Actor Jung Woong In opened up about one of the darkest times in his life, revealing that he once lost all his money and even knelt before a loan shark.
On the October 13 episode of Channel A’s “Best Friends Documentary – Table for 4”, Jung Woong In appeared with his longtime friend of 36 years, director Jang Hang Joon, and actress Song Sun Mi.
During the episode, Jung looked back on his journey from struggling stage actor to successful star, crediting Jang Hang Joon for helping him debut in dramas.
He shared how Jang, who was a writer for SBS’s “Thousand and One Nights”, told him, “You’ll get a call from PD Kim Byung Wook. Say no at first — it’ll make them want you more.” Jung laughed as he recalled how that clever advice actually worked.
After his drama debut, Jung appeared in major works such as The Quiet Family, Kook Hee, and Eun Shil. He also shared a touching story about his late father, who once told Jang Hang Joon, “Our family is living thanks to you.”
Jung revealed the difficult life his parents had endured. His father, who ran a small noodle shop, once fell off his motorcycle while delivering noodles and tried to pick them back up.
Jung recalled, “Sometimes I wake up at night thinking about how hard life must have been for my father, who passed away at the same age I am now.”
He said that his parents were his greatest motivation. After years of hard work, he managed to move his family from a moldy basement to a three-story apartment.
But at the height of his career, things took a devastating turn. After starring in Three Friends, Jung’s former manager used his property as collateral for illegal loans, leaving him bankrupt.
He recalled, “I had to kneel before a loan shark. When people came to put red foreclosure stickers on my things, they said, ‘You’re famous, so we’ll stick them on the back instead.’”
Despite the pain, Jung shared the story with honesty and humor, showing both his resilience and humility. Fans praised him for his openness, saying it takes real courage to talk about such moments.
Source: [1]