he said, “but no one else saw me that way. I kept getting offered the same kind of roles, and I didn’t want to do them anymore. So I ended up taking a break — not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice.”
Kim Ji Hoon shared how his agency kept promising projects that never came through. “They told me to wait, that something was coming. But I kept waiting and nothing happened,” he said. “One day, I read in the news that someone else got cast in a project I was waiting for. That’s when I completely broke down. I just couldn’t take it anymore.”
The actor said the three years felt endless, and things got worse both mentally and physically. “I used up all the money I had saved. But what really destroyed me was the feeling of hopelessness. I had no idea if things would ever get better,” he revealed.
“My health also started to fall apart. I got such terrible headaches that even touching my head hurt. I started to wonder if I had something serious like a brain tumor. That’s when I realized how dangerous stress can be.”
Trying to stay positive, Kim Ji Hoon initially focused on self-care. “I thought, ‘Since I’m not acting, I’ll travel, work out, read books, and watch films.’ But after 6 to 7 months, the disappointment just built up again,” he said. “Eventually, I couldn’t even concentrate. I’d read something and not remember a word. I’d watch a movie and not remember what it was about.”
That’s when he turned to gaming — not as a plan, but as a way to escape. “I ended up playing games for nearly a year. It wasn’t intentional, but it helped. I didn’t have to think, and I could forget about everything. It felt like therapy — my own kind of antidepressant.”
Despite the tough times, Kim Ji Hoon managed to laugh as he looked back — even revealing that he still found time to date. “I actually did date,” he admitted with a chuckle.
Kim Jung Nan warmly responded, “So you still did everything,” adding, “Looking back, I think you followed a very normal path.”
Kim Ji Hoon agreed, saying, “I think so too. Now that I look back, I learned a lot.” The actress added, “Actors need that kind of time. That’s why your acting has gotten even better.”
Source: [1]
