"Studies as Intense as the Thrill of the Stage" The Boy from 'Billy Elliot' Becomes an Analyst [It's Okay, Life Again]

[Financial News] On August 13, 2010, an unforgettable moment unfolded in the history of Korean musicals. It was the day the Asian premiere of the musical 'Billy Elliot,' which had taken London's West End by storm, opened. Out of more than 800 auditionees, only five were selected as the first 'Billys' to take the stage.Among them was 12-year-old Jinho Jung, who had never learned ballet but captivated the judges with his tap dance rhythm alone.Fifteen years have passed since then, and the boy no longer wears ballet shoes.Instead, he dons a sharp suit and heads to the skyscrapers of Hong Kong. Now, instead of dazzling stage lights, he faces monitors where numbers dance. Rather than applause from an audience, he is evaluated by the unforgiving market. This is the story of Jinho Jung, a 26-year-old analyst at an Investment Bank (IB) in Hong Kong.
Jung's childhood was a drama woven from both coincidence and inevitability.Encouraged by his mother, Jung started tap dance by chance and quickly became immersed in it. In 2009, he appeared on the variety show 'Star King' as a 'tap dance prodigy,' showcasing his exceptional talent from an early age. He would tap his feet even while sitting or waiting for the elevator in his apartment. It may have been fate that he saw the announcement searching for the 'first Billy in Asia.'
'Billy Elliot' is a West End musical based on the film of the same name, telling the story of Billy, a boy from a British mining town who discovers ballet and dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. In 2010, Korea staged the first licensed performance in Asia, allowing any boy under 150 cm and pre-voice change to audition.

To play Billy in 'Billy Elliot,' one needed not only ballet but also tap dance, contemporary dance, street dance, acrobatics, vocals, and acting—requiring a high level of skill in many areas. For this reason, child actors were trained directly through the 'Billy School,' undergoing rigorous training before being selected and developed for the leading role. When Jung saw that 'tap dance' was one of the training categories, he decided to take on the challenge, feeling confident in his tap dance abilities."There were 800 talented kids who tried out. The audition process had five rounds, and during the main rehearsal period, we practiced from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Since I had never tried anything other than tap dance, it was tough. To do ballet well, flexibility is essential, but I was much less flexible than others, so I stretched every day, often in tears."Yet Jung never gave up and was proudly chosen as one of the five first Billys. From August 2010 to February 2011, he performed as Billy in about 70 shows, receiving enthusiastic applause. Jung recalled,"The most intense and hardworking period of my life."as he looked back on those memories.

Even after 'Billy Elliot,' Jung continued performing in musicals and films. However, when his voice suddenly changed, everything shifted. Unable to sing as he once did, he was forced to seriously consider his next steps."When I was young, I remember someone telling me, after I questioned why the price of an item was different at the supermarket and a regular store, 'You should become a doctor of economics when you grow up.' From then on, I dreamed of it, and as I grew older, I wanted to become a 'dancing economist.' After experiencing my voice change, I developed a concrete goal to become an arts manager, which would allow me to pursue both my interest in business and my passion for the performing arts."He boldly left the stage and stepped onto a new stage called studying.Driven by a desire to attend a school where students studied hard, he applied to and was accepted by a Foreign Language High School. However, catching up on studies he had missed due to dancing was not easy, and his first semester grades were disappointing. At that moment, he recalled his experience from 'Billy Elliot.'"I believed that if I worked as hard as I did for 'Billy,' I would eventually succeed. I thought that if I put in two or three times more effort than others, I could make up for what I missed in middle school. By steadily improving my grades up to my final semester, I eventually gained admission to the Department of Business Administration, Seoul National University."
Even after entering university, his challenges did not stop. Although he initially dreamed of becoming an arts manager, exposure to the broader world of business led Jung to set his sights on finance. During his military service, he prepared for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam during evening study hours and weekends after roll call. After discharge, he invested 60 to 70 hours a week in his studies and proudly earned his CPA qualification.
"Even after passing the CPA, I didn't want to stop challenging myself. So I tried various experiences, including joining an equity investment club and interning at a private equity (PE) firm. During that time, I became fascinated by M&A advisory work, and after interning at a foreign investment bank, I started my career as an analyst in Hong Kong this year."Currently, Jung works at the Hong Kong branch of a foreign investment bank's Investment Banking Division (IBD). IBD handles a range of tasks, from contacting potential buyers and sellers, conducting due diligence and valuation, to closing deals for M&A transactions. It also provides advisory services for capital raising through IPOs and more. As a new analyst, Jung spends his days preparing materials for client discussions on various projects related to TMT, health care, Industrials, and more.
"The dots in life eventually connect into lines."Although Jung lives a busy life every day, he sometimes misses the stage. Especially when he sees friends who performed as Billy now thriving as actors, the feeling grows stronger. Perhaps this is because the experience of dancing, singing, acting, and receiving applause on stage remains one of the most meaningful and joyful memories deep in his heart.
However, he firmly states that he does not regret his choices. The memories of performing in 'Billy Elliot' continue to motivate him as he walks a completely different path. Reminding himself, "If I could do Billy, I can do anything," Jung continues to seek new challenges and accumulate experiences."I like Steve Jobs' phrase 'Connecting the dots.' I became Billy because I learned tap dance, dreamed of arts management because I played Billy, and discovered accounting while studying business, which led me to where I am now. All the diverse experiences I've had are gradually connecting into one line, shaping who I am today."
Now, Jung is learning something new every day in Hong Kong's competitive financial scene. As a rookie analyst, he sometimes feels inadequate, but he has the confidence not to be afraid. Just as he did at age 12, he knows better than anyone that hard work will eventually pay off."I believe that the results of our choices and our future are ultimately created by ourselves. If up to now I have been expanding my options in life, now that I am a full-fledged member of society, I plan to focus on how to add more depth to the path I have chosen."Indeed, the flight of the boy Billy has not ended, but has simply changed stages and begun anew.Even at this very moment, the second act of 'Jinho Jung's life' is in full performance.bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter