As we all know, it can be extremely hard for individuals to make it in the entertainment industry. For every success, there are a dozen more who do not reach their set goals, either deciding to leave entertainment behind or seeking other ways to succeed.
Beloved Idol Vanishes, Now Looking For Work As A Barista
Recently, an idol exposed his version of this reality, giving a look at what can happen when success takes longer than expected.
In 2021, JYP Entertainment and Psy Nation collaborated to form two new boy groups through the survival show Loud.
| SBS
The winning trainees from each show have since debuted as TNX and KickFlip, but dozens of other trainees were eliminated before this. One such trainee was Kang Hyunwoo, a JYP trainee eliminated in episode six of the program.
Kang Hyunwoo | SBS
After his elimination, he appears to have left JYP at some point, and in 2023, he appeared on another survival show, Fantasy Boys, where he was eliminated in the 10th episode. That same year, Hyunwoo finally made his debut as a member of MY BOYZ, a temporary group.
He attempted another survival show in 2024, reaching the final episode of Project 7 and just missing a debut as a member of Close Your Eyes. Hyunwoo made his solo debut with a digital single titled “Serena-Day” on May 22, 2025.
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In a post on his Instagram account, Hyunwoo shared his side of things, revealing just how difficult it has been to chase his dreams.
After mentioning how his idol debut and agency contracts didn’t work out, he shares that he attempted to do things on his own, but that didn’t work out either, including being unable to release his album. As a result of these efforts, Hyunwoo says he ended up in debt to the point that “collectors showed up,” and he was working 2-3 part-time jobs at the same time. He also lost access to his Instagram account, which he described as his only hope.
This took a toll on Hyunwoo’s mental health, as he said he began having panic attacks and that he hated himself.
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However, after someone told him they knew he would “end up like this,” Hyunwoo used his feelings a motivation, saying that while it may not be a “glamorous success story,” it was his story and not a failure like others may think.
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Hopefully, Hyunwoo will continue to fight to make his dreams come true!
You can check out the video and his Instagram account below.