Seo Hyun-jin Reflects on Her Journey from Struggling Actress to Top Star on 'You Quiz on the Block'

On the November 20 episode of tvN's You Quiz on the Block (유퀴즈 온 더 블럭), actress Seo Hyun-jin shared her inspiring journey from a long period of obscurity to becoming a leading star in the entertainment industry.

The episode featured forensic scientist Professor Kim Moon-young, actress Seo Hyun-jin, and Michelin-starred chef Fabrizio Ferrari. Professor Kim, who leads the forensic research lab at Sungkyunkwan University, recounted how he became interested in forensics after watching the CSI series while studying engineering at Seoul National University. He explained, "I was fine with the images of corpses in the lecture materials; it felt natural to me. That sparked my interest in pursuing a career in forensics."

Chef Fabrizio Ferrari, known for his love of Korean cuisine, was introduced as a chef who has held three Michelin stars for 15 consecutive years. He humorously clarified that his last name, Ferrari, has no connection to the famous car brand, although he joked it would be a nice coincidence. Fabrizio shared that his passion for Korean food developed while working in his parents' restaurant and collaborating with a Korean sous-chef, praising the efficiency and dedication of Korean kitchen staff.

Seo Hyun-jin opened up about her challenging decade-long journey before achieving fame. She initially dedicated herself to traditional Korean dance but made a sudden shift to debut as an idol. Reflecting on her family's reaction, she noted, "They were clueless about the entertainment industry; my mom even referred to the TV as a 'fool's box.' She thought I was going to become a news anchor. Now, she still finds it amazing that I could give up dance, which I had practiced for so long."

However, her idol career was short-lived, ending after just a year. Seo Hyun-jin mentioned, "I attended auditions sporadically but struggled to find work. I completed my contract with SM Entertainment while feeling pressured, so I diligently attended acting classes."

She explained that her background in dance helped her in acting, as she was accustomed to rehearsing and performing. During her first monologue practice, she recalled being told, "I've never seen someone read so sadly like you do." She also mentioned that her peers often called on her for help during their rehearsals.

After a long hiatus, Seo Hyun-jin experienced a surge in popularity with the drama Another Oh Hae-young (또 오해영). Despite her success, she admitted feeling anxious, stating, "I was always working hard, but I worried that it could all end at any moment. I didn’t find joy in it at all."