Kim Yoon-ji Drops Out of UCLA to Pursue Career in Korea

In a recent episode of SBS's variety show, 신발 벗고 돌싱포맨 (Shoe Off, Dolsing For Men), Kim Yoon-ji revealed that she left the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to return to Korea and pursue her career as a singer. During the special segment titled '덕 보러 왔습니다' (Here to See the Fans), which aired on March 11, 2025, Kim shared her experiences on Hollywood film sets, noting that personal trailers are equipped with kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms, making the environment quite luxurious. She also mentioned that upon landing in the U.S., she was greeted by an escort, highlighting the differences in treatment compared to her experiences in Korea.

Kim Yoon-ji surprised everyone by stating that she earned more from a single film than she did during her eight years as a singer. She explained that she made the decision to drop out of UCLA to focus on her music career, coming to Korea without any agency backing her. Kim humorously noted that her mother was strongly opposed to her decision, saying, 'If I were my mom, I would have felt the same way.'