K-pop singer Uhm Jung-hwa recently shared her emotional journey through vocal cord nodules, revealing the challenges she faced during that difficult time.
On October 14, the YouTube channel 'Yojung Jaehyung' released a video titled 'Someone flew to Jeju Island, played for just 6 hours, and returned to Seoul.' In the video, Uhm Jung-hwa candidly discussed her struggles with vocal cord nodules with fellow musicians Jung Jae-hyung and Jung Seung-hwan.
Uhm expressed her deep desire to sing despite her vocal concerns, saying, "I really wanted to sing, but I was worried about my voice. Even with training, I felt too weak to produce sound."
She continued, "I have a particular singing style. High notes were manageable, but mid-range notes felt weak. I was told, 'You can't sing anymore,' and that my voice would lower. I broke down and cried for days."
When she couldn't even produce basic 'do-re-mi-fa' sounds, Uhm met with a specialist who reassured her, saying, "You can definitely sing. Why can't you?" This encouragement led her to practice with tears in her eyes, believing she could overcome the challenge.
Uhm expressed her disdain for negativity, stating, "I dislike people who say 'you can't do it.' There are those who can lead you positively. Hearing 'you can't sing anymore' felt like the end of my world."
Despite her condition, Uhm recorded a song at the suggestion of jazz pianist Jung Won-young. She expressed gratitude, saying, "I don't know why he asked me to sing, but I'm thankful." Jung Jae-hyung comforted her, saying, "Listening to that song brought tears to my eyes."
Reflecting on her past as a dance singer using AR, Uhm recalled, "I was part of the MBC choir as a child, but after debuting, I never heard I was a good singer. It's frustrating that I didn't realize my talent back then."
Jung Jae-hyung encouraged her, saying, "Everyone knows about your vocal injury. You don't need to be depressed. Your voice is uniquely yours, Uhm Jung-hwa."
Uhm Jung-hwa expressed her aspirations for her next album, stating, "I want to create it without hiding my uncomfortable voice, just as it is."
Uhm underwent thyroid cancer surgery in 2010, which led to vocal cord paralysis. After rehabilitation, she regained her voice and released her 10th studio album in 2016.
Reported by Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia