K-Pop Idol Lee Jin-hyuk Reveals Bakery Job and Overcoming Heart Condition

Lee Jin-hyuk, known for his role in '4-Person Dining Table,' recently shared that he worked part-time at a bakery after his debut.

On the October 8th episode of Channel A's 'Best Friends Documentary 4-Person Dining Table,' the show featured announcer Lee Geum-hee along with her close friends Lee Jin-hyuk and Park Sang-young.

During the episode, Lee Geum-hee discussed her connection with Lee Jin-hyuk, saying, "We met on the variety show 'Godfather.' With a 30-year age gap, we had to decide on how to address each other. On the show, we called each other 'Godbrother' and 'Godsister,' so it naturally became 'sister.'"

Lee Jin-hyuk added, "She's been active since before I was born, but I still call her 'sister.' Once, a KBS deputy director came to greet her, and when I called her 'sister,' he was surprised. So, I decided to be more cautious at KBS." Lee Geum-hee smiled, noting, "The deputy director is my junior."

Lee Jin-hyuk also opened up about overcoming a congenital heart condition to debut as an idol. He revealed, "I was born with a heart condition and had surgery right after birth, which left me physically weak. As a trainee, I often felt my physical limits and wondered why I couldn't keep up with others."

His mother advised him to quit if it was too hard, but Lee Jin-hyuk was determined. "I hated hearing that. I wanted to keep going. Over time, my stamina improved," he shared, showcasing his tenacity.

Starting his entertainment career as a child model, Lee Jin-hyuk said, "My original dream was to be an actor. I was part of the first class at the late Lee Soon-jae's acting academy. After an audition with an agency, I trained as a singer for five years. I debuted with UP10TION at 20, and it's been 10 years now."

In a surprising revelation, Lee Jin-hyuk confessed to working at a bakery post-debut, unbeknownst to his fans. Following Lee Geum-hee's advice to meet more people, he worked part-time wearing glasses to disguise himself. "I met all kinds of people and learned the value of money and the mindset of a young professional," he said, impressing many.

Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr