Park Bo-Gum Planning Career Change? Actor Opens Hair Salon After Barber Licence, But Fails Beautician Exam

Park

Bo-Gum, in all possibility, is happily fulfilling his dream of pursuing a second career. The When Life Gives You Tangerines star has returned to the small screen as a barber by opening a hair salon in a rural village. He's taken the plunge as part of tvN's latest variety show The Village Barber (Bogeum Magical) that's helping the 32-year-old Korean heartthrob live a career he's aspired for. Infact, during the show, Park expressed regret about failing the practical exam for a beautician license, after clearing the barber license. The show, which premiered on January 30, stars Park working as a barber in the countryside together with Lee Sang-Yi and Kwak Dong-Yeon.

Park Bo-Gum turns barber

On its launch episode, Park was seen preparing to open a small barbershop in the village of Muju in the North Jeolla Province of South Korea. He was joined by Lee and Kwak on this journey. In the episode, Park confessed to finding interest in hairstyling after observing several stylists who worked with him over his acting years. This led him to dream of becoming a hair dresser, hoping to live a "second life" other than as an actor.

Dream of becoming hair dresser

"I dreamed of becoming a hair designer. I thought if I didn’t work as an actor in the future, I could pursue a second life. That expectation was realized a bit earlier thanks to this variety show," Park shared.The actor, who was last seen in Good Boy in 2025, and returned as a cast member in Reply 1988 10th Anniversary show, revealed that while completing his mandatory military service, he obtained a national barber's license too.

Park failed beautician practical exam

Now, with The Village Barber, he decided to pursue a national cosmetologist license too. He wished to help elderly residents in rural areas who have limited access to hair salons. "My strongest style is a buzz cut. I cut hair for all my fellow soldiers in the Navy," Park added.Park went on to pass the written exam for a national cosmetologist certification which is known to be a difficult one to obtain with an average passing rate of 20-30 percent.But, about failing the beautician practical license, Park stated, "My teacher, who styles my hair, advised me, ‘Don’t fail completely.’ They said that means immediate disqualification. I worked hard, but the person next to me had already finished. I still had one section left.""Originally, you have to curl by color, but they told me to stop. Each head requires at least 55 rods, but I had only 45. Ten were missing. Everyone was staring at me. They probably knew who I was," he said with a laugh.