Kim Yeon-ja "Asked North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il about his blood type... Performance fee was a cash envelope"

Trot singer Kim Yeon-ja (63) recalled her performance in Pyongyang, North Korea, in 2001. Photo by SBS, captured from the broadcast of 'My Ugly Duckling'.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Trot singer Kim Yeon-ja (63) recalled her performance in Pyongyang, North Korea in 2001.

On the 3rd, SBS entertainment program 'My Ugly Duckling' (Miwoosae) aired an episode featuring Kim Yeon-ja, who had a conversation with 'Movengers' Ji In-sook, Jo Hye-sun, Choi Mal-soon, Kim Soon-ja, and others.

During the broadcast, MC Shin Dong-yup explained, "In 2001, Kim Yeon-ja held her first solo concert in North Korea. She was the favorite singer of the Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il father and son."

Kim Yeon-ja recalled, "Honestly, when I heard about the Pyongyang performance, I was a bit scared. I worried if I could come back alive." She added, "We arrived by Korea Air, and they welcomed me so warmly. Just the fact that we spoke the same language was so nice."

When MC Seo Jang-hoon asked, "How did you receive your performance fee when performing in North Korea?" Kim Yeon-ja replied, "It was a charity performance, so there was no fee. But Chairman Kim Jong-il said that foreign singers all received fees and gave me an envelope with money. However, I don't know how much it was because the staff took it away."

Kim Yeon-ja said, "I really like blood types, so at the banquet, I asked Chairman Kim about his blood type. But the atmosphere suddenly turned cold. They said I shouldn't ask. Later, he answered that he was type A."

Kim Yeon-ja is a veteran trot singer with 46 years since her debut. On the show, she said, "I came up from Gwangju when I was 14. When I was young, my father sent me to Seoul to become a singer after dropping out of school in the third year of middle school." She added, "My father ran a barbershop and often made me sing in front of customers."

She continued, "I am the eldest daughter, but my mother and I are only 19 years apart. So, my mother feels like my older sister. When I first came to Seoul, my biggest wish was to earn money and buy a house for my mother." She said, "The album 'Norae Kkotdabal' (Song Bouquet) sold 3.6 million copies, and with the signing bonus of 100 million won, I bought a house for my mother 10 years after my debut."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.