From working multiple jobs to support their families to overcoming homelessness, many Korean celebrities have persevered through significant financial hardships in their early lives. These inspiring stories, like IU, highlight their incredible resilience and determination. Their journeys to becoming household names serve as a powerful reminder that success is possible, no matter the challenges.
Park Bo Gum
Park Bo Gum found himself stuck with a massive debt of 800 million won (around $579,219) at the young age of 15. This happened because his father listed him as a guarantor for the loan even though he was a minor, and the debt ballooned as the business failed. In 2014, the loan company demanded payment from Park Bo Gum, who was then a rookie actor, but he was unable to pay the full amount. The court recommended him repay a portion of the debt and have the remaining amount forgiven. However, Park Bo Gum opted for a debt settlement program to create a more manageable repayment plan. In the end, the court ruled that Park Bo Gum would repay 30 million won (around $21,721) and the rest would be discharged. The loan company agreed to this, and Park Bo Gum’s bankruptcy case closed.
IU
IU got candid on KBS2’s Win Win about her rough childhood. She revealed that her mother co-signed a loan for a relative who disappeared and left IU’s family struggling financially. Things got so bad they faced losing their home and had to live apart. IU, her grandmother, and her younger brother moved into a tiny one-room apartment. They ate potatoes to save money, and IU even walked uphill to school because they couldn’t afford bus fare. But IU never gave up on her dream of becoming a singer. At just 15 years old in 2008, she debuted with the song “Good Day,” which became a huge hit! The song launched her career and made her a top K-pop star.
Park Sung Hoon
Park Sung Hoon recently opened up about his surprising past on You Quiz on the Block. Despite his family being known for being high achievers, he revealed a challenging upbringing far from wealth and privilege. His father’s retirement after the IMF crisis plunged the family into financial hardship during his high school years. He even shared a memory of watching friends enjoy hamburgers while he couldn’t afford one. The struggles continued – his parents, who became real estate agents, faced financial strain due to a slump in house prices. After his military service, he juggled a part-time job in the Cheongdam neighborhood with a demanding theater career. He spoke fondly of his family, even getting emotional when recalling his father’s battle with disability after a cerebral hemorrhage.
>> Park Sung Hoon Tearfully Opens Up About His Family’s Financial Struggles
Lee Hyori
Lee Hyori and her mother recently appeared on JTBC’s travel show and opened up about their difficult childhood. Lee Hyori shared that she grew up in a 21 square meters barbershop with her five siblings, where they had to share a communal bathroom. Her mother expressed her regret for not being able to provide for her children, saying, “I couldn’t even buy them new clothes. They had to wear hand-me-downs from their older sisters. I didn’t feed them well either.” Lee Hyori couldn’t hold back her tears as she ate her mother’s squid soup, a dish she remembered from their impoverished days. She recalled, “At that time, there were only a few pieces of squid in my bowl.” Her mother continued to share her guilt, saying, “We had to gather discarded briquettes from others,” and “I couldn’t afford to buy toys or even a single doll for them.” Her heartfelt confession touched the hearts of viewers, bringing them to tears.
BTS’s Suga
BTS’s Suga recently opened up about the financial hardships he faced during the early days of his music career on his YouTube channel. In an interview with producer Lee Sang Min, Suga shared that he worked part-time jobs at music crews and studios while still in high school to make ends meet. He recalled, “We would receive 150,000 won per day as a group of seven for performing on the street. But when our leader went to collect the money, they would give us something else instead, like merchandise or concert tickets. It was so frustrating.” Suga further described the challenging living conditions they faced. “Our workspace was a basement, and it would flood heavily when it rained. We couldn’t afford to buy furniture, so I would scavenge for discarded furniture in the neighborhood. We would sleep on a single mattress that I found, eat there, and work on music there.” Suga’s candid account highlights the perseverance and dedication of aspiring musicians who often face immense financial and logistical challenges. Despite these obstacles, Suga and his fellow BTS members persevered and ultimately achieved global success.
Other Celebrities Who Overcame Poverty to Achieve Success
Several other Korean celebrities have risen from humble beginnings to become household names, overcoming significant financial hardships in their early lives. These celebrities who proudly overcame poverty and achieved success include Kim Se Jeong, who used meal tickets provided for underprivileged children by the government; Lee Sung Kyung, who lived in a shantytown after her father’s factory went bankrupt; Rain, who couldn’t afford his mother’s medical bills; Jung Woo Sung, who moved from one shantytown to another; Kwon Sang Woo, who lived in a small room in a senior center; Bae Yong Joon, who struggled after his father’s business failed; and Won Bin, who caught snakes to make money during his childhood.
