Dong Hyeon-bae: "Famous Only as Taeyang's Brother"... Endured Obscurity Through 500 Auditions and Part-time Jobs [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Dong Hyeon-bae reflected on his journey of persisting in acting without giving up over a long period.

On the 16th, a video titled "I Lived Trapped for 20 Years" was released on the YouTube channel 'Nameless Actor Dong Hyeon-bae'.

That day, Dong Hyeon-bae openly shared his reasons for starting acting, the realities of his nameless days, and why he has never given up on his path as an actor.

He recalled, "I was naturally competitive. In middle school, I Jeon Gyo (Chairman), and in high school, I excelled academically."

He continued, "As you know, my younger brother was a singer trainee, and the family atmosphere was that only one person should pursue art."

However, his perspective changed after watching the musical 'Footloose'. Dong Hyeon-bae said, "At that moment, I thought, 'This is it.' It had singing, dancing, acting, and even an audience. I couldn't forget the audience's cheers. Acting was the only thing that sparked my competitive spirit. I wanted to do well."

Dong Hyeon-bae admitted, "It's difficult to survive solely as a stage actor. By the time one performance ends, you must already be rehearsing for another just to make a living. It's truly hard."

He further stated that after currently starring in 'Star of Seoul', there are no immediate plans scheduled, adding, "I want to become an actor who is always rotating. I believe it's every actor's dream to keep acting without rest."

He also revealed that he worked various part-time jobs to make a living. He said, "I did many part-time jobs along the way. Even now, I work at my close friend's gelato shop, teach acting at academies, and give private lessons. I even tried working for Coupang."

He added, "Actors are all similar. We just survive by doing part-time jobs. Surprisingly, opportunities tend to arise when things get tough."

Dong Hyeon-bae remarked, "So far, I'm best known as 'Taeyang's brother,' and if there's a representative work, it might be 'What Happened to My Boss?' He continued, "I want to try ballads and also play villain roles."

He also mentioned that he has attended countless auditions. Dong Hyeon-bae said, "I've auditioned over 500 times and submit my profile every quarter. I even auditioned for 'Inside Men' and 'The Outlaws.'"

He then stated calmly, "Acting is all I have. I believe there will come a time when I can prove myself. Meeting good works seems to be something heaven provides, and I think it's enough if I keep doing my best."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.