Heo Sung Tae reveals he gave up a $57,000 salary at 34 to become an actor and calls it a risky gamble

Actor Heo Sung Tae has opened up about his decision to leave a stable corporate career and pursue acting at the age of 34, admitting that he now considers the move a risky gamble.

On the October 20 episode of KBS 2TV's variety show Problem Child in House, Heo Sung Tae appeared alongside professional Go player Lee Sedol and shared the story of how he entered the entertainment industry despite having no formal acting background.

Before becoming known for his roles in Korean dramas and films, Heo Sung Tae spent years working at major companies, including LG Electronics and Daewoo Shipbuilding.

He revealed that he worked at LG Electronics for four years, Daewoo Shipbuilding for another four years, and a smaller trading company for three years.

At LG Electronics, he was responsible for overseas marketing, particularly supplying LCD televisions to Russia and Eastern European countries.

Despite having a successful corporate career, the actor admitted that his work did not suit his personality.

"My hands would sweat. I had to stand in front of people and give presentations confidently, but I would get nervous and struggle to do it," he recalled.

Heo Sung Tae eventually decided to leave his job, giving up an annual salary of approximately 80 million won, or around $57,000, to pursue acting through an audition program.

When asked why he wanted to become an actor, he explained that his interest in movies began during childhood.

"I've loved movies since I was young. Acting always seemed amazing, fun, and interesting to me, but I thought it was something I could never do," he said.

He continued, "I lived outside Seoul, focused on studying, and never received any education in arts or performance."

The actor also admitted that he struggled with insecurities about his appearance.

He shared that one of his front teeth had been damaged since childhood and that he only had it repaired after receiving his first salary at LG Electronics.

"I joined LG Electronics with a broken front tooth. I used my first paycheck to fix it. I had insecurities about my appearance, so I thought, 'How could someone like me become an actor?'" he recalled.

Despite his doubts, Heo Sung Tae decided to participate in an acting audition program.

He explained that he initially approached the audition as though he were simply going on a trip to Haeundae in Busan.

For his performance, he spent two weeks memorizing dialogue delivered by Choi Min Sik in the film Oldboy.

Although he was extremely nervous during the audition, his performance impressed the judges.

He went through seven additional auditions and eventually became one of 15 contestants selected from Busan to advance to the televised competition in Seoul.

However, looking back, Heo Sung Tae admitted that he may have been too quick to believe the praise he received.

"Thinking about it now, I blindly believed all the compliments I received during the audition program and made a reckless decision. It was a gamble," he said.

He explained that the positive reactions from the judges gave him confidence, even though he had very little professional acting experience.

"Everyone said I was good, and all five judges gave me their approval. That made me think I could really do it," he shared.

However, entering the professional acting industry turned out to be much more difficult than he expected.

The actor revealed that he had to attend approximately 130 auditions before finally being cast in the 2016 film The Age of Shadows.

The experience made him realize that receiving praise during an audition program did not necessarily mean he was naturally talented.

"After 130 auditions, I was finally cast in The Age of Shadows. I realized that I wasn't a naturally gifted actor," he admitted.

He also reflected on how the encouragement he received may have helped him take a chance he would otherwise have avoided.

"Maybe the opportunity came because the judges made me believe I was better than I actually was. But looking back, it was definitely reckless," he said.

Heo Sung Tae added that if his initial attempt to become an actor had failed, he likely would have continued working in the corporate world.

His decision eventually led to a successful acting career, with the actor becoming widely recognized for his performances in Korean films and television dramas, including Netflix's Squid Game.

Although he has since established himself in the entertainment industry, Heo Sung Tae's comments showed that he still views his career change as a major personal risk rather than a carefully planned path to success.

His story also highlighted the difficulties he faced after leaving a secure job, including repeated auditions and the uncertainty of starting a new career in his mid-30s.

For Heo Sung Tae, the decision to give up his corporate salary at 34 was not an easy one, but it ultimately became the turning point that led him into acting.