Actor Sung Hoon has opened up about how he handles difficult moments in life, sharing a calm perspective on when to keep trying and when to simply give things time.

On August 19, Sung Hoon uploaded a video titled “When life is at its hardest” to his YouTube channel Just Do It SungHoon.

While fishing, he was asked what goes through his mind when there are no bites. Sung Hoon explained that fishing helps him clear his thoughts.

He said, “My mind becomes empty. I don’t really have distracting thoughts.”

Sung Hoon then compared fishing to dealing with challenges in life. He explained that just as pulling too hard on a fishing line can cause it to break, there are situations where forcing an outcome may not work.

He shared, “There are things that cannot be solved by your own strength or effort. No matter how hard you try, sometimes it really does not work.”

He continued, “At times like that, I think it can be good to loosen your grip once in a while. Then, when you feel an opportunity coming, you may need to put in more effort than usual, just like reeling the line in.”

Sung Hoon also spoke more broadly about unexpected struggles that people can experience.

He said, “As you live, difficult things keep happening, whether you are a man or a woman. They can happen regardless of your own will.”

The actor added that while some problems can be overcome through personal effort or help from others, there are also moments when neither approach immediately works.

He explained, “Sometimes there are situations that people around you cannot solve for you and that you cannot overcome by yourself. When that happens, letting time pass without forcing things can also be one way to deal with it.”

His comments come after Sung Hoon previously faced online criticism over several moments on variety programs. In 2022, some viewers criticized his behavior on tvN’s The Must-Try Restaurants after he expressed discomfort with waiting in a long restaurant line and later drew mixed reactions over his table manners.

He also received criticism from some viewers following a casual exchange with Hwasa on MBC’s I Live Alone in 2020.

Sung Hoon did not directly connect his latest comments to those past controversies. Instead, his remarks focused on his personal approach to difficult situations and the idea that sometimes patience can be more helpful than continuing to force a solution.