Actress Shin Min Ah has shared the surprising story of how she entered the entertainment industry, revealing that she ranked first in a magazine model selection before making her debut at a young age.
On October 30, Shin Min Ah appeared on Lee Eun Ji's YouTube channel, where she talked about her early career and how she naturally transitioned from modeling to acting.
During the conversation, Lee Eun Ji asked what inspired her to become an actress.
Shin Min Ah explained that she did not originally begin her career through acting.
"I actually didn't debut as an actress. I started in 1998 as an exclusive model for the teen magazine Kiki," she shared.
She later appeared in Jo Sung Mo's music video for Do You Know before making her way into acting through the film Volcano High.
Lee Eun Ji then asked whether Shin Min Ah had been encouraged to become a model because people often complimented her appearance when she was younger.
However, Shin Min Ah revealed that she had personally applied for a magazine modeling opportunity during a time when teen fashion magazines were extremely popular.
"Back then, magazines like Kiki and Ceci were really popular, and many young models were working for them. I applied too, and I ranked first, so that's how I started modeling," she explained.
The actress recalled that it was the first time in her life she had ever placed first in something.
She also revealed that she was only in her second year of middle school when she began working in the entertainment industry.
"I debuted when I was in my second year of middle school, so I was really young," she said.
Looking back, Shin Min Ah admitted that one of the things she enjoyed most about becoming a model was getting time away from school.
"Once I started modeling, I couldn't attend school as often. Back then, working instead of going to school felt like a special vacation to me. It felt like I was doing something different, and I really liked it," she recalled with a laugh.
Lee Eun Ji then asked whether she had any regrets about entering the entertainment industry at such a young age.
Shin Min Ah admitted that there were some school experiences she missed because of her early debut.
"There are times when I feel a little regretful. I didn't get to experience things like evening self-study sessions," she shared.
Although starting her career early meant missing parts of ordinary school life, Shin Min Ah's first-place finish in the magazine model selection became the beginning of her journey in entertainment.
From winning the modeling opportunity as a middle school student to building a successful acting career, her story offered a glimpse into how she first entered the industry long before becoming one of South Korea's well-known actresses.
