Actor Son Suk Ku has revealed that he was close to giving up acting before landing a role in Netflix's Sense8, a project that helped him continue his career and eventually achieve major success through My Liberation Notes.
During the October 23 episode of SBS's variety show Whatever You Wish, Secretary Jin, also known as Secretary Jin, Son Suk Ku opened up about the challenges he faced before becoming a well-known actor.
While talking with Lee Seo Jin, the actor revealed that he entered the entertainment industry later than many of his peers.
When asked about his debut, Son Suk Ku explained, "I started well past 30. I was in my mid to late 30s."
Lee Seo Jin appeared surprised and asked whether people had discouraged him from pursuing acting at that age.
Son Suk Ku admitted that many people had advised him against continuing, and he had even considered quitting.
He shared, "A lot of people tried to stop me, and I was also planning to quit. But just before I gave up, one project worked out, so I continued acting. Otherwise, I wouldn't be doing this today."
That important opportunity was Sense8, the Netflix science fiction series created by the Wachowskis, who are also known for directing The Matrix.
Son Suk Ku explained that he joined the international production after successfully auditioning in South Korea.
The experience became an important turning point, allowing him to continue pursuing acting when he had been considering leaving the industry.
His career later gained significant attention through JTBC's My Liberation Notes, where he played the mysterious Mr. Gu.
The drama became widely known for its emotional storytelling, with Son Suk Ku's character drawing attention for the memorable line, "Worship me."
His popularity grew further when he appeared as the main villain in the 2022 action film The Roundup, released in the same year as My Liberation Notes.
The success of these projects brought major changes to his career, including new advertising opportunities.
Looking back on that period, Son Suk Ku recalled, "I even started filming commercials then. It really was an experience where everything changed overnight."
Lee Seo Jin responded with understanding as the two discussed how quickly an actor's career can change after finding success.
From nearly walking away from acting to becoming one of South Korea's recognizable leading actors, Son Suk Ku's experience highlights how Sense8 helped keep his career moving before My Liberation Notes and The Roundup brought him wider recognition.
His latest comments offer a personal look at the uncertainty he faced before the projects that changed the direction of his career.
