Idol and actor Lee Jun Young appeared as a guest on Yoo Jae Suk’s tvN show «You Quiz on the Block» (유 퀴즈 온 더 블럭). The episode was dedicated to the special theme of «The Last Dance» – for Lee Jun Young, it marked his final television appearance before military enlistment, which is now just 13 days away. The broadcast garnered a nationwide rating of 4.1%, securing the top spot in its time slot.

In a conversation with Yoo Jae Suk, the 29‑year‑old Lee Jun Young candidly spoke about the difficult period he went through after debuting in U‑KISS. At the time, he was just 17.

«There wasn’t much activity in Korea. Since I had no individual projects, I had no extra income, so I worked part‑time at a convenience store near my home,» Lee Jun Young said.

He would take the night shift and then rush off to rehearsals.

The most painful moment came when his manager accidentally walked into the store.

«The manager came in to buy cigarettes. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t say a word and just cried a lot. I never wanted anyone to find out – I was so ashamed».

Later, the manager told him that he had also cried while driving him home afterwards.

Lee Jun Young admitted that he did not want anyone to know he was working because of debt. At that time, he made a promise to himself: «I will definitely succeed».

Beyond the financial struggles, Lee Jun Young also faced prejudice against idols when he started his acting career. He confessed that the words that hurt him most were: «Don’t cause trouble and just leave».

According to him, filming in those days «started with sighs and ended with sighs». He searched for scripts and prepared on his own, failing more than 100 auditions. Once, during a shoot, he injured his knee but asked the director to let him finish the scene before going to the hospital for painkiller injections.

His persistence eventually paid off. He earned recognition as an actor and has been appearing in projects every year for the past decade. His drama credits include «D.P», «Mask Girl», «The Impossible Heir», «Dreaming of a Freaking Fairy Tale» and others.

His new drama «Reborn Rookie» is currently airing, and «Four Hands, Two Sonatas» is set to premiere on 29 August 2026.

Lee Jun Young also shared a touching story about his family. He bought his parents a car, paid off their debts, and recently purchased a house for them. However, he said his parents did not react as he had expected – they felt very guilty. His mother asked him: «Are you okay? You work day and night to earn this money.» The story deeply moved host Yoo Jae Suk.

Lee Jun Young was born on 22 January 1997 in Uijeongbu, South Korea. He began his path to fame at 17, when he debuted as a member of the boy band U‑KISS in June 2014 under the stage name Jun. At that time, the group had already been active for six years, and Lee Jun Young was one of the new members brought in to refresh its lineup.

Despite his debut with a well‑known group, the early years of his career were overshadowed by serious financial troubles. But in 2017, he got a major break through the survival reality show «The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project», which was created for idols who had not yet found success. Lee Jun Young not only took part but triumphed, finishing in first place and becoming the centre and main vocalist of the new project group UNB. The group debuted in 2018 and lasted until 2019.

That same year, Lee Jun Young made his acting debut in the tvN drama «Avengers Social Club». Since then, he has been actively filming, demonstrating remarkable versatility and the ability to transform into a wide range of characters. He has earned praise from industry peers and even gained the nickname «god of acting» among actors of his generation. In addition to music and film, he has also taken part in musicals, dance battles and even art exhibitions, earning him the title of «six‑sided trendsetter».

On 21 July 2026, Lee Jun Young will begin his mandatory active‑duty service in the army. Military service in South Korea typically lasts between 18 and 21 months.

Sources 1, 2