Wang Yuqing’s Decision To Leave Showbiz To Be An Insurance Agent Was Spurred On By What Comedy Legend Wang Sa Told Him

On the latest episode of Mediacorp talk show Hear U Out,  guest Wang Yuqing, 61, opened up about his past failed marriages, his experiences as a star in the ‘80s, and as well as his career as an insurance agent.

When host Quan Yifeng asked Yuqing if he had ever thought of quitting acting back in the early part of his acting career, the latter chuckled before saying: “My reason for not quitting was very simple. I signed a contract."

“On one hand, I had to make a living. On the other, I had developed a love-hate relationship with [acting]. In fact, I loved it more than I hated it. That’s why I’m still in this industry, although I left for some time in between. I’m back again and I enjoy it more and more,” he continued.

For those not in the know, Yuqing left showbiz in 1995 to focus on his job as an insurance agent. He returned to acting five years later in 2000.

He still remembers the advice given to him by the late comedian Wang Sa

Yuqing then revealed why he became a full-time insurance agent.

“When I first started acting, there weren’t many artistes yet. By the time Li Nanxing joined, [the company] was searching for new faces. So I felt threatened. As a man, I believe I have to plan for my future,” said Yuqing.

"I remember running into [comedy legends] Wang Sa and Ye Fong... I ran forward to greet them, and I asked Wang Sa: “Do you think it’s possible to survive in this industry? Am I suited to be an actor? As the eldest son, I have to support my family.”

“[Wang Sa] told me something that I remember until today. He said this profession will give [you] fame, not money. [You] have to make use of this fame to make money,” recalled Yuqing.

It just so happened that around the same time Zhu Houren approached Yuqing, asking him if he was interested in going into insurance as he had a friend who he could introduce him to.

“I said okay, and from that point, I went into insurance,” said Yuqing, whom Yifeng noted was "at the height of his popularity” then.

“I didn’t care about how others saw me, I had a family to feed,” said Yuqing, who then revealed that he is still a registered insurance agent today, and is still active in the business.

“To be honest, I’m doing quite well [as an insurance agent]. So I’m doing a lot of things today. But in terms of my career, I still prefer the insurance trade,” he laughed.

FYI, Yuqing is doing very well as an insurance agent

Yuqing was enjoying a lot of success as an insurance agent when he received a call from producer Wang Youhong, who asked him to give acting another try.

“I was actually very happy when I left [showbiz] back then. I watched others acting in period dramas, and I [was glad] I didn’t have to be suspended from wires anymore,” said Yuqing.

However, he decided to make a comeback so he could “see old friends”.

“But when I returned, I felt like I made a mistake,” the actor joked. “Things were completely different from before. Us actors were really cohesive in the past, after work we sometimes drove into Malaysia to buy durians to eat. I’m close to Zoe [Tay] because we became good friends after acting in A Mother’s Love together. We would wait for each other to finish our scenes and have supper and chat before returning the next day for filming. Some people even got the wrong idea about our relationship."

“Now, when I go to change my clothes after filming, everyone will be gone by the time I’m out. If I’m not fast enough, they might even lock me in. I don’t even dare to change after filming now, I grab my bag and leave right away,” said the actor cheekily.

As for his future plans for his showbiz career and other businesses, Yuqing happily revealed that his hands are really quite full from his multiple ventures.

“Apart from acting and insurance, I’ve also ventured into F&B. I’ve also been dealing in health products so these few things keep me busy enough. I’ll act whenever I have the chance to, but my business is what matters the most because my business is what I can hand down in the future,” he said.

Yuqing currently appears alongside Chen Xiuhuan in Mediacorp long-form drama, Sunny Side Up

Photos: Wang Yuqing/ Instagram, meWATCH

Catch the full episode of Hear U Out on meWATCH, or watch it below.