'WINNER' Song Minho: "Family doesn't feel like a nest... I even resented my father who is battling illness"

On the 25th, WINNER's Song Minho appeared on Channel A's "Oh Eun-young's Golden Counseling Center" and candidly confessed about his family matters.
[Photo by Channel A, screenshot from "Oh Eun-young's Golden Counseling Center"]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] WINNER's Song Minho candidly confessed about his family matters.

On the 25th, the Channel A program 'Oh Eun-young's Golden Counseling Center' featured WINNER members revealing their inner thoughts to each other.

That day, Song Minho shared, "I was diagnosed with panic disorder and bipolar disorder and am receiving treatment," expressing the difficulties he faces in daily life.

He said, "Since the end of 2017, I felt like I was going to die, couldn't breathe, and collapsed to the point of almost dying," adding, "At that time, I was actively working in the music and entertainment industry, but when the camera was off, life felt tragic. Being alone at home was very hard."

Dr. Oh Eun-young said, "The influence that a meaningful person has on me is very important," and added, "If this was lacking for Minho, the more successful he became, the harder it must have been." She then asked Song Minho about the meaning of family.

In response, Song Minho said, "I don't think family is a source of support. Somehow, I ended up taking on the role of the head of the family," and answered, "Family is very precious, but it doesn't feel like a nest where I can rest freely."

Song Minho cautiously mentioned his father as well. He said, "My father is currently unwell, and that worries me a lot. His liver condition is bad. It's been bad for quite some time, but because he didn't manage it properly, the illness worsened. He is currently hospitalized continuously."

He continued, "My father relied heavily on alcohol, and while that is upsetting, there are also feelings of resentment due to certain incidents. Those things keep poking at me when I don't want them to, and sometimes I worry that these realistic concerns might interfere with my artistic sensibilities," adding, "I feel confused amid these contradictory situations."

In the broadcast, WINNER, who debuted 9 years ago, also shared concerns about invisible boundaries and distance among members, saying, "There are things we openly talk about, but also things we don't."

WINNER revealed that from the beginning, they do not often make personal pain or worries a topic of conversation. Kang Seung-yoon said, "We don't easily open up about difficult things; it feels like something is blocking us." Kim Jin-woo said, "We don't want to create reasons to fight," suggesting it is a unique relationship dynamic of idol groups.

In response, Oh Eun-young expressed concern that not sharing inner stories enough can be problematic. She advised, "Misunderstandings can arise from poor judgment of situations or lack of communication," while empathizing that it is not easy to suddenly open up about sensitive topics.

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