Lee Min Ho only got to attend school as his character Kim Tan in "The Heirs" buta few kdrama stars actually did attend school in another country.
Whether it was a good or bad experience, being immersed in another culture apparently helped these stars become better actors.
For example, Park Yoochun, the star of the dramas "Missing You," "Sungkyunkwan Scandal," and "Rooftop Prince" and soon to appear in the film "Sea Fog," emigrated to the U.S. when he was in the sixth grade. He attended Holmes Middle School and Chantilly High School in Fairfax, Virginia. But his memories of his life in the U.S. were not happy ones because his parents divorced and he remained behind with his mother. While attending school, he took part time jobs to earn money and buy a plane ticket to Korea. He was only 15 when he returned but it was a good move. Scouted by SM Entertainment, became a member of TVXQ, then JYJ. And now he has earned success as an actor.
Actress Jung Ryeo Won, who currently stars as Seo Joo Young in "Medical Top Team," migrated with her family to Brisbane, Australia, when she was 10. Discrimination in school prompted her to quickly learn English and it took her only a few years to acclimate to life in Australia. She attended MacGregor High School and majored in international business at Griffith University but a trip to Korea changed her plans. She was discovered on the streets of Seoul, debuted as a singer and then moved on to acting. You may remember her as the other woman in "My Lovely Kim Sam Soon."
Ok Taecyeon, member of the boy band 2 PM and star of "Who Are You?" "Dream High" and "Cinderella's Sister," was born in Busan but emigrated with his family to Bedford, Mass., when he was only 10. He attended Bedford High School where he excelled as a student and participated in lots of extracurricular activities, before returning to Korea to pursue his career.
He could have remained in the U.S. and become a success there but the opportunity to live a different kind of life made his heart beat a little faster.
"I knew that I was jumping into a completely different world but I wasn't afraid at all," he said.
He has since adjusted beautifully to life and fame in Korea.
He eventually gave up his U.S. citizenship and plans to enlist in the Korean military.
Han Chae Young, who is up for a role in Jang Geun Suk's new drama "Pretty Man," grew up in the Chicago area. She attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School but was discovered while on a visit to Korea. She made her acting debut at the age of 20 in a Korean horror film, "The Record" and recently appeared in the drama "Ad Genius Lee Tae Baek."
She has not completely abandoned the U.S., as her parents and her Korean-American businessman husband live there. She did return to Korea recently to give birth to her first child and will stay a while if she takes the role in "Pretty Man."
