Actor Hwang Jung-eum recalls peak fame: 'Earned W4b in 6 months, survived by watching my bank balance grow'

Actor Hwang Jung-eum has looked back on her popularity at the height of her career and the income she earned during that period.

A video titled "A Day on a Date with My 72-Year-Old Dad" was posted Wednesday to Hwang's YouTube channel.

In the video, Hwang visited an eye clinic with her 72-year-old father before sitting down for a meal, during which she shared stories from her earlier career.

Hwang recalled her time on the sitcom "Roof Kick" and the variety program "We Got Married." "Back then I was so popular I couldn't even walk down the street," she said.

The segment featured on-screen text showing headlines from that era, including references to earning "tens of billions of won from 'High Kick'" and "filming 15 commercials in six months and earning 4 billion won."

"At 26, I worked so hard without sleep," Hwang said. "When you go about three days without sleeping, you stop being able to hear even the scariest person talking to you." She added that she pushed through by watching her bank balance steadily grow. "That was the strength that kept me working — and the sense of achievement."

Hwang made her debut in 2001 as a member of the girl group Sugar before transitioning to acting, rising to wide recognition through the sitcom "Roof Kick."

Hwang married former professional golfer Lee Young-don in 2016. News of divorce mediation emerged in 2020, though the couple reconciled the following year. She announced their second separation in 2024 and finalized the divorce in May last year.