Jung Won-gwan, a former member of the popular group Sobangcha, recently opened up about spending the fortune he earned during his youth. He also took the opportunity to praise his predecessors and BoA for their contributions to the global expansion of K-pop.
On the YouTube channel 'Song Seung-hwan's Wonderful Life,' a video titled 'The Last Episode of Singer Jung Won-gwan' was released on the 23rd.
Jung Won-gwan gained immense popularity with Sobangcha. Song Seung-hwan remarked, "You made a lot of money during your Sobangcha days. Money earned at a young age doesn't last long, does it?" Jung responded with a laugh, "What do you mean by lasting long?"
Song continued, "In your 20s, you must have made a fortune from performing at 11 nightclubs, commercials, and broadcasts. Where did it all go?" Jung candidly admitted, "What do you mean by lasting long? Anyway, I spent it all. I spent it without regret." He added, "We invested a lot in ourselves. We bought costumes abroad with our own money when there was no company support."
He further explained, "Since we were making a lot of money, we often took money out of our pockets for our friends. We learned a lot and spent a lot." He expressed gratitude, saying, "The thankful part is that I still see those friends. It was a good memory. It might be my consolation, but I'm grateful. I still meet the friends I bought drinks for back then. They are my assets."
Sobangcha also ventured into Japan, performing in front of 20,000 fans. Jung recalled, "I thought, 'This is possible.' In reality, we were just lucky." He credited BoA for playing a significant role in K-pop's continued success, saying, "It all started with BoA, and it has continued since then."
Song Seung-hwan noted, "K-pop didn't just suddenly appear out of nowhere. Our singers were already active in Japan and Asia in the '70s and '80s, with hit songs." Jung acknowledged, "Before us, seniors like Cho Yong-pil and Na Hoon-a paved the way. It all built up and later exploded with BoA. Lee Soo-man worked really hard on that."
By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr