K-Pop Star Lee Ji-hoon Opens Up About Struggles with Agency and Financial Hardships

Lee Ji-hoon, a prominent figure in the K-pop industry, recently revealed his past conflicts with his agency on Channel A's '4-Person Table'.

The episode, which aired on the 14th, featured Lee Ji-hoon alongside fellow artists Sunye and Kim Dong-jun. During the show, Lee Ji-hoon shared his surprising journey of achieving success without a period of obscurity, yet facing financial difficulties.

Debuting as a solo artist at the young age of 17, Lee Ji-hoon reminisced, "Back then, street casting based on looks was common. SM Entertainment often scouted around schools in the Gangnam area, which is how Kangta, Moon Hee-jun, and Jun Jin were discovered."

While attending Baemyung High School, he lamented, "They never came to our school. Maybe it was because of my short, sporty hairstyle. I couldn't get cast by SM."

Despite this, Lee Ji-hoon became close with the members of H.O.T. and even met SM's founder, Lee Soo-man, at a gathering. "Lee Soo-man once told me, 'If I had met you first, you might have taken Kangta's place.' But I think if I had joined, H.O.T. wouldn't be what it is today," he reflected.

Lee Ji-hoon, who had a passion for singing from a young age, shared, "There weren't many places to learn singing back then, so I sang a lot at church." He also revealed that his sister was initially cast but decided against a career in entertainment, leading to his introduction to the company.

On the topic of agency disputes, Lee Ji-hoon confessed, "There were conflicts due to contract issues. Even when my song 'Why the Heaven' was a hit, I faced financial struggles because the company didn't fulfill the contract terms. Outwardly, I seemed successful, but I was financially poor."

He continued, "I worked tirelessly for a year without a day off, but due to the contract structure, I earned very little. Unaware of my financial situation, I spent money until my bank account hit zero. Eventually, I had to ask my sister for help, and that's how I ended up living with my family."

After the contract disputes, Lee Ji-hoon reduced his activities, focusing solely on being a radio DJ. He humorously recounted his experience in the 2006 musical 'Altar Boyz', saying, "It was disastrous. My dance was half a beat slow, and even my close friends Kangta and Hyesung didn't give me feedback, which made me laugh."

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