Before Choo Young-woo became one of the most in-demand faces in Korean television today, he went through more than 100 failed auditions. Now, his story is inspiring scores of aspirants who want to break into the acting industry.

On the October 18 broadcast of "You Quiz on the Block," Choo Young-woo shared that his start was not easy. "I think I auditioned for almost every drama in Korea during that time. I failed all of them — at least 100," he shared.

The actor told KBZoom that he looked back at his phone records and realized he got between 200 and 300 scripts over two years, meaning he auditioned for more than 100. Indeed, he jokingly said, "I used to say that maybe being rejected that much is a kind of talent in itself."

When asked by hosts Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho to explain why he thought he failed so many auditions, Choo answered candidly. "I was so desperate to get a role that I was tense all the time. My acting wasn't good enough back the," he said, adding that casting directors even questioned his credentials despite his studies at the Korea National University of Arts.

"They told me, 'You need to practice your expressions more. You need to speak with confidence.' I remember every word. Those experiences became valuable lessons," he shared.

Choo also revealed an emotional moment he had with his father, who once called on him to seek a more stable career: "My dad told me, 'If you can't become an actor, our family isn't wealthy — you need to make a living. Get a certificate at least.' But I said, 'I'll act until I die. I don't care even if I don't make money.'"

After years of perseverance, Choo debuted in Police University in 2021 and gained momentum through School 2021. His career reached another dimension in 2024-2025, as he took lead roles in "The Tale of Lady Ok" and "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" that achieved strong ratings on major platforms such as Netflix and Disney+.

From an "audition reject" to emerging as one of the most promising Gen Z actors in Korea, Choo Young-woo serves as an inspiration for every dreamer in the world: a story of grit and growth, as evidence that failure, when we challenge it, - can lead us to success.