Kim Mu Yeol opens up about the struggles of earning just 130 USD in a year earlier in his acting career

Actor Kim Mu Yeol opened up about the difficult years he endured before finding success, revealing that he earned only 200,000 KRW (about 130 USD) over the course of an entire year during his early days as an unknown actor.

A preview for next week’s episode of tvN’s 'You Quiz on the Block,' airing on June 24, featured Kim Mu Yeol as a guest.

Kim Mu Yeol, who recently found global success through his latest project 'Teach You a Lesson,' is enjoying a new career high as the series continues to draw international attention. The drama became a major hit after ranking No. 1 globally for two consecutive weeks following its release.

But behind his current success was a long period of obscurity. Kim Mu Yeol revealed that during his rookie years, he made just 200,000 KRW in one year.

His wife, actress Yoon Seung Ah, also appeared in the preview and shared a heartfelt message for her husband, saying, “We’ve been through such a long time together,” drawing attention for her sincere support.

Kim Mu Yeol also spoke candidly about how life has changed after years of struggling. When asked how good it feels to finally receive recognition, he joked, “For the first time in 10 years, my neighbors told me I looked cool,” making everyone laugh.

He also revealed the story behind receiving a shoutout from John Cena. Asked why Cena mentioned him, Kim Mu Yeol answered, “Because we look alike,” prompting host Yoo Jae Suk to laugh and agree, saying, “You do look alike.”

Kim Mu Yeol also responded to being called actor Heo Nam Jun’s role model, saying, “I told him, ‘This is really something to celebrate for both of us.’”

The actor further showed his passion for his work by revealing how committed he was while filming 'Teach You a Lesson.' Kim Mu Yeol said he worked out during every break on set, joking, “If there was anything I could hang from, I hung from it no matter what.”