Former K-Drama actress Jung Ga-eun has begun working as a taxi driver in South Korea, proving her resilience and dedication to her family after facing immense personal and professional hardship.
Jung rose to fame through her roles in popular Korean television series such as Rollercoaster and Sunday Sunday Night. In 2006, she appeared in K-Pop group Shinhwa’s “Throw My Fist” music video, and more recently, she acted in the 2023 film Tales of Nobody.
In 2018, Jung divorced her husband after he allegedly scammed investors out of 13.2 billion won (approximately $10 million USD) using her name before fleeing the country. The scandal left Jung with over 100 million won (around $75,000 USD) in personal losses and no child support. As the controversy grew, acting opportunities disappeared, and her debt mounted. With few options, Jung decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and pursue taxi driving.
To qualify, Jung trained in CPR, traffic laws, and customer service. Despite arriving at training with a handbag worth roughly $7,000 USD, Korean media praised her for staying authentic and showing real grit. On May 19, she passed the official taxi exam with a score of 75 out of 100 and received her license that same day.
A taxi company soon hired her, making her their first female driver in 65 years. Her father, who drove a taxi for more than three decades, is currently recovering from esophageal cancer. Jung shared that she hopes to make him her first passenger.
Although Jung has no plans to leave acting completely, she remains focused on building a stable life for her daughter through this new chapter.
Source: Instagram
