“I’m Still Here!” Min Do-hee Opens Up About Her Cafe Part-Time Job and Hopes for a Comeback

“I’m so glad to be doing an interview again!”

On the 18th, at a cafe in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, actress Min Do-hee arrived 15 minutes early for her appointment. With no manager or PR representative by her side, the independent actress shared that she took the subway to the interview location.

Many fans remember Min Do-hee as Jo Yoon-jin from the tvN drama ‘Reply 1994’ (2013), where she left a lasting impression with her thick Jeolla-do dialect and spirited expressions. Now 32, the actress she is today carries a much calmer aura than the intense image she had back then.

“When people meet me, they remember Yoon-jin from ‘Reply 1994’ a lot. Of course, that was me and a role I played, but a lot of time has passed. I’m different now, but I don’t think I’ve had many chances to show that side of myself.”

This is why she recently launched her YouTube channel, ‘Mini Do-hee.’ She explained that she wanted to update the fans who waited for her during her hiatus and show them who Min Do-hee is today.

“Since I haven’t been very active, I worried that people might have forgotten me. I wanted to show everyone that ‘I’m still here’ through YouTube, and I was so happy to see how warmly they welcomed me.”

The most surprising part of the interview was her recent update. Min Do-hee revealed, “Until last week, I worked part-time at a cafe for over a year.” Although she recently quit to focus on new schedules, she spent her time making drinks, preparing sandwiches, and greeting customers.

While it might have been burdensome for a known actress, she laughed, saying, “Surprisingly, not many people recognized me.”

“I was worried at first, but it actually suited my personality perfectly. As an actress, even on the same set, you face new scripts and unfamiliar situations every time. There’s always the pressure to stay tense, but cafe work became a comforting, regular routine once I got used to it.”

Describing herself as a “shy, blood type A homebody,” she noted that interacting with various people across the counter was a great experience for her growth as an actress.

“I’m a bit cautious about using the word ‘observation,’ but I was able to see many different types of people. I really liked that part of it. I think that’s why I was able to do it for over a year.”

Raised in Yeosu, Min Do-hee debuted in 2012 as a member of the girl group Tiny G. After attending a practical music academy and passing an audition, she moved to Seoul to start as an idol. Acting came as an unexpected opportunity.

“Actually, I never thought about acting. Music was something I was interested in, but acting was a field I had never considered. Thankfully, an opportunity came along, and I found it so much fun. I’ve been pushing forward ever since because I want to keep doing it.”

After ‘Reply 1994,’ she steadily built her filmography, but director Lee Joon-ik’s film ‘The Book of Fish’ (2021) was an unforgettable turning point. Min Do-hee won the Best New Actress award at the Golden Cinematography Awards for this role.

“When I was cast in ‘The Book of Fish,’ I kept wondering if I was dreaming. From the director to my seniors, I wondered, ‘Can I really work with these people?’ Just being on set with them was a huge deal for me.”

Despite the success of ‘The Book of Fish,’ the subsequent hiatus hasn’t been easy. With the current difficult environment for drama production and fewer slots, opportunities for actors have shrunk. Being independent, getting audition info isn’t as easy as it once was.

“It’s true that there are fewer opportunities than when I was with an agency. Still, I go to auditions whenever I find information. If I return, I’d love to play a role similar to who I am now. Of course, I’ll take any opportunity that comes my way.”

Throughout the 50-minute interview, the word Min Do-hee used most often was “consistently.”

“My biggest wish is to act consistently. I think every actor feels the same. Having gone through a hiatus, and still experiencing it a bit, I know that the struggle of that time isn’t easy. I want to be in a project and stay active soon. My greatest hope is to do this consistently.”