Deena Jasmine, Chikmagalur, Karnataka

If you’re looking for a dash of international flair combined with good looks and talent, look no further than the Korean actor and model Dojin Han (Dongkyu Lee) who is currently studying in India and capturing hearts across the country. At Hallyuism, we got an opportunity to interview him. Read ahead to learn more about his life, studies, and work in India:

First of all, we kindly request you to introduce yourself to our readers and audience.

Hello everybody, I’m Dojin Han, an actor from Korea. But now I am studying philosophy at Delhi University and sometimes acting and modeling in India.

How did you first start in the entertainment industry as an actor and model? 

When I was young, there were so many things I wanted to do. I can’t do everything but I thought that if I acted, I could do everything that I wanted to do. As a result, I fell in love with acting and I am proud that it is the kind of job that can have a good influence on people too.

What motivated you to pursue studies in India while maintaining a career as a Korean actor and model?

While looking for a good place to study philosophy, I applied to DU because I remembered an interesting feeling when I traveled to India about 8 years ago. Bollywood is also a huge Film industry, and I wanted to act more globally. So it’s a really good chance for me to come to India to study and act.

How do you stay connected with your Korean roots while embracing the Indian style?

There are a lot of Koreans living in India now. So I sometimes meet them and talk to them.

How do you stay connected with the Korean entertainment scene while studying in India?

Actually, I’m not in touch with them. Maybe we’ll contact when I go back to Korea.

How do you balance the demands of academics and your professional commitments?

Right now, I’m focusing on my studies first, but when I have a good opportunity and I have no choice then I take out time from my college schedule. And thankfully, my classmates help me a lot with my studies.

What challenges have you faced as a Korean actor, or model studying in India, and how have you overcome them?

First, there is the language barrier problem, and second, there is the limitation of the role. Third, I had no idea what to do and what should I do for acting, and modeling in here like how to apply.

The first problem was that I had no other way to just keep studying. I’m still struggling, but I am much better than before and my friends help a lot, teaching Hindi, English, etc.

The second problem is that as I’m a foreigner I always played similar roles and there are not a lot of roles. But now I’m trying to exercise hard to get new roles and learn Hindi too.

Third, I feel really lucky. When I first came to India, I didn’t know anything, but I started modeling through a friend. After that, I got more opportunities. I think I’ve been able to continue doing so far. I’m a very lucky person. People around me are helping me overcome all my problems.

Are there any specific aspects of Indian culture that you find particularly intriguing or have impacted your personal and professional life?

First of all, the country of India is really interesting to me. It’s really interesting every day because there are a lot of different languages, cultures, religions and people. There are various landscapes and cultures that I haven’t felt in Korea. It’s really interesting to see the passion for dance and the positive way people live. I think this is what the world is like, seeing animals and people naturally mingle with each other and positive thinking. And generally, a lot of people are kind. I can’t explain all of my experiences in India here, but I think that various memories in India will really help me a lot in my acting life and personal life.

Could you share any memorable experiences or cultural insights you’ve gained from studying in India as a Korean artist? 

I was walking down the street once, and suddenly one girl called my name and she said “I am following and subscribing to your Instagram and YouTube.” We took selfies together and had small talk. It was a really special memory for me because I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. I thought, maybe if I become more famous and a better person, I’ll have that kinda experience more. That makes me I’m more careful with my actions and saying because I don’t want to let someone down because of my behavior.

Could you share any interesting cultural experiences or challenges you’ve encountered while studying in India? 

When I was studying, it was hard to adjust at first because of the words I’d never heard before, and a little confused because of the different education systems compared to Korea and India. I still don’t know how much marks I got on the exam because I can’t check my test results. So I wonder if I can graduate. I still don’t know my score. But I’m still going to college, taking classes, taking tests. I’m always praying ‘Please let me graduate.’

Would you like to share some of the memorable projects you are most proud of working on?

For most of the projects when I went there I didn’t have a lot of information about what role exactly and what kinda of shooting was in the casting process. So there is one story, and it was when I was shooting an IPL commercial. Cricket is not famous in Korea, so I don’t know much about cricket players. So I didn’t know who the main model was. Later I found out that he was a very famous cricket player, so I should have gotten an autograph, I regretted it. If we meet later again, I will get an autograph. Hardik Pandya! I hope to see you again soon.

What projects are you currently involved in, and what can your fans, our readers look forward to?

The last one I participated in was a simple model work. I still feel that I lack a lot of acting. I would like to thank the fans for their love. I will continue to come closer with better work. Even if I lack a little, I hope you will be generous. I will develop into a better actor and better person and come closer. Until then, please keep an eye on me.

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A post shared by Dojin Han (@dojinyworld)

What advice do you have for other students aspiring to balance studies and career in modelling/acting?

In fact, it is really difficult to study and work at the same time. I also live my life focusing on academics, but I think I always feel like it’s possible I think I will give up my studies when I get a really good role or offer to film. However, it is right to concentrate on your studies first and prepare hard for a job until the opportunity comes because if you are not prepared well, you will miss the opportunity.

Once again, we would like to thank Dojin Han for taking out his valuable time to share insight with us, thank you so much. On behalf of our entire team at Hallyuism, we wish you the very best in all your future projects.

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