Hwang In-yeop Reveals He Planned to Open a Ramen Shop Before Becoming an Actor
Hwang In-yeop reveals he nearly opened a ramen shop before acting success while promoting ENA's new drama Dream to You with Hyeri.
Success in the entertainment industry often comes with stories of backup plans, difficult choices, and moments of uncertainty. For actor Hwang In-yeop, that alternative path had nothing to do with film sets or television cameras. It involved a bowl of ramen.
During his recent appearance on the YouTube variety show Hal Myung-soo, Hwang In-yeop surprised viewers by revealing that he once planned to open a ramen restaurant if his acting career failed to take off. The candid confession came while promoting ENA's upcoming Monday-Tuesday drama Dream to You, where he stars alongside Hyeri. The episode, titled "Huh? Why are you upset about that? Extreme Hyeri vs. Hwang In-yeop. A debate where even Myung-soo got overly immersed," offered fans a relaxed conversation that quickly turned into one of Hwang's most memorable interviews.
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อินยอบเคยบอกกับครอบครัวไว้ว่า “ถ้าผ่านไปหนึ่งปีแล้วยังไม่ประสบความสำเร็จ ผมจะเลิก”
แล้วตั้งใจว่าจะเปิดร้านราเม็งกับเพื่อน ถึงขั้นวางแผนอย่างจริงจัง กำหนดคอนเซ็ปต์ร้าน+เครื่องใช้ไว้แล้ว #ฮวังอินยอบ #HwangInyoup pic.twitter.com/enLz6ab2nF
The discussion began with a simple question about hobbies. Hwang shared that he enjoys driving at night while taking in city lights, prompting host Park Myung-soo to joke that he should eventually start a private taxi business if he loved driving that much. Hwang laughed before admitting there had indeed been a time when he seriously considered running his own business. His answer wasn't off the cuff. It was a carefully thought-out dream that almost became reality.
Hwang revealed that he only began preparing to become an actor at the age of 28, a relatively late start in an industry known for fierce competition. Before chasing that dream, he made a promise to his parents. He would dedicate exactly one year to acting, and if nothing happened, he would walk away without regrets. When Park Myung-soo asked what his next move would have been if acting hadn't worked out, Hwang answered without hesitation. He wanted to open a ramen shop with a close friend.
It wasn't just wishful thinking. Hwang said he and his friend created PowerPoint presentations, mapped out business ideas, and debated recipes while planning how to build the restaurant from the ground up. They put pen to paper and treated the project like a genuine business venture rather than a backup fantasy. When Park Myung-soo tried to persuade him to reveal the secret recipe since the restaurant never opened, Hwang playfully refused. "No, but I am going to do it later," he joked, drawing laughter from everyone on set.
Even so, viewers still got a glimpse of his ramen philosophy. Hwang explained that the secret starts with preparing the anchovy broth and noodles separately. The anchovies are cleaned by removing the intestines before being used to create the stock, while finely chopped Cheongyang peppers are added to give the broth extra heat. A beaten egg and the ramen seasoning packet are then cooked directly in the broth before the separately boiled noodles are combined in the serving bowl. His finishing touch is simple but deliberate: a sprinkle of red chili powder and pepper to deepen the savory flavor and make the bowl hit differently.
The relaxed conversation also served as a promotional stop for Dream to You, ENA's new Monday-Tuesday drama starring Hwang In-yeop and Hyeri. The pair appeared together on the show ahead of the series premiere, which is scheduled to air on the 13th at 10 p.m. Their easy chemistry throughout the episode added another layer of anticipation for viewers eager to see them share the screen.
For longtime fans, Hwang's story offers another reminder that success rarely follows a straight road. Before becoming one of Korea's familiar leading men, he was prepared to leave acting behind after just one year and devote himself to entrepreneurship. That backup plan may have stayed put on a PowerPoint slide, but the determination behind it remains part of the actor's story.
