Popular K-Drama Actress Tearfully Opens Up About Nine-Year Debt, Highlights Financial Reality Of Artists

Actress Choi Ji Su, best known for her appearance on the Netflix K-Drama Undercover Miss Hong, has drawn significant attention for candidly sharing her struggles with debt.

Choi Ji Su | @ziissuu/Instagram

On the May 29 (KST) broadcast of MBC’s I Love Alone, the actress appeared as one of the special guests, sharing her day-to-day life with viewers.

In the episode, the actress was seen sending money through her banking app in between doing household chores. Later, during an interview with the production team, she revealed that she had finally paid off all her student loans after receiving her part-time pay that very day. Choi further shared that she has been working part-time at a restaurant and as a babysitter to make enough money to pay off her debt.

While the actress admitted that she gets recognized quite frequently while working part-time, she also mentioned that it took her 9 years to finally clear her student loans solely with her part-time earnings. This juxtaposition further highlights that recognition and financial stability are not always correlated for rising talent in the entertainment industry.

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최지수 배우님 9년만에 학자금 대출 다 갚으셨대 ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 나 이제 빚 없다고 말하는 지수님에게 어머니는 우리 지수 이제 꽃길만 걷자며 응원하시는데 ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 걍 비상비상 ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ pic.twitter.com/0LGkbBT4PV

— ʜᴇᴇᴢʀᴏʟʏ (@HEEZROLY) May 29, 2026

Choi became visibly emotional as she talked about how relieved she felt after making the final payment and how she thought of her mother in that moment, eliciting sympathy and warm support from netizens.

분명 더 튼튼하고 넓은 세상에서 빛이 날 것 같다 https://t.co/NYHNbs1Qoe

— carrot (@Dawn__one) May 30, 2026

I’m sure she will thrive in the bigger world waiting ahead of her.

— The post above

다음드라마도다다음드라마도다잘되고주연도하고했으면좋겠어상도받구 https://t.co/Z9A5pEdE8r

— 야 (@sudamnsudamn) May 30, 2026

I hope her next drama, and the one after that, are both successful. I hope she gets leading roles too, and wins awards.

— The post above

내 딸도 아닌데 너무 마음이ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ https://t.co/dBR3EWGS9G

— 아뽀 (@9dog9dogapple) May 30, 2026

She’s not even my daughter, but my heart is so full.

— The post above