Choi Kang-hee Reveals She Considered Quitting Acting to Work at a Mask Factory: "I Even Enjoyed Washing Dishes at a BBQ Restaurant"

Actor Choi Kang-hee (49) has revealed that she once considered leaving the entertainment industry to work at a mask factory.

Appearing on comedian Lee Sung-mi's YouTube channel, which was released on July 13, Choi reflected on the time she took a hiatus from acting. She confessed that despite debuting at a young age and having a long career in the entertainment industry, she struggled with low self-esteem and a fear of people, eventually leading her to want to set aside her acting career and live an ordinary life.

"I was exhausted, scared, and my mental state had collapsed quite a bit," Choi said. "As you know, I don't have much ambition, so I just wanted to live as myself. If there was a second life, I wanted to try living it." She added, "I had no fear at all. I thought I would survive somehow. My family is similar to me; we don't have financial greed. Even if you give us money, we don't spend it."

In fact, it was reported that after halting her acting activities, Choi had planned to get a job at a mask factory, which was extremely busy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was during the COVID-19 era, and since mask factories would be incredibly busy, I thought about going to one," she explained. "At that time, my close friend, comedian Mija, suggested I work at the BBQ restaurant she was running, so I did dishwashing. Mija was studying for a real estate license back then and didn't come to the shop often. I was nervous about mingling with people I didn't know, but it was fun, and I felt a sense of accomplishment in getting the job done."

Choi spent her time cleaning the homes of Song Eun-i and Kim Sook, or working part-time washing dishes at the BBQ restaurant. When asked by Lee Sung-mi, "Didn't you feel sad working like that after being a celebrity?" she replied, "I didn't have that thought at all. Not even a little bit. If anything, I felt very refreshed." She added with a laugh, "I actually thought, 'I should target celebrities. I should specialize in cleaning for celebrities.' I even considered learning how to give massages."

Choi also revealed that her views on marriage have changed significantly along with her faith. Regarding the past, she said, "Because I had my own insecurities, I was surrounded by many people who also had insecurities. So, I thought there were no happy married couples. But as I gradually saw couples living happily, my thoughts on marriage naturally began to change." She honestly added, "My ideal type is a Christian."

Since her debut in 1995, Choi Kang-hee has been beloved for her roles in numerous works, including "School", "Sweet Buns", "My Sweet City", "Protect the Boss", and "Queen of Mystery".



(Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon, SBS Entertainment News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.