From barbecue to bar exam, this woman excels

Lee Jung-mi

A part-time worker at a barbecue joint in Busan has passed the national bar exam, and is using her story to inspire others to reach for their dreams.

Lee Jung-mi, 28, says she always regretted not figuring out what her dream job was. But after running into financial difficulties, she decided to try to become a prosecutor who “helps young people who are lost, find their way."

"The rest of my life seemed like a black space for me, and I was insecure, which is why I had nothing to lose when I started studying for the bar test," she said, recalling the difficulties of living on a part-time restaurant wage.

After studying for the bar exam for 30 months, Lee was quoted as saying "it was a miracle from the sky" that she passed the test.

"I don't know if I can beat out all the competitive people out there, but now that I am on the road to becoming a lawyer, I'm going to do my best," Lee stated.