The unusual career journey of actress Jin Kijoo, who starred in the Netflix series 'Teach You a Lesson,' is being highlighted by Sports Chosun.

Before becoming an actress, Jin Kijoo worked as an employee at Samsung SDS, a broadcast reporter, and a supermodel. As her unique career path is drawing attention once again, an email she sent to colleagues when resigning from the major corporation is also becoming a hot topic again. At the time, she wrote:

"I consider it a huge blessing to have met so many wonderful people at my very first job. Because it was such a great place, deciding to leave wasn't easy. However, I found the courage to do it because I have a dream that I felt I would regret not chasing 10 or 20 years from now if I didn't try it now."

In particular, the line, "They say adapting can lead to a scary resignation. That's why I drew my sword before it was too late," has resonated deeply with many office workers. It reflected her determination to leave a stable job and pursue a new path.

In 2021, Jin Kijoo appeared on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block,' where she opened up about her journey from working as Samsung SDS employee, becoming a reporter at Gangwon Minbang, a supermodel, and ultimately actress.

She revealed that her father, who worked as a journalist, inspired her to become a media professional from a young age. She recalled, "Since I was little, the stories about the world that my father told me were always faster than the news. He looked like an incredibly cool adult to me."

After graduating from Chung-Ang University with a degree in Computer Science, she joined Samsung SDS. Recalling her corporate life, she said, "The new employee orientation and the training sessions with my colleagues were more fun than the job itself." However, as time passed, she realized she couldn't give up her dream of becoming an actress and eventually decided to resign.

Jin Kijoo shared, "My facial expression before and after work must have gradually gotten worse. My mom told me, 'If there's something you want to do, then you should give it a try.' But it was a time when finidng a job was extremely difficult, so I couldn't easily gather the courage." She added:

"In the email I sent to my seniors and colleagues when I resigned, I wrote, 'I drew my sword because if I kept hesitating, it would be too late.' The truth was that I wanted to become an actress, but I couldn't tell anyone around me. I was afraid people would laugh at me."

After leaving the company, she followed in her father's footsteps and pursued journalism. She worked as a reporter for Gangwon Minbang and experienced the profession she had long dreamed of, but the reality was far from easy. She recalled:

"As a trainee reporter, the only personal time I had was when I was washing my hair. It was so exhausting that sometimes, I felt like I was going to throw up while washing my hair."

After leaving journalism, Jin Kijoo entered a supermodel contest at her older sister's suggestion. She passed the preliminary screening using profile photos she had taken while preparing for the journalism exams and received positive evaluations during the talent portion because of her experience perfroming in a company arts group during her days at Samsung SDS. She finally achieved her dream of becoming an actress when she passed the audition for the 2015 drama 'Second 20s.'

Even after her debut, she was rejected in numerous auditions because she was considered older than others. She shared:

"I gained confidence from a comment made by the director of 'Second 20s,' who asked me: 'You have talent. So why are you concerned about what others think?"

She expressed her affection for acting, saying, "Being an actress is more unstable and bruises my pride more than any job I've had before, but it's also the most interesting and the work I love the most."

She also shared her personal life philosophy, saying:

"I think changing careers is only possible when you are able to let go of something. It's important to ask yourself whether it's something you truly want to do, even if there is no guarantee that things will get better than what you currently have, even if it means losing what you already have."

Meanwhile, Jin Kijoo has been receiving praise from viewers for her portrayal of investigator Im Hanrim in Netflix's 'Teach You a Lesson,' where she showcases intense action scenes and stable acting skills.

COMMENTS:

1. [+314][-11] She was hired at Samsung through the open corporate recruitmentㄷㄷ..

2. [+252][-36] I don't think it was her acting that's bad, it's the directing. They kept showing scenes of her shouting. Not only did my ears hurt, but I'm also worried about her vocal cords. But still, I really enjoyed watching the drama.

3. [+209][-13] She must've been very smart too. You can tell she's intelligent from the way she speaks.

4. [+32][-19] I truly enjoyed watching 'Teach You a Lesson.' Her acting didn't bother me at all. Didn't she do a good job at bringing the character to life?

5. [+31][-22] I haven't read the original webtoon, but I don't think her acting was excessive.