It's a widespread belief that celebrities have the best lives. They work on a few projects every year and then enjoy a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle. However, what people tend to overlook is that their personal and public lives are always in the limelight, snatching away their privacy and making even a tiny matter an exclusive headline which sometimes makes things worse for them.
No one likes being in front of the camera all day, but celebrities inevitably face this challenge. While some actors and actresses can handle the pressure, others crumble and eventually leave the industry. Here is a list of Korean actors and actresses who have retired from acting due to their involvement in some scandal or just because they did not wish to continue further.
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Seo Min Jung stepped into the entertainment industry in 2000. Her breakthrough came in 2006 when she landed a role in the popular sitcom, Unstoppable High Kick. She played the role of a teacher whose high school student had a crush on her. The sitcom also starred Park Min Young and Kim Bum, who have since become very popular in the Korean industry.
However, after marrying a Korean-American dentist, Ahn Sang Hoon, on August 25, 2007, Seo decided to retire from show business and shifted to New York City. She gave birth to a daughter, Ahn Yae Jin, in 2008.
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The 90s era gave the South Korean actress, Shim Eun Ha a chance to rule the people's hearts. She starred in some of the most popular Korean dramas of that time, including The Last Match, M, and Trap Of Youth. But it was her brilliant performance in the 1998 Hur Jin Ho’s romantic film, Christmas In August, that paved her way to becoming the best actress of the year. She also garnered positive reviews for her role in the romantic comedy, Art Museum By The Zoo.
In 2001, Shim's engagement rumours caused a media frenzy, leading her to quit acting and seek a more ordinary life. Despite occasional rumours about her return to acting, Shim has remained mainly out of the public eye, pursuing her interests in painting and studying in France. In 2005, she made headlines once again when she announced her marriage to Korean politician, Ji Sang Wook.
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Lee Tae Im is a highly skilled South Korean actress who has been recognized for her outstanding performances in various productions. She played the lead role in the 2009 drama, Don't Hesitate and also appeared in supporting roles in the films, Days Of Wrath in 2013 and For The Emperor in 2014. Unfortunately, during the filming of My Tutor Friend in 2015, Lee Tae Im was involved in a dispute with Kim Ye Won that resulted in public criticism and caused her to withdraw from the drama and another show she was working on.
Eventually, Lee Tae Im was cleared of any wrongdoing and even received a public apology from Kim Ye Won, but the damage was done. In 2018, Lee Tae Im was cast as the lead in Woman In Dignity. Unfortunately, she did not continue for long and decided to take a sudden retirement from the entertainment industry. She announced that she was quitting the entertainment industry due to some of the difficulties she faced. Nonetheless, her immense talent and contributions to the industry will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.
Bae Yong Joon is among those actors who witnessed the Korean Wave, better known as the Hallyu Wave. He started his acting career in 1994 with the drama, Salut D'Amour, the name might confuse you, but it is actually a Korean drama. Bae Yong Joon then quickly rose to popularity and appeared in several television dramas. One of his most famous dramas is Winter Sonata in 2002, which was a significant part of the Hallyu wave.
It is a melodrama about first love, lost memory, and unknown family ties. The drama became a massive success in Asia and over 20 countries. His last acting appearance was a guest role in the 2011 drama, Dream High. Bae is now active as the chairman of the management agency, KeyEast. Currently, Bae Yong Joon lives in Hawaii with his actress-wife, Park Soo Jin. Although he hasn't taken on an acting role in over a decade, he has never officially announced his retirement from the industry either.
Heo Yi Jae is also affectionately called ‘Little Kim Tae Hee’ due to her resemblance to the famous actress, Kim Tae Hee. She made her debut in 2004. Heo Yi Jae immense popularity for her portrayal of the leading role in the drama, Prince Hours in 2007 and later appeared in Single Dad In Love in 2008. But in 2016, Heo Yi Jae suddenly took a hiatus and later completely stopped working in the entertainment industry. Her last project was the 2016 romantic drama, You Are A Gift.
However, in 2021, she finally came out to the public and revealed the reason for her hiatus. She explained that a married actor had abused his powers against her and attempted to sleep with her. This incident caused her to have a mental breakdown. As a result, she decided to leave the industry as there was no one to help her during this difficult time.
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Choi Jong Hoon is a South Korean musician and guitarist who ventured into the acting field in 2011. He debuted with the romantic drama, You’re My Pet. He starred in other Korean dramas such as Unexpected Heroes, Prince Of Prince, and Modern Farmer.
Unfortunately, his journey was marred by allegations of illegal filming of women without their consent, bribery, and drunk driving. He was also charged with an allegation of gang rape in 2016. In March 2019, he decided to retire from the industry. Later that year, he was found guilty of the charges and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Lee Seo Won gained attention after appearing in the 2016 K-drama, Uncontrollably Fond as Bae Suzy's younger brother. He soon landed a leading role in The Liar And His Lover, coming from the same company as Park Bo Gun and Song Joong Ki. Unfortunately, his career got derailed when he got involved in a scandal in 2018.
Lee Seo Won was charged with sexual harassment and threatening a female celebrity with a weapon, leading to his removal from Korean dramas, About Time and Music Bank. He pleaded guilty during the first trial but enlisted in the military before the fourth trial. The High Military Court is currently reviewing his case.
Were you shocked to know the reason behind these actors' and actresses' retirement from the entertainment industry? Let us know.
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