Hahm Eun-jung: “It’s embarrassing to say I attended Dongguk University when I didn't graduate”

Hahm Eun-jung, an actress and former member of T-ARA, has candidly shared the lingering regrets she has held regarding her education. After being accepted into university, she devoted herself to her entertainment career and was unable to obtain a degree. Approximately 10 years later, she visited her alma mater to explore the possibility of re-enrolling.

On the 12th, a video titled 'The Re-enrollment Challenge of a Class of '07' was released on Hahm Eun-jung's YouTube channel.

Hahm, a member of the Dongguk University class of '07, visited her alma mater for the first time in a long while. Looking back on that time, she said, “I entered before T-ARA's debut. After being accepted to the school, I started looking for an entertainment agency. I wanted to be an actress, but I ended up doing both singing and acting.”

However, as her entertainment activities intensified, her studies were pushed to the background. Hahm explained, “I attended until my freshman year and took a leave of absence during my sophomore year. When my leave ended, I returned as a junior, but I was so busy that I couldn't attend classes. I paid for a full year's tuition after paying for one semester, but because I couldn't attend, I was expelled.”

The campus, visited after a long time, felt both familiar and strange. She also revealed her honest feelings regarding her educational background.

“It was so embarrassing to say I went to Dongguk University when talking about school, since I didn't even graduate,” Hahm said. “It was also embarrassing to film this when I couldn't even finish my studies.”

It was a confession that the fact she had not obtained a university degree since graduating high school had always weighed on her mind. While she had received love from the public as a celebrity for a long time, she appeared to humble herself in the face of another life task: education.

At Hahm's remark, “If I were just a little younger, I would want to attend school, but I don't think it's possible,” the production team encouraged her, asking, “Can't you attend someday?” However, Hahm gave a bitter laugh, saying, “I'm already at the age of a professor.”

Even if she were to re-enroll, it was uncertain where she would have to start from. Hahm expressed her regret, saying, “Since I was expelled after paying tuition and having grades recorded, I don't know if I have to start as a freshman or if I can go as a junior. I did get an A in acting when I was a freshman.”

Ultimately, Hahm met directly with a professor for re-enrollment counseling. The number of credits required for graduation was as many as 94.

The professor suggested a realistic method. Advising her on how to balance entertainment activities and studies, he said, “Since it's impossible to attend continuously for two and a half years, accumulate credits by attending for one semester and then taking a leave of absence when a project comes in.”

He continued to encourage her, saying, “You aren't the only one who is late. There are many friends who were active and then lost their footing in the middle. There are quite a few friends who re-enrolled and graduated.”

He then boosted Hahm's courage to challenge herself once more by saying, “Let's aim for you to graduate before I reach retirement age.”

After finishing the consultation, Hahm could not make an easy decision. She sighed, saying, “I think I will only know my fate for next year once this winter comes.”

For Hahm, who has traveled different trajectories of success in the entertainment industry and the interruption of her studies, this concern about re-enrollment is not simply a matter of filling credits. While she cannot turn back the time that has already passed, it is also a question of whether she can continue a page of life that was once paused.

Her honest regrets and hesitations, which were not easily revealed during her glamorous stage performances and works, instead left a deeply human resonance.