Thai DJ Matoom self-taught Korean and now works monthly in South Korea as a model, actor, and host, crediting determination over luck for his success in the competitive entertainment industry.
DJ Matoom, full name Matoom Techin, shared his story while participating in a blessing ceremony and costume fitting for the Thai series "TIMEZONE เขตรักอันตราย" at Canvas Studio by Charcoal Design on Ladprao 71. His decision to pursue work in South Korea as a model, actor, and host came after he committed to self-teaching Korean language and flying to Korea monthly for work.
"It's not just luck," he explained. "It's the result of genuine effort. I taught myself Korean, practiced, and memorized vocabulary on my own. I now have regular shows in Korea through applications and online platforms where I must speak Korean as the main language, barely speaking Thai at all. I switch between English and Korean, and I fly there every month—I'm heading back on the 20th."
When asked why he chose to pursue South Korea's entertainment industry despite its difficulty, Matoom acknowledged the challenge. "It's the hardest thing I've done. I tried Vietnam before, but the context there is similar to Thailand. Korea is completely different. I like myself there because I get to start from zero again. In Thailand, I might be at number one hundred, but in Korea, every job is a fresh start—modeling, acting, hosting—everything."
He praised the professionalism of Korean film sets. "Even small scenes like chopping vegetables require meetings about camera angles and degrees. In Thai productions, we're not just in front of the camera but also serve as production houses. Getting to work there lets me bring their behind-the-scenes experience back to my own productions."
On his Korean language proficiency, Matoom remained humble. "I don't dare rate myself, but I was happy when someone directed me saying they'd lived in Korea for 8 years without being able to speak, but after watching my clips, they wanted to study again. I use simple vocabulary and easy pronunciation. Honestly, Korean isn't as hard as Thai—it has half the characters—but it's challenging because of vocabulary and pronunciation. It requires practice."
He emphasized that age is no barrier to learning. "I'm approaching 40, but I've given myself two years. Even if I don't succeed there, at least I'll bring back Korean language skills and become a Korean-speaking host in Thailand. There's no loss in that. Knowledge always finds a use."
His ultimate goal in Korea is ambitious yet humble. "I want to see myself on a billboard there someday—whether it's a billboard, a bus advertisement, or anything. Nobody knows me there. I've auditioned for eight jobs and only got one, facing competition from people older, more fluent, and more beautiful. But I have determination. I want to encourage people with dreams to keep pursuing them, whether they succeed or fail. At minimum, success is taking the first step."
Accomplishing modeling, acting, and hosting within one year is no small feat. "All of it happened within twelve months, all from my own effort," he said proudly. "Most recently, I was thrilled to have my first event in Korea wearing Hanbok. They saw that this Thai person could represent Korean culture. I'm grateful to the Thai Embassy in Korea and the Tourism Authority of Thailand for recognizing and giving me this chance as a Thai artist making a name there. Maybe not on Millié's level, but I'm one of the Millié's too."
Despite going international, Matoom still accepts Thai projects. "I still do. Mainly The Social Warrior and Talad Um Um—just these two things."