22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Cheated by ex-husband, actress becomes taxi driver to raise daughter
SEOUL: South Korean actress Jung Ga-eun, who began her career as a model and starred in The Master's Sun, has faced some challenging years.
Now 48, she has embarked on a new career as a taxi driver to support herself and her daughter.
Jung recently passed South Korea's official taxi driver qualification examination, a journey she documented on her YouTube channel, Wonder Ga-eun.
Feeling positive about the change of profession, she said: "With hard work, you can earn around 10 million won (RM30,822.43) a month. These days, even major companies don't pay that much."
Her decision comes after years of financial and emotional struggles, according to entertainment portal allkpop.
Jung became a single mother in 2018 following her divorce from her businessman husband, who was later found to have defrauded investors of 13.2 billion won (RM40.7 million) using her name.
He subsequently fled overseas and has not paid child support or contributed to their daughter's upbringing.
Jung reportedly lost over 100 million won (RM308,472.95).
"I used to be terrified of having no money, but now I just think, I'll live within my means. Things are still uncertain, but raising my child has made me stronger," she shared.
With acting jobs drying up, Jung decided to follow in the footsteps of her father, who drove a private taxi for over 30 years.
"He raised me with that job," she revealed.
Prior to the examination, Jung had expressed confidence and said: "I'm confident I'll pass. I want to score over 90."
However, she ultimately passed with 75 points.
"The test was difficult," she said.
