Although he was accepted into Seoul Institute of the Arts with dreams of becoming an actor, financial difficulties forced him to take out student loans while also supporting his family.
When Jo Jung-suk received his military enlistment notice, he was deeply concerned that there would be no one to care for his mother if he joined the military. After much deliberation, he applied for a military exemption.
At that time, military exemption could be granted for financial hardship if one’s assets were less than ₩13 million and monthly income was below ₩180,000. Jo Jung-suk met these criteria and was granted the exemption.
After that, Jo Jung-suk chose to focus on earning money rather than his studies. He began working on musical theater stages, diligently supporting his mother despite the meager income.
When the news of Jo Jung-suk’s military exemption became public, rumors spread accusing him of dodging military service.
However, once the full story of his family’s financial struggles emerged, many expressed sympathy.
Today, Jo Jung-suk is recognized as a talented actor, consistently appearing in successful films and dramas, and is now a top choice for casting in both industries.
In his film debut “Architecture 101”, Jo Jung-suk made a lasting impression with just 10 minutes of screen time, reportedly earning around ₩100 million for that role.
Now, his movie fees reach ₩200 million per project, and he earns ₩100 million per drama episode, leaving many in awe of his incredible success.
Source: Daum
