Ji Jin-hee: I was the lead, but cut after 2 episodes due to tie-in casting

Actor Ji Jin-hee drew sympathy as he revealed for the first time the heartbreaking story of being dropped from a production during his unknown days. He recalled the intense period of obscurity hidden behind his success, confessing how he lost a lead role in a long-form drama he had worked so hard to secure due to external influences, and how he had to pretend to go to the filming set for months without being able to tell even his family the truth.

Appearing on the "Republic of Korea Two-Top" episode of the YouTube channel Zzanbro hosted by Shin Dong Yup on the 6th, Ji Jin-hee spoke candidly about the most difficult moments he faced during the early stages of his acting career.

Recalling those days, he said, "When I was a rookie, it was truly difficult to become the lead in a drama. I was lucky enough to be cast as the lead in a long-form drama, and I was so happy that I went home and bragged to my family immediately."

However, the excitement did not last long. Ji Jin-hee began his story calmly, saying, "After finishing filming up to the second episode, I was suddenly dropped from the project."

He explained, "The female lead was replaced, and a new actress joined. In the process of casting an actress from the same agency as the new female lead, a situation arose where I had no choice but to be removed." This was a roundabout way of mentioning the reality of 'tie-in casting' that occurred in the entertainment industry at the time.

Upon hearing this, host Shin Dong Yup empathized, saying, "Such things were common back then," and Ji Jin-hee also calmly recalled that the situation was a structural issue that could not be overcome by individual will.

Ji Jin-hee said, "The director called me aside, but he couldn't bring himself to say directly, 'You have to leave the project.' The director was also very embarrassed."

He revealed that his manager, who was with him, explained the situation accurately.

He recalled, "After we stepped outside, my manager hyung grabbed me and said, 'Listen carefully. You don't know what might happen in the future. You have to endure this. What the director just said ultimately means they are taking you out of the work.'"

He added, "The manager persuaded me, saying, 'The director will never tell you directly that he is removing you. When will another opportunity to be a lead in a long-form drama come to a rookie? But for now, you have to accept it.'"

Finding it difficult to accept the sudden reality, the two of them talked for a long time at a nearby cafe and eventually shared a drink to soothe their regrets. Thus, his first lead role, which he had obtained with such difficulty, came to an end with only two episodes filmed.

But the hardest moment for Ji Jin-hee was informing his family of this fact.

He was momentarily speechless as he said, "My mother bragged a lot to people around her, saying, 'My son has become the lead in a drama.'"

Ultimately, unable to bring himself to tell them about being dropped, he confessed that he left the house for about two or three months as if he were going to the filming set. It was because he did not want to disappoint his family.

Recalling the time, Ji Jin-hee said, "I left the house every day pretending to go to filming. Then, eventually, I couldn't hide it anymore, so I told her honestly, 'Mom, I'm not appearing on the show. I was cut.'"

He added, which brought a sense of heaviness, "My mother didn't say anything to my face. But I could feel her crying when she turned her back on me."

What made it even more regrettable for him was the fact that the project he left later achieved great success.

Ji Jin-hee gave a bitter smile, saying, "That drama became really famous and was a huge success." This suggested that the regret of having to let go of a work that could have changed his life due to external circumstances remains a deep memory even after a long time.

The story revealed through this broadcast once again showed that even Ji Jin-hee, who has established himself as a representative actor of the Republic of Korea, went through numerous times of frustration and trial. Although he experienced unexpected dismissal and failure, he did not give up on his dream of being an actor, and his journey of eventually building his own position and growing into a top-tier actor through steady effort delivered deep empathy and resonance to many.

Immediately after the broadcast, viewers responded with support for his sincere confession, saying things like, "I didn't know there was such pain until the current Ji Jin-hee existed," "Behind a successful actor, there was time spent enduring," "I was even more moved thinking about his mother," and "In the end, not giving up is what made the current Ji Jin-hee."