In a recent appearance on the YouTube show “MMTG Civilization Express,” Shin Seung Ho opened up for the first time about his pre-debut job as a bodyguard — a role that unexpectedly brought him face to face with K-pop royalty, Red Velvet’s Irene.
Host Jaejae mentioned the now-famous moment where photos of a handsome bodyguard beside Irene went viral, only for fans to later discover it was Shin Seung-ho. He recalled, “After I quit football, the first thing I wanted to try was part-time jobs. A friend told me there was an opening in the security team at a department store near my home. I got hired, and sometimes they assigned me to close-range protection. One day, Red Velvet came, and I was told to guard them up close.”
Shin Seung-ho said he didn’t even realize photos had been taken of him. Years later, he would star opposite Irene in his film debut “Double Patty”, a coincidence he didn’t initially recognize himself. “The director asked if we’d met before, and we both said no. But around the 10th day of filming, it suddenly hit me like a bolt of lightning,” he laughed.
Beyond the viral moment, Shin Seung-ho’s journey is rooted in perseverance. After 11 years as a football player, he switched paths due to a lack of fulfillment. “I wasn’t happy anymore,” he said in a 2021 interview. “I quit with no plans but received a lot of encouragement to try modeling. That led me to acting.”
His career quickly blossomed. Since his debut in the 2018 web drama “A-Teen,” Shin has starred in Netflix’s “D.P.,” tvN’s fantasy series “Alchemy of Souls,” and the comedy film “Pilot.” He’s also making waves in the variety world through tvN’s “Handsome Guys,” showing off his cheerful and humorous side.
