Yoon Ji-sung Reflects on Name Change and Journey to Stardom

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"It took quite a long time after changing my name, but since I eventually debuted, I consider it a good decision."

Yoon Ji-sung shared these thoughts during an interview at a café in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul last month. Yoon, who is known as the leader of Wanna One and an actor, first caught the public's attention with his unique and cheerful manner of speaking on Mnet's 'Produce 101 Season 2' in 2017. Born in 1991, he was 27 at the time, making him relatively older than his fellow contestants after a long trainee period.

Despite this, Yoon Ji-sung stood out with his witty leadership, naturally building a friendly image among the trainees. His bright and positive energy resonated with fans, leading to a strong fanbase. He successfully debuted in eighth place, taking on the significant role of leader in the 11-member group Wanna One.

In the early days of his debut, Yoon Ji-sung was noted for his witty talk and bright image, but the enduring love he receives nine years later is rooted in his sincerity. Beyond his 'Produce 101' persona, he has consistently engaged in good deeds such as volunteering for stray dogs, exerting positive influence, showing deep affection for his family, and maintaining a genuine attitude towards his fans, gradually building a sincere image.

Yoon Ji-sung revealed that he was aware of the realistic outlook that maintaining popularity after Wanna One's disbandment would be challenging. Therefore, he gave his best at every moment and emphasized that he had no regrets or disappointments after the group's disbandment in January 2019. Since then, he has expanded his career as a solo artist and ventured into musicals and dramas, steadily paving his own path.

Yoon Ji-sung recalled, "I enjoy fortune-telling. When I was in my senior year of high school, I took entrance exams for theater and film departments. I passed the first round for all of them. At that time, I had hope that I could get into college as a current student." He continued, "For Seoul Institute of the Arts, they only accepted 33 people when I took the exam. I was the only male from my school to pass the first round. I was confident I would get in, but I failed all the final rounds."

He added, "I failed all the second rounds for early admissions and applied for regular admissions. I passed the first round for all the regular admissions too, but again, I failed all the second rounds. It was a huge shock, and I had to face reality more objectively."

"I wondered what the problem was and felt so empty. After failing the second round of early admissions, I changed my name. I was determined to get into college through regular admissions. As my struggles grew, I thought my name might be affecting my failures. I had heard that my birth date and name didn't align well. Also, I heard that the character 'Jewel (玉)' isn't commonly used in male names. So, I decided to change my name."

Yoon Ji-sung said, "After changing my name, I told my school, 'Please put my new name in the graduation album. I want to start a new life.' The school agreed, so I wasn't worried, but when I received the graduation album, it had my old name (Yoon Byung-ok). I thought it was a big deal because I believed it would be revealed if I debuted later."

He continued, "I took the regular admissions with that name and was on the waiting list at number five. It seemed like I might get in, but I didn't. So, I took a gap year. That's when I realized changing my name wasn't the solution. It took about seven years before I debuted."

Yoon Ji-sung reflected, "A name isn't everything, but looking back, I'm glad I changed it. If I had asked people to vote for me with my old name, I might not have been chosen. 'MMO Yoon Ji-sung trainee' feels familiar."

"I don't dislike my old name. I just want to be called by my new name more often. When my old name was revealed, acquaintances teased me by calling me by my old name (laughs). So, I earnestly asked my fans, 'If you truly want me to succeed, please call me by my current name ten times a day instead of my old name.' They responded, 'Okay, Ji-sung.' I believe it's all about energy. You have to create good energy and work hard."

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr