Huh Chan-mi Opens Up About Her Journey from Idol to Trot Singer on 'Baekban Journey'

Huh Chan-mi, a contestant on 'Miss Trot 4', shared her thoughts on being labeled as a 'former idol' during her appearance on TV Chosun's 'Baekban Journey with Heo Young-man' aired on the 3rd.

During the episode, Heo Young-man asked Huh Chan-mi and Lee So-na, the winner of 'Miss Trot 4', about the changes in their popularity before and after the show. Huh Chan-mi humorously remarked, "The number of side dishes has increased. The meat has upgraded from pork to beef."

Debuting in 2010 with the co-ed group Coed School and the girl group unit F-ve Dolls, Huh Chan-mi expressed her frustration about not being recognized as a trot singer due to her idol background. She said, "After transitioning to trot, many people didn't acknowledge me because of my 'idol' label. Despite my sincerity, I often heard, 'Your songs aren't trot.'"

Having participated in four audition programs, including 'Miss Trot 2' and 'Miss Trot 4', Huh Chan-mi shared, "In a group, each member has a position, but in trot, I perform alone, which requires more energy. The upside is that I don't have to split the earnings."

Huh Chan-mi's parents were also singers, performing as the duo 'Dulbaragi'. Her mother, Kim Geum-hee, even appeared on 'Miss Trot 4' to support her daughter's singing career. Huh Chan-mi admitted, "Singing in front of my parents is the hardest."

Huh Chan-mi showcased her presence with Nam Jin's 'It's Me' during the show. She reflected, "I used to win prizes at singing contests in resorts as a child, which helped my family financially. I've been singing since I was young, and I'm finally seeing the light."

Huh Chan-mi has gained attention as a 'four-time audition participant', having appeared on major audition programs such as Mnet's 'Produce 101', JTBC's 'Mix Nine', TV Chosun's 'Miss Trot 2', and 'Miss Trot 4'. She is currently enjoying a 'second heyday' as a trot singer, actively pursuing her career.

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, Ten Asia. eun@tenasia.co.kr