K-Pop Pioneer Jung Won-gwan Praises SM's Lee Soo-man and Reflects on His Career

Jung Won-gwan, a member of the legendary K-pop group Sobangcha, recently praised former SM Entertainment chairman Lee Soo-man.

On November 2, the YouTube channel 'Song Seung-hwan's Wonderful Life' featured a video titled 'The Original Korean Idol! Sobangcha's Jung Won-gwan.'

Jung, who debuted with Sobangcha in 1987, has been active in the entertainment industry for 38 years. Host Song Seung-hwan noted, "The staff members of a certain age were thrilled to hear Jung Won-gwan would be appearing," highlighting his enduring appeal among middle-aged female fans.

Having worked as a music producer, company CEO, and president of Bugs Music, Jung reflected, "I tried to erase Sobangcha's identity, but it wasn't easy. Now, I wonder if there's any need to do so. I've lived past 50 without any major incidents, thanks to the love and support from fans," expressing his gratitude.

After Sobangcha, Jung produced for first-generation idols like NRG, as well as artists such as JoPD, Insooni, Hwayobi, and Kim Jo-han. He also planned the 13-member girl group i-13, recalling, "I trained kids from dance academies to become singers. We traveled on a wrapping bus."

Though i-13 was a bold attempt, it didn't achieve commercial success. Jung commented, "It wasn't a hit, but it was a lot of fun. Working with that team made me realize how impressive SM's Lee Soo-man was. SM's system was much more organized. I did it because I enjoyed it."

Jung fondly remembered, "Some i-13 members were in second or third grade, and now they're sending me wedding invitations," with a smile.

Currently, Jung is running a marketing company. He shared, "Since I was young, I always thought about how a restaurant could do better. This expanded into helping companies with branding and growth."

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia. Contact: eun@tenasia.co.kr