Kim Ji-yeon recently opened up about the motivation behind her decision to enter the Miss Korea pageant.
On the May 22 broadcast of KBS 1TV’s ‘Hwang Shin-hye’s Let’s Live Together’, actress and former Miss Korea Jin Kim Ji-yeon appeared as a guest.
During the episode, Jang Yoon-jeong asked, “Since I’m also a Miss Korea alumna, I’m curious how you ended up entering the pageant.”
Kim Ji-yeon shared, “In college, a professor asked, ‘Who here dreams of being a wise mother and good wife?’ and I raised my hand. However, the professor told me I shouldn’t live that way, saying, ‘You need to have a clear profession for yourself. The world will change more dynamically, so please have a dream.’ That wake-up call made me decide to enter the pageant to gain some experience.”
She mentioned that she wrote the application herself, adding, “I’ve been close friends with Lee Eun-hee (Lee Ji-an), who is Lee Byung-hun’s sister, since high school, so it felt more accessible. I was actually surprised when I ended up winning the title of Jin.”
When asked about her parents’ reactions, she revealed, “I entered without my father knowing,” a sentiment that resonated with all the other cast members.
Hearing this, Hwang Shin-hye added, “Actually, when I was studying in Incheon, I was encouraged to enter Miss Korea, but it felt like something from another world, so I turned it down.”
