Kim Yong-bin shares his hardships from his time in Japan on KBS 2TV, reminiscing about challenges faced while pursuing his singing career.
May/5/2026 08:00Related Groups & Members
Kim Yong-bin revealed the hardships he faced while active in Japan. Recently, on KBS 2TV's 'New Product Sale - Pyeong Restaurant', Kim Yong-bin spent a fun time talking with his close friend Chu Hyuk-jin. On this day, Kim Yong-bin showcased Daegu-style fried udon using meat gifted by Chu Hyuk-jin, the son of a barbecue restaurant owner. After tasting it, Chu Hyuk-jin said, 'Eating such delicious food while working, moments like this are truly happy,' reflecting on his past difficult times. Chu Hyuk-jin confessed, 'In my early twenties, I started pursuing my dream of becoming a singer late. I had no money, so I bought one bento and divided it into three equal parts with a spoon for my meals in the morning, noon, and night.' He continued, 'It was really tough, but I think we endured well. You also struggled a lot in Japan, right? Don't you remember those times?' In response, Kim Yong-bin said, 'Those times were really hard. I went to Japan right after graduating middle school. I took a certification exam, but as a male, my voice changed and I couldn't sing anymore. My voice condition was bad, and I developed panic disorder. For seven years, I could do almost nothing and stayed at home.' He also mentioned, 'Around 2009, when the yen was high, I couldn't eat what I wanted and lived like that for a year. I think those experiences became lessons in my current career as a singer.' Eventually, the two exchanged 'We struggled, didn't we?' and embraced warmly.
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