Actor Kim Do Geon, who portrayed the villain Kim Gwang Su in Netflix’s Teach You a Lesson, has opened up about balancing his acting career with multiple part-time jobs to support himself.

Appearing on the YouTube channel 1ma2c on July 8, Kim reflected on the positive response to his performance. “The reactions around me have all been great,” he said. “My friends kept asking, ‘You’ve never acted like this before—how did you pull it off?’ Some even joked that I looked like a veteran actor. I also received so many encouraging comments and messages, and I’m truly grateful.”

He also spoke about reuniting with actor Kim Mu Yeol. “It was actually our third project together. In Juvenile Justice, my scene was very short. Then we met again on The Roundup: Punishment, and he remembered me,” Kim recalled. “When we reunited for Teach You a Lesson, I already knew he was starring in the series, but I don’t think he realized I had joined the cast until later. At the first script reading, I greeted him by saying, ‘Hyung, I’m here,’ and he burst out laughing. We had great chemistry and really enjoyed filming together.”

Despite his growing recognition, Kim admitted that acting alone is not enough to cover his living expenses. “I think every actor who isn’t constantly filming feels the same way,” he explained. “I work part-time as a cook. In the mornings, I work at a Chinese restaurant where I wash dishes, help serve customers, and occasionally cook with the wok. In the evenings, I work in the kitchen of a wine bar, preparing dishes like pasta and steak.”

Last month, Kim also caught attention after posting a humorous apology to viewers on his personal social media account. “I’d like to apologize to everyone watching Teach You a Lesson,” he wrote. “The villains from Episodes 1 and 2 ended up meeting and even having drinks together. In the series, we’d only cause trouble whenever we crossed paths, but in real life we’ve become supportive friends. Our characters were villains, but the actors behind them are genuinely good people.”

Kim Do Geon made a memorable impression as school bully Kim Gwang Su in the first episode of Teach You a Lesson, which premiered on Netflix on June 5. Although his screen time was limited, viewers praised his intense confrontation with Kim Mu Yeol’s character, school rights protection officer Na Hwa Jin, calling it one of the episode’s standout moments.

Following its release, Teach You a Lesson entered Netflix’s Top 10 rankings in 75 countries, bringing increased attention to Kim’s performance. While his career continues to gain momentum, the actor says he remains committed to working hard both on set and in restaurant kitchens as he pursues more acting opportunities.

Sources: Nate