Actor Go Joon Opens Up About Childhood Trauma and Journey to Stardom

Actor Go Joon recently shared his struggles with childhood trauma on Channel A's '4-Person Table Talk' aired on the 15th. Joined by close friends Jo Jae-yoon and Lee Sang-jun, Go Joon opened up about his past.

Go Joon revealed, "I was quite antisocial as a child." He recounted being so sensitive that he would pull his own hair to avoid interacting with other kids in kindergarten, leading to complaints from parents and multiple school transfers.

His mother eventually took him to a church, where he was captivated by the priest's attire. This deepened his faith to the point where he considered becoming a priest himself. However, he abandoned this dream in his later elementary years after developing a crush and realizing that joining a monastery would mean giving up relationships with women.

Go Joon also shared a traumatic incident from his infancy when he suffered severe burns. His mother had placed a coffee pot on a high shelf to warm milk, and he accidentally pulled the cord, resulting in burns on his arms and abdomen. Fortunately, he avoided burns to his face, but the scars led to bullying, with peers calling him a "monster" and even throwing stones at him.

Despite these challenges, Go Joon expressed gratitude towards his mother, who still feels guilt over the incident. He reassured her, saying, "It's not your fault. Thanks to you, I became the actor I am today."

Go Joon also recounted his struggles during his early career, spending seven years without a home and living in a practice room, often surviving on fried eggs due to financial constraints.

His path to acting began after a period of uncertainty in high school. Initially aspiring to attend art school, a teacher encouraged his artistic talents, but his parents opposed the idea. After a brief period of running away from home, he was inspired by a graduation performance at Chung-Ang University, which led him to pursue acting. He likened the experience to the awe he felt when first seeing a priest in church. Returning home, he faced his parents' disapproval but persevered, eventually gaining admission to Seoul Institute of the Arts after three months of preparation.

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