'Bapmeokda' Jo Kwon "Grew up in a one-room apartment... Overcame mother's melanoma thanks to Kim Hye-soo"

On the 13th, singer Jo Kwon appeared on the SBS Plus entertainment program 'Do You Eat Well?' and recalled his difficult childhood. Photo by SBS Plus 'Do You Eat Well?' broadcast capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] Singer Jo Kwon confessed that he had a difficult childhood.

On the 13th, Jo Kwon appeared on SBS Plus entertainment program 'Are You Eating Well?' and shared his recent updates.

In the broadcast, Jo Kwon said, "After being discharged, I was planning to get a passport and travel immediately, but given the current situation, I plan to travel later," adding, "I am currently fully focused on preparing for a musical."

Marking his 13th year since debut, he said, "I always lived according to others' standards and was always diligent in my assigned tasks," and added, "After discharge, I really wanted to live as myself, not the image the public wants, but my true self."

He then revealed the hardships of his childhood family life.

He said, "When I was in 5th grade, my family went bankrupt with a debt of 500 million won, and we lived in a 60,000 won monthly rent underground single-room," explaining, "At that time, my mother worked at an insurance company and my father was a bus driver, but he tried to start a new business that failed, resulting in debt."

He continued, "Debt collectors came and made my mother sit in the middle and slapped water in her face. Due to that shock, my mother lost her eardrum. Also, suffering from the creditors' harassment, my mother was secretly trying to see me on my way home from school but was thrown onto the asphalt by chasing creditors, causing her jaw to be dislocated."

Regarding why he wanted to become a singer, he said, "In 2000, the trend in the music industry was the emergence of young singers like BoA and Ryang Hyun-ryang-ha, which was a big topic," and explained, "I saw an audition notice and secretly went alone without telling my parents. I auditioned alone, wearing a scarf around my neck and danced to Lee Jung-hyun's 'Wa'. I can never forget the expression of the people watching me at that time."

However, he said, "I had no income for the first three years after debut," adding, "During my trainee days, the system deducted expenses for lodging, meals, and training fees from me. It was a system where I had to repay the debt accumulated during the eight years of being a trainee from 2001."

Jo Kwon confessed, "Even during my successful celebrity life, I lived in a single-room. Despite being a trending entertainer, my parents couldn't use water due to unpaid bills, and my family situation did not improve, so I faced reality and decided to retire because I wanted to quit."

He added, "I called the JYP CEO and asked him to get me on every program, cable or otherwise, so I appeared on all broadcasts and events without discrimination," recalling, "I participated in university events, sleeping only one hour a day and attending 4 to 5 festivals."

He continued, "Then I had a hit with 'Can't Send You Even If I Die' and received my first settlement after three years," saying, "The first settlement showed 200,000 won. I paid my cell phone bill with the first money I earned."

He said, "After that, I earned according to my work. At first, I paid the deposit for my parents' house, and after one or two years, I was able to buy a house for them. I replaced all the home appliances," adding, "Giving my parents a comfortable home was the happiest thing."

However, he said, "During my military service, my mother was diagnosed with melanoma," explaining, "It started from her big toe, and if it spread, she would have had to amputate her entire lower body. My mental health collapsed, but I couldn't leave the military base and couldn't do anything for my mother."

He added, "I wanted to quit the military, but I was able to get through that difficult time thanks to senior Kim Hye-soo," expressing gratitude, "When my mother was sick, my sister helped financially. And she hugged me tightly saying, 'Kwon, don't get sick and just get discharged healthy.'"

Finally, he said, "My dream is to be a singer and artist, and even seeing Jo Kwon appearing in a suit and heels, I thought it suited me," adding, "Wearing heels gives me confidence and makes me feel like I am newly awakening."

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