Jo Jung Suk talks about his family, past, and more on the reality show Yoo Quiz on the Block Season 4.
On the tvN variety show, Jo Jung Suk, marking his 20th anniversary in the industry this year, recalled his tough days as a rookie actor, saying, "I remember working really hard."
Among the many things he talked about, the Hospital Playlist actor revealed his love for his family. Married for seven years now, Jo Jung Suk said that he often scolds his daughter. "(My daughter) Ye Won imitates me. ... She often plays role-playing and situational games, and always assigns me a strange character. When Ye Won is a turtle, her mom is an elephant, and I am a jellyfish," he said, evoking laughter. He continued, "My daughter is just me. She's just all me. She practices expressions, dances, and sings."
Reflecting on his acting career, he said, "I have no regrets. I remember working really hard. I started with the musical "The Nutcracker" in 2004 and worked non-stop until 2010. I had only about fifteen days off during that time. Except for those 15 days, I didn't rest for a single day in those seven years. I remember living a very tough life."
He added, "I had to be that way. I couldn't stop. When I was 20, my father passed away, and I became the head of the family. People around me wondered why I was pushing myself so hard. But I didn't even have time to think about myself because of the financial issues." He added, "They say time heals, and as time passed, I found myself getting through [my past]."
The actor also shared an anecdote about creating a group of 1980-born actors. The actors included are Park Ji Hwan, Jin Goo, Kim Sung Kyun, Kim Dae Myung, and Kim Nam Gil. Jo Jung Suk said, "We made a group chat, but we couldn't meet due to our busy schedules. So, we called it AI friends, but I couldn't attend the first meeting because I had an appendectomy. I was the only one who couldn't go." He added, "We split the bill equally. Even though I couldn't attend the gathering, they still asked me to pay," evoking laughter.
Jo Jung Suk also said, "I get cut off a lot because I speak slowly." The show's host Yoo Jae Suk remarked, "I think there might be PDs who would consider making a variety show with this group," raising expectations.
Discussing the concerns he has at his age (43), Jo Jung Suk expressed, "I think it's a time when you have a lot of worries. My friends who used to play soccer and basketball have been going back and forth to the hospital due to health issues, and I had an unexpected appendectomy this March. I'm also thinking a lot about health and the growing responsibility as my daughter gets older. I also have a great sense of responsibility as the lead in Pilot and hope it does well."