Korean hot star Jang Young-nam in the past was a struggling artist with an income of 500,000 won ($360) per month but now earns 10 million won ($7,300).

It takes tenacity and grit to achieve any level of success in the cutthroat world of acting, and her story reflects that.

Jang, a graduate of the Department of Theater at Seoul Institute of the Arts, started her acting career in 1995 with the play "Romeo and Juliet."

She had initially been cast in the lead role of Juliet at Mokhwa Theater Company, but her audition was rejected because she couldn't meet the level set.She used this setback to enter a self-reflective phase and improve her craft.

Jang said, "I rehearsed for a month. I couldn't believe they changed the role. I felt like I had to step my game up; that experience motivated me."

Jang then worked in a variety of acting and voice roles but struggled to make ends meet. Her paltry pay sometimes made it hard to get by, and that shook her faith as well as the faith of those around him.

Her parents sometimes questioned her choice of profession and treated her lackadaisically and in a demotivating way.

So, Jang said, "I lived an extreme life and earned maybe 500,000 won maximum in a month. My family could not afford to support me; it was tough financially, and they did not understand my dream."

After four years of trying, finally, Jang broke through by winning the Best New Actor Award for the play "Dressing Room" in the 37th Baeksang Arts Awards held in 2001.

Awards of this sort also marked a kind of tipping point in her career, appeasing her family and helping to diffuse her dot-in-the-northeast status with the theatre set.

"It was the first time my parents got to see me on TV," said Jang. "Before I received the award, I had never performed in front of them. That was a significant moment for me."

Jang's film and TV drama credits since then include box office hits "Hansel & Gretel," "Harmony" as well as popular series like "The Moon Embracing the Sun," 'The Horse Doctor' and most recently, "Pinocchio."

It propelled him into the stratosphere of fortune and fame for his God-given talents and hard work.

Today, Jang Young-nam still lives on as a representative survivor of the the performing arts. This serves as a tribute that encourages every aspiring actor to be steadfast on the complex and challenging road ahead.

What can you say about the story? Share your comments below.

Kdramastars own this.

This article was written by:

Rovelyn Barba