Korean Singer Son Tae-jin Addresses Fake News on 'Pyeon Restaurant'

Korean singer Son Tae-jin, known for his appearances on 'Phantom Singer' and 'Burning Trotman', addressed fake news about his personal life on the latest episode of KBS 2TV's 'Pyeon Restaurant'.

On the October 16th broadcast, Son Tae-jin, a Seoul National University graduate, made his debut as a new chef on the show. He proudly shared his musical family background, mentioning his great-aunt Sim Soo-bong, his cousin who is an opera singer, and his niece Si-yoon from the group Billie.

Son Tae-jin, who spent his school years in Singapore, impressed viewers by watching news from the US, France, and China at double speed without subtitles. He is fluent in six languages, including English, French, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese.

He explained, "I was born in Korea and attended both Korean and international schools in Singapore. I was accepted to a university in France for hotel management but chose to study vocal music at Seoul National University instead. After enrolling, I went to Italy to further my studies in opera."

At 37, Son Tae-jin revealed his first independent home with a view of the Jamsil Tower. He mentioned, "My father was against me moving out, so we compromised by living in the same apartment line."

His mother, Jin-sook, shared her educational philosophy, emphasizing the importance of mastering Korean over foreign languages. She recalled suggesting that Son Tae-jin pursue music in Korea after seeing him enjoy performing the US national anthem at his high school graduation.

Son Tae-jin expressed gratitude for his mother's wisdom, stating, "My life changed in an unplanned direction because of her advice. She has never been wrong." Chef Lee Yeon-bok also praised her foresight.

Son Tae-jin's mother revealed a poignant family history, sharing that they lost a daughter three days after her birth between their first son and Son Tae-jin. Son Tae-jin himself faced health challenges at birth, spending two weeks in an incubator due to underdeveloped lungs.

His mother expressed her gratitude, saying, "Just having him with us is a blessing, and I love him just for breathing." Son Tae-jin acknowledged his father's dedication during his early days, saying, "He stayed by the incubator for two weeks. They raised me with great care."

Addressing rumors about his personal life, Son Tae-jin clarified, "There was fake news about me being married to a Malaysian department store owner's daughter with two kids. My parents lived in Malaysia, so there was some truth, which made it believable." His father humorously added, "I wish it were true. Having two kids would be wonderful," urging his son to marry soon.

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