Ko Hyun-jung recalls covering massive convenience store bills during filming
Ko Hyun-jung speaks candidly during an appearance on YouTube show Salon Drip 2. Captured from the show's YouTube
Actor Ko Hyun-jung said she once spent more than 10 million won ($7,300) during a convenience store shoot, covering the store’s sales to prevent her staff from feeling uncomfortable.
Appearing on YouTube channel Salon Drip 2 on Tuesday, Ko spoke openly about her personality, saying she struggles when people get too close too quickly. “In daily life, not at work, I find high tension exhausting. Even frequent calls can feel burdensome,” she said.
She also reflected candidly on the highs and lows of her career. “Life has its ups and downs. When things go well, people crowd around you. When you fall, they leave, and when you rise again, they return. That’s why even when someone says they like me, I hesitate,” she said.
Ko recalled her divorce at the age of 32, saying, “Since I already had two children, I thought I was so old. I acted like I knew everything and couldn’t meet people as myself. But after becoming very sick five years ago, I decided to meet people honestly as who I am. It helped me relieve stress and be more genuine.”
The actor also shared behind-the-scenes stories, particularly about filming in convenience stores.
“Because the stores still had to serve regular customers, the crew sometimes felt uncomfortable or unwelcome. I didn’t like that, so instead I would close the store temporarily and pay for everything we needed, as if we had made up the sales,” she said.
“Once, the total bill went over 10 million won,” she added, prompting host Jang Do-yeon to joke that the staff must have been able to furnish their homes with what they bought.
Ko also addressed a rumor that she empties an entire jar of moisturizer on flights. “That makes no sense. Think how dirty your hands must be by then — I wouldn’t do that. For me, keeping my hands and the surfaces my cosmetics touch clean is more important than my face,” she said, noting that her focus on cleanliness leaves her little time to go out.
Ko Hyun-jung, right, talks with host Jang Do-yeon on YouTube show Salon Drip 2. Captured from the show's YouTube channel
Her distinctive style of social drinking also drew attention. “In Korea, there’s still a culture of exchanging glasses, but you can see everyone’s lip marks on them. I can’t accept that,” she said.
Instead, she walks around carrying her own soju bottle and toasts directly with it. “From a third person’s perspective, it probably looks like I’m chugging from the bottle,” she added with a laugh.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.