Lee Jun-young, a former member of K-pop group U-KISS who later built a career as an actor, said he struggled financially after his debut as an idol and once worked an overnight shift at a convenience store. Lee spoke about that period during an episode of tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block,” which aired Wednesday. The appearance came as he has been drawing attention for his role in JTBC’s “Reborn Rookie,” the latest in a run of acting projects. Looking back on the years after he debuted with U-KISS, Lee said he often experienced the stark contrast between the image of a K-pop career and his own reality. “When I watched major awards shows, my friends were receiving applause on stage,” he said. “Even though we were in the same profession, I wondered why I was not in that position.” He said he had no domestic activities or solo projects at the time, leaving him with no income. To make money, Lee said he took a part-time job at a convenience store and worked overnight. The hardest moment, he said, came when his manager, who had come to pick him up, walked into the store to buy cigarettes while
