Many superstars showcased their athletic origins as they made the switch from professional or amateur sports to the entertainment sector. Let us examine seven Korean actors who were former athletes.
1. Park Bo Gum
The gifted actor Park Bo Gum was a competitive swimmer before becoming well-known for his parts in films such as Record of Youth and Reply 1988. He excelled in swimming in Mokdong Middle School until he was forced to drop out due to a slump. He was getting ready for a career in music and wanted to be a singer-songwriter when he was in high school. But after accepting an offer from his agency, he ultimately made the decision to pursue acting, which opened the door for his prosperous career.
2. Ahn Bo Hyun
Many people believe he is athletic because of his physical appearance, and they are correct! Ahn Bo Hyun, a former boxer, followed the sport throughout high school, finally turning pro and winning a national championship. Even as a representative of Busan, he took home a gold medal at the national competition. However, due to frequent injuries and his parents’ fears, he turned his concentration to acting shortly thereafter.
3. Lee Si Young
Si Young was a committed actor who trained in boxing in anticipation of a drama role that, regrettably, never came to pass. Nevertheless, her hard work paid off. She showed amazing determination and self-control—even at the age of 31—by becoming the first-ever Korean female celebrity to win the title of “Korean Amateur Representative Boxer” at the 2013 National Athlete Contest! However, Si Young eventually had to abandon boxing owing to a severe shoulder dislocation, choosing instead to demonstrate her excellent skills on television.
4. Sung Hoon
The star was a superb athlete who won most of his competitions and set new records in a number of swimming events. He even made an attempt to try out for the Olympic squad, but had to pull out after suffering several injuries that needed several operations. Following this disappointment, Sung Hoon made the decision to look into other options and pursue an acting career.
5. Shin Min Ah
In October 1998, Shin Min Ah, who was in her second year of middle school, made her debut as a model for the fashion magazine Kiki. Her mother used to play basketball, therefore she credits her for her physical prowess. Before turning to modeling, Shin Min Ah was an accomplished athlete who competed in track and field from an early age. Her first modeling job, which set the groundwork for her current success, was in the entertainment industry
6. Nam Joo Hyuk
Nam Joo Hyuk began his career as a model before pursuing acting. He is well known for his exceptional performances in the Vigilante and Twenty-Five Twenty-One. He played basketball for three years in Gyeongnam Middle School and shown his abilities in a number of TV dramas, thus he has a strong foundation in athletics. Sadly, he had to give up athletics after having two surgeries to repair a shin injury. Later on, he achieved success in YG K-Plus’s modeling division, which launched his acting career.
7. Kim Yo Han
Kim Yo Han, better known by his stage as Yohan, is a singer-actor and member of a family with deep roots in Taekwondo. He started learning martial arts at the age of three, and he spent twenty years perfecting his craft. He was an active Taekwondo practitioner from the start of middle school. During his athletic career, Yohan claimed the national youth title twice and earned a sports scholarship to study physical education at Sangmyun University. He even started to consider himself for the Taekwondo national team. He became passionate with the entertainment business and eventually decided to make it his main career.
8. Song Hye Kyo
Prior to her 1996 screen debut, Song Hye Kyo’s true ambition was to become a professional figure skater. Her coach even said that she would have been able to win an Olympic medal if she had kept up her training. Song Hye Kyo was able to demonstrate her skating abilities in a number of dramas and commercials, even though she eventually gave up her skates for the screen. She trained as a figure skater from junior high through middle school, gliding elegantly on the ice.
