Actor Jeesoo, who has gained great popularity in the Philippines, revealed recent news that he has settled in and is working as an actor.
On the 7th, OSEN directly connected by phone with Jeesoo, who is in the Philippines, and had various conversations including updates on his life as an actor.
Earlier, Jeesoo attracted attention after attending a brand event held at SM Mall of Asia in Manila, Philippines. His bright face, active in the Philippines after leaving Korea, caught the eye.
Jeesoo is currently affiliated with GMA, the Philippines' largest broadcaster, and is actively working by frequently appearing in that network's dramas and programs.
According to Jeesoo, the Philippine entertainment industry is a little different from Korea. Usually Korean entertainers sign exclusive contracts with management companies, but in the Philippines most sign contracts with agencies while being affiliated with broadcasters.
He said, "This morning I appeared on a program similar to the Philippines' 'Morning Yard' and did an interview, and I did my own hair and makeup. I have to save money. (laughs) I couldn't justify spending that money," and added, "The concept is a bit different from Korea, so in many cases the actor has to bear things like production fees himself."
Jeesoo, who was not good at English, studied English, the Philippines' official language, separately and is now quite proficient. "I originally dreamed of overseas activities, and I thought I should study English properly, so I came to the Philippines and started studying. I hired two private tutors and studied hard, and now I can work without hindrance," he said, mentioning his tremendous effort.
He continued, "GMA first offered me an opportunity so I started working in the Philippines, but in fact my life was once broken. But rather, when you are broken or collapse once, you are liberated," and added, "Going through that made me feel I should work harder at anything," recalling the emotional struggle until the school violence issue was resolved.
Jeesoo expressed gratitude, saying, "It's been exactly two years since I started working in the Philippines. Perhaps because I'm Korean I get a little more attention, and people recognize me more than before. Wherever I go people respond warmly, and I'm grateful. Seeing that has taught me a lot."
Finally, Jeesoo added, "A short while ago, I went to Korea briefly in July and then returned to the Philippines, and Korea's weather was extremely hot. I hope everyone takes care of their health."
Meanwhile, in March 2021, controversy erupted when a post alleging school violence surrounding Jeesoo was posted. As a result, Jeesoo withdrew from the drama River Where the Moon Rises, in which he was appearing, and the production company filed a lawsuit seeking damages against Jeesoo's agency.
Afterward, in October 2023 Jeesoo denied that he had resolved misunderstandings with the middle school classmate who first made the allegations, and at the time he said, "I did not do the interview to make a comeback. I have no agency and no scheduled projects. I just wanted to explain," thereby bringing the school violence controversy to a close.
At the same time, according to legal sources, Jeesoo's former agency KeyEast submitted a notice of withdrawal of appeal to the Supreme Court's 3rd division (presiding Justice Oh Seok-jun) on the 24th of last month. Accordingly, the second-instance ruling ordering KeyEast to pay CANVAS N 880 million won and delayed interest was finalized. The production company Victory Contents, producer of River Where the Moon Rises, filed a lawsuit against KeyEast, Jeesoo's former agency, seeking damages of 3 billion won in additional production costs for reshoots. The first instance ordered compensation of 1.42 billion won, but after appeals the compensation amount was reduced to 880 million won. In effect, all legal disputes have been concluded.
[Photo] Jeesoo SNS
[OSEN]