The Sad Reason Korean Male Models Often Work A Part-Time Job On The Side

The Korean entertainment industry can be so brutal that K-Pop idols who don’t initially gain fame, like boy group VANNER, work part-time jobs just to make money. Unfortunately, it’s more common than people think to end up in that situation.

A few Korean male models sat down with veteran supermodel Han Hye Jin to discuss the male experience in the industry, which wasn’t without its difficulties.

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One of the topics mentioned was part-time jobs, which many of them weren’t strangers to. All four male models agreed that many of them work two jobs: they model and work at a café on the side.

Ahn Je Min: These days, those who model have two jobs in Korea. A lot of people work at cafés.

Kim Seung Hoo: Most of them do that a lot.

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One of them, Baek Jun Yeong, even took out loans to open his own café, hoping to make a stable income while modeling. Even rookie model Kim Ji Ho revealed that he’s learning to become a DJ to earn money on the side. There’s an unfortunate reason why they have to work so hard.

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As an insider of the modeling industry, Han Hye Jin explained that male models weren’t to blame. Since the modeling industry only offers a small percentage of jobs to male models per year, it’s difficult for them to have a stable income.

My sex is the major. That’s what it is in the fashion scene. For example, if there are one hundred types of work in a year, there are only about thirty for male models.

This ratio makes it so that younger models can’t do this job alone. They have to have other side jobs.

— Han Hye Jin

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Although a male model might be popular and walks in the most luxurious shows, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s making as much money as you think.