In the latest episode of JTBC’s Knowing Bros, IZ*ONE member-turned-soloist Choi Yena opened up about why she bought her parents a house.
| @_yenacore/Instagram
At one point during the episode, Choi Yena’s recent contract renewal with her agency was brought up. Yena shared that she had stayed with the same company for a long time.
I’ve been with the same company all along. If you include my trainee days, it’s been over 10 years.
— Choi Yena
Yena then explained why she chose to stay. “My personality and tendencies are like that, too. I don’t really like moving around or being in a new environment. I thought that if I liked these people this much and didn’t have any discomfort, then it would suit me well to continue here,” she said.
When show host Seo Jang Hoon asked if there were no other companies offering her a bigger signing bonus, Yena replied, “There were.” But instead of jumping ship, Choi Yena took it to the CEO.
I heard the offers and went to the CEO and told him, ‘This is what they’re offering over there.’ The CEO said, ‘Then we have to do more for you. We can’t let that happen.’
— Choi Yena
With her hard-earned and well-deserved money, Choi Yena revealed that she bought her parents a house and shared the emotional reason behind the gift.
Doing things for my parents is the most important thing to me, and it makes me happy. I was very sick when I was young, and my parents went through a hard time because of it. Growing up while seeing that, I felt like my family became the reason I had no choice but to succeed, and I thought I had to repay them.
— Choi Yena
When asked whether she currently lives in that house with her parents, Yena answered, “I do live with them, but the company also provided a dorm, so right now I’m staying at the dorm with my brother.”
Read more about Choi Yena here:
Does Choi Yena Really Want To Live With Her Brother? She Answers Honestly