Kim Dae-myung revisits five entrance exams and a 96kg role

From 1st on the Waiting List at Seoul Institute of the Arts to a 5th-time Applicant

Actor Kim Dae-myung revealed the process of how he began his acting career after five attempts at entrance exams, along with the behind-the-scenes story of how he bulked up for the drama 'Incomplete Life'.

Appearing on the YouTube channel 'Fairy Jaehyung' on the 19th, Kim Dae-myung reminisced about his journey to being accepted into the Department of Acting Arts at Sungkyunkwan University. He stated that before being accepted at Sungkyunkwan University, he knocked on the doors of schools coveted by theater and film aspirants, such as Korea National University of Arts, Chung-Ang University, and Dongguk University, but faced bitter disappointment every time.

In particular, he mentioned his experience during the Seoul Institute of the Arts entrance exam during his fourth attempt. At the time, Kim Dae-myung received the 1st number on the waiting list, but due to the exam results at the time where no additional successful applicants were made for male students, he ultimately became a fifth-time applicant. He shared his feelings at the time, saying, "Since my family was not well-off, I had to work part-time jobs to pay for academy fees, and I couldn't imagine doing anything else if I didn't act."

"I didn't want to do entrance exam acting" — Failure caused by stubbornness

Kim Dae-myung attributed the cause of his five failed entrance exam attempts to his own "stubbornness." This was because the specific acting style required at entrance exam sites differed from his own color. He confessed, "There is a set way to do entrance exam acting, and I really didn't want to do that kind of acting. If it's Hamlet, you have to say the set lines, but I just wanted to act as if I were speaking normally."

It was only during his fifth attempt that he was able to cross the threshold of acceptance by accepting the style the professors wanted.

Gaining up to 96kg for Kim Dong-sik in 'Incomplete Life'

Physical changes related to the drama 'Incomplete Life', which solidified his position as an actor, were also mentioned. Kim Dae-myung intentionally increased his weight to portray the role of Assistant Manager Kim Dong-sik. Before his casting was confirmed, he had a slim physique, but he increased his weight to 93kg for the character, reaching a peak weight of 96kg. He shared the difficulties of the time, saying, "The eating habit became a routine, so it was really not easy to return to my former body."

At the time, 'Incomplete Life' was produced by tvN and featured rising actors including Kim Dae-myung, Byun Yo-han, and Kang Ha-neul. Kim Dae-myung continues to be active through works such as the movie 'The Terror Live' and the drama 'Hospital Playlist'.