Joo Woo-jae Reveals Shocking Industry Discrimination: “They Told Designers Not to Cast Me Because I Was a Nobody”

Appearing on the June 1 episode of YouTube channel Fairy Jae-hyung, Joo Woo-jae opened up about his unconventional path to fame. His journey began when a candid street photo of him went viral during college, leading to an online fashion store, radio gigs, and eventually, modeling.

“I debuted alongside people like Jang Ki-yong and Byun Woo-seok,” he said. “But I knew from the start I couldn’t be the top model, I was still doing some radio work and running my business.”

Joo recalled how his transition between modeling, broadcasting, and acting placed him in a “gray zone” that others in the industry looked down on.

“When I went into broadcasting, people said, ‘He’s just a model.’ When I returned to modeling, they’d say, ‘He’s just a TV guy.’ It was like I didn’t belong anywhere.”

The most striking revelation came when he shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote from his early modeling days.

“I didn’t come from a modeling academy, I came from the street. That led to a lot of jealousy. I overheard people telling designers not to cast me, just because I hadn’t followed the traditional path.”

Joo also faced resistance in acting. “When I tried acting, people wouldn’t take me seriously. They’d say, ‘Isn’t he just a broadcaster?’ I felt stuck, lost between three identities.”

Despite these challenges, Joo chose perseverance over defeatism.

“Eventually, I thought, ‘If people want to put me in a box, fine. But I know I can do all three. So I’ll just keep doing TV and runway both.’”

His honest account struck a chord with fans, many of whom praised his resilience, versatility, and refusal to conform to rigid industry expectations. From fashion to film, Joo Woo-jae continues to forge his own path, proving that success doesn’t have to follow a formula.