Shin Sung Rok Decides to Give Up Role in Upcoming Drama 'Penthouse'

Shin Sung Rok decided that he won't be joining the cast of the upcoming SBS drama 'Penthouse'.

Last month, his agency HB Entertainment confirmed that the actor has decided and agreed to star in the much-awaited SBS series 'Penthouse' as the male lead. This drama would have been his reunion with the producing director Joo Dong Min and writer Kim Soon Ok, who he has worked with on the hit show, 'The Last Empress.'

However, on March 6, HB Entertainment stated that due to the scheduling conflicts, actor Shin Sung Rok will not be able to participate in the 'Penthouse'. The SBS network also released the confirmation about this report stating that the actor will be stepping down from his supposed role. Shin Sung Rok was unable to show up due to the conflicts on his schedule.

'Penthouse' will tackle the story of a woman who is willing to give everything on the line to achieve her dream of being able to move into a high end penthouse in the Gangnam District. Along the way, shockingly, she slowly discovers herself turning into a monster. Other celebrities who are currently in discussion to star in this drama are S.E.S.'s Eugene, Oh Man Seok, Bong Tae Gyu, Lee Ji Ah, Kim So Yeon, and Shin Eun Kyung.

Actor Shin Sung-rok wanted to become an actor since he was still in high school, but this ambition as well as his brewing basketball career was cut short when an accident occurred. He decided to take up a major in Theater and Film at Suwon University, however he later on dropped out. He made his debut in 2003, but it was hard for him to find acting jobs since directors were hesitant to cast the 189 centimeter-tall aspiring actor in supporting or minor roles.

Then, he switched his mindset and joined the theater company Hakchon. When the actor had his first performance in the musical Moskito, he only had 20-25 audience members in the 500-seat hall. But despite feeling disappointed, depressed and frustrated, he put in his mind that the experience made him strong and helped him become an actor with a lot of guts.

The actor's supporting roles in dramas and films continues, notably in 'Thank You' (2007) and 'My Life's Golden Years'. Shin Sung Rok also appeared on the first season of the MBC dating reality show 'We Got Married', where he, alongside  as a "fake couple" alongside the comedienne Kim Shin Young, played as a 'fake couple'.

Fast forward to the year 2011, Shin Sung Rok began dating ballerina Kim Joo-won. From the year 1988 to 2003 Kim Joo-won was a principal dancer at the Korea National Ballet. The two broke up in 2015 after four years. Then, in June 2016, Shin married his girlfriend from Hawaii.