Appearing on the YouTube channel One Mic on April 9, actress Goo Hye Sun reflected on her time as a full-time graduate student in Daejeon, where she attended the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

During the interview, Goo Hye Sun explained that her academic environment in Daejeon helped her fully immerse herself in study. “There were many research complexes nearby, and it was a great environment to seek advice and focus on academics,” she said.

However, what surprised viewers most was her description of her living conditions. “While attending school, I lived in very poor circumstances,” she admitted.

Goo Hye Sun revealed that she wore almost the same clothes every day and never changed bags. “I practically survived with one outfit, and I never bought new bags,” she said.

The actress also shared that her housing situation became increasingly minimal over time. “I lived in a one-room apartment at first, but eventually moved into a goshiwon,” she explained.

Rather than seeing it negatively, Goo Hye Sun surprisingly found comfort in the tiny space. “Actually, I realized I’m the goshiwon type. Cleaning took only one minute, and I loved being able to wake up and sit right at my desk immediately,” she said with a smile.

Goo Hye Sun also revealed that one of her apartments had severe structural issues. Because she wanted to live with animals, she chose an older and cheaper building but that decision came with challenges. “When heavy rain came, water would collect on the ceiling and leak inside,” she recalled.

Despite the hardship, she looked back on the experience positively: “ It was cheap, and honestly, it was kind of fun.”

Having debuted at a young age, Goo Hye Sun said she missed out on normal campus experiences in her youth. “I debuted so early that I never got to experience campus life when I was younger,” she said.

That made her later university life especially meaningful. “When I first went to the library, I was so excited I couldn’t even read books. I went on MT trips too I did everything I had always wanted to try.”

Goo Hye Sun debuted in 2002 as a commercial model and rose to fame through MBC sitcom Nonstop 5 before becoming a household name with Boys Over Flowers.

In addition to her entertainment career, she has steadily pursued academics, enrolling in Sungkyunkwan University’s Department of Visual Arts in 2011 and later earning a master’s degree in engineering through KAIST’s Graduate School of Science Journalism.

Her story has drawn admiration from fans, many praising her humility, discipline, and determination to pursue education despite her fame.

Sources: Tenasia