A male K-Pop idol confessed to the financial hardships he faced after his group disbanded.
Recently, the YouTube channel Idol Commerce Universe uploaded a video titled “Kenta’s Korean Home Revealed.”
Kenta, formerly of JBJ, revealed that he started living alone after a member he had lived with for seven years went to the military.
JBJ debuted in October 2017 and consisted of participants from Mnet’s Produce 101 Season 2. They gained significant attention, even winning first place on music shows with their song “My Flower,” but disbanded after only seven months.
Since then, Kenta has been active as a solo artist and has also entered the live commerce field. He admitted, “I went into debt when I left the company after being an idol. It’s ₩400 million KRW (about $300,000 USD). Because of that, I have a heavy feeling that ‘I have to pay this off,’ and I feel a sense of responsibility.”
Kenta shared, “There was a time I wanted to quit. I thought I should stop being an idol. It didn’t suit me. I experienced burnout and lost my goal in life for the first time,” adding, “But recently, I found a new goal again. The first is to pay off my debt. I still have a lot left.”
Kenta also revealed the extent of his financial struggles due to debt, saying, “Because of my debt, my accounts were seized, and suddenly I was left with only a thousand-won bill. I was worried, ‘How am I going to eat tomorrow?’ I was just trying to survive day by day. At that time, hyungs and noonas around me sent rice and stuff.”
He reflected, “I think there is also a kind of life debt. I believe the help I received from others is also a debt. Living life trying to repay that kindness is a good way to live,” expressing a positive outlook, “So I am actually thankful for this debt. It became my driving force. I’m glad my life isn’t ordinary.“