Singer Kim Jang-hoon Opens Up About Troubled Youth and High School Dropout

Singer Kim Jang-hoon has shocked fans by revealing the reasons behind his high school dropout, including past involvement in violent circles, gambling, and group fights.

On the 17th, the YouTube channel 'Song Seung-hwan's Wonderful Life' released a video titled 'Singer Kim Jang-hoon Episode 2 (The Turbulent School Days! The Reason for Dropping Out!)'. In the video, Kim Jang-hoon shared, "I grew up without a father, thinking he had passed away," describing his childhood marked by his father's absence.

He explained that his lonely and difficult childhood led to rebellious behavior. Kim Jang-hoon stated, "I had a free-spirited school life, not bound by rules." When asked if he started going astray in high school, he replied, "There were many clubs back then. We created those clubs for a reason. There was a senior who had repeated grades and been to a juvenile detention center, and he bullied us, so we formed a group to stand up to him."

Kim Jang-hoon also opened up about his gambling experiences during his school days, which contributed to his decision to drop out. He recounted, "In my first year, a friend was slapped by a teacher for not paying tuition. I hate situations where people are oppressed by power." He continued, "We had some money at home. Two people came to our house and taught us a card game. As high school students, we gambled with tuition money at a Chinese restaurant. But the restaurant owner reported us to the police, and the school was informed."

A particularly shocking revelation was Kim Jang-hoon's account of frequent group fights. He recalled, "There was a situation where it was four against twenty. It was dangerous. While trying to avoid the fight, we saw a body floating in the Han River, which ended the situation."

Reflecting on his past, Kim Jang-hoon noted that these turbulent times marked a turning point in his life. He debuted in 1991 with his first album 'Always Between Us' and is celebrating his 34th anniversary this year. Kim Jang-hoon continues to perform and engage in charitable activities.

By Soo-min Lee, Ten Asia Reporter danbilee19@tenasia.co.kr