Why 'Rustic Period' actor Jo Sang-gu quit his 19-year translation career

Actor Jo Sang-gu shed tears as he expressed deep gratitude toward his family and wife, who supported him through long periods of hardship. He recalled that before becoming known as an actor, he worked as a translator for 19 years to make a living, but was able to quit the profession and focus entirely on acting thanks to a single suggestion from his wife.

On the 20th, during a conversation with actor Lee Jae-yong on the YouTube channel 'What Are You Doing These Days,' Jo spoke about the hardships deeply etched into his life and his family. Both actors left a strong impression through their respective roles as Mi-wa and Sirasoni in the SBS drama 'Rustic Period.'

During the discussion, Lee revealed that he had endured difficult times while undergoing treatment for depression, and that his wife's presence by his side was a source of great strength. In response, Jo shared the pain he had experienced in his own life, creating a sense of empathy.

“I feel awkward bringing this up, but I also had a really hard time,” Jo said. In response, Lee stated that he felt a similar inner pain through Jo's acting.

“You were lonely too, weren't you? It shows in your eyes,” Lee said. “Even when acting, when I look into your eyes, I can tell that you carry pain just like I do.” He continued to explain the emotional connection he felt while watching Jo's performance, saying, “I loved the melancholy hidden behind those eyes.”

Looking back at his past, Jo mentioned the period when he worked as a translator for a long time to earn a living. “I really hated translating,” he confessed, honestly revealing the struggles he faced at the time.

The decisive turning point that led him to stop translating was his wife's words. Jo recalled, “My wife told me, ‘You’re making money now from Rustic Period, so you can stop doing that.’ So, I stopped after 19 years.”

Given that he had continued translating for 19 years, there was a significant sense of liberation at the moment he quit. “I did it for 19 years, but I really, really hated it,” Jo said, expressing his gratitude to his wife, adding, “Others might say this or that about translation, but I am so, so thankful to her.”

For him, translation was not merely a side job or a part of his career. It was a practical choice to provide for his family before securing a stable foundation as an actor, and in that process, his wife and family also bore the weight of life together for a long time.

Ultimately, reflecting on his life, Jo reinterpreted the role of his family. “As it turns out, these people didn't just follow me; they were the ones who supported me,” he said. “The ones who made it possible for me to live were my family, my wife.”

While an actor's success is often attributed to their works, acting, and public love, Jo's confession reveals the weight of daily life that existed behind the scenes. The time he spent working as a translator for 19 years to survive, the family that endured those times with him, and the presence of his wife who pushed him toward a new life as an actor were the practical foundations that sustained him.

In particular, the fact that Lee and Jo could read similar loneliness and wounds in each other's eyes shows the inner depth both actors have accumulated through acting over many years. As the personal histories of the two men, which had been hidden behind their intense characters in their works, were revealed, a new context was added to how the actors of 'Rustic Period' are perceived.

For Jo, the success of 'Rustic Period' seems to have meant more than just appearing in a popular series. It was a turning point that allowed him to break free from long-term labor for survival and focus on the acting he truly desired, and the person who made that opportunity possible was ultimately his family.

Recalling the words of his wife that ended 19 years of translation labor, Jo's confession makes one reflect on the meaning of relationships and devotion that sustain a person's life, rather than just the glamorous career of an actor.