Kim Woo Bin's Dream Was Becoming A Model

Kim Woo Bin never intended to become an actor. What he wanted to do was model and he started thinking about a career as a model while he was still in high school.

He made his debut on the runways in 2009 when he was 20 and a college freshman.

"I had long dreamed of being a fashion model, so all the auditions for fashion shows kept me too busy to properly enjoy the first year of college when I was 20," he said in an interview with the Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo.

At six-foot-two, with his broad shoulders and distinctive facial features, he quickly became a sought-after model, appearing in both ready-to-wear and designer collections. He claimed the catwalk when modeling suits during Seoul Fashion Week.

But it wasn't just his good looks that won him modeling roles. He worked hard at mastering the job, studying successful models to see what it took.

When he began getting offers for TV commercials, which required some acting, he decided to take acting lessons. He surprised himself by falling in love with acting and made his acting debut in the TV series "White Christmas."

Given his success in acting, it seems he also seriously studied what it takes to make it as an actor. Good looks can help launch a career but hard work is required to remain successful.

Kim Woo Bin's breakout role was "School 2013," which he co-starred in with fellow model-turned actor Lee Jong Suk. Then Kim went on to appear in the hit k-drama "The Heirs." In that drama he rivaled Lee Min Ho for the affections of the character played by Park Shin Hye.

In the Chosun Ilbo interview he said that there were similarities between modeling and acting.

"There are some basic rules, but it's not an exact science," said Kim. "For example, models have to walk straight, and maintaining good posture is important. But depending on how hard you try, the result can be very different. That applies to acting as well."

The actor's recent films include the heist film "The Technicians" and the buddy coming-of-age film "Twenty," which attracted a million viewers in the first five days after its release.

Kim Woo Bin says his career is just starting out. He has only realized a small percentage of what he could be as an actor and hopes that he will continue to work hard to become an actor that is still around 20 years from now.