Idol-turned-flight attendant Choi Eun-su speaks at a career expo held in Busan on Sept. 2.JEJU AIR
The purple hair and flashy outfits he once sported while commanding the stage have been replaced by a neatly parted hairstyle without the dye job, a white shirt and a uniform whose only accent is its orange tie. This is the story of 29-year-old Choi Eun-su, who went from the leader of boy band Myteen to working as a flight attendant for Jeju Air.
At a talk held as part of the “Aviation Professionals’ Stories” (translated) program at the 2026 Aviation Industry Career Expo in Busan on Sept. 2, Choi was greeted not by the cheers of fans but by the earnest gaze of an audience of job seekers.
“As an idol, we were trained to bring out our own uniqueness and create a synergy,” Choi said from behind the podium, facing the eager audience. “But as a flight attendant, we are taught to synchronize ourselves without an inch of error with the others, like being a cog in a machine. Only after doing 100 percent of my job and working as a team with our colleagues can we pull off a successful flight.”
Choi joined Jeju Air in September 2024 after completing his mandatory military service following the group's disbandment and working jobs wherever he could find them.
“I felt a great sense of fulfillment when I was able to give people positive energy while working at a hotel,” Choi said in an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo. “While considering careers where I could draw on the experience and strengths I developed as a [K-pop] idol, I decided to become a flight attendant, a job that had already appealed to me.”
Once Choi set his sights on becoming a flight attendant, his days became so busy that 24 hours hardly seemed enough. English, his biggest challenge, was something he tackled through hands-on experience while working at a hotel. The Japanese he had learned for activities in Japan during his idol career also became an advantage, allowing him to apply through Jeju Air's recruitment track for candidates proficient in Japanese.
He took swimming lessons in the morning, worked at the hotel during the day and went running after work to build his stamina. At night, he recorded himself answering anticipated interview questions and reviewed the footage.
Idol-turned-flight attendant Choi Eun-su
“Just as putting on a stage costume fills you with confidence, the moment I put on the uniform, I feel as if a sense of responsibility is being etched into me,” Choi said. “When I see passengers setting off on their trips with excitement on their faces, I'm reminded of the fans who came to see us perform.”
Choi also offered advice to aspiring flight attendants.
“Commuting hours are irregular and so are the time differences in the places we travel to, so the real foundation of being a flight attendant is having the stamina to maintain your own rhythm amid an unpredictable routine,” Choi said. “You expend a lot of energy meeting different colleagues and countless passengers every day, so make sure you find your own way to recharge when you're exhausted.”
Choi's unique story of going from an idol to a flight attendant drew significant interest and the tickets for the event sold out within hours, according to a Jeju Air spokesperson.
Jobseekers visit the Jeju Air company booth held at an aviation industry career expo held in Busan.JEJU AIR
Airlines have been tightening their recruitment criteria for flight attendants to assess job-related capabilities such as physical fitness and adaptability. Most airlines require applicants to submit certification from a government-certified physical fitness assessment system.
Eastar Jet even measured candidates' voice volume in decibels during its flight attendant recruitment process in August in addition to administering physical fitness tests, including long-distance running and back-strength assessments, because a voice that is too quiet in an emergency can make it difficult for a flight attendant to clearly communicate instructions to passengers.
Candidates were asked to shout commands such as “Heads down!” and “Stay low!” while their voice volume was measured in decibels. Parata Air also hired a number of former nurses and military personnel last year.
“When an emergency occurs, flight attendants have to resolve it within the confined environment of an aircraft in the air, so judgment and responsiveness in unexpected situations are just as essential to the job as a service-oriented mindset,” an aviation industry insider said.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
