Former JBJ member Kenta has opened up about the severe financial struggles he faced after his group disbanded, revealing he was left with ₩400 million KRW (about $300,000 USD) in debt and, at his lowest point, just a single thousand-won bill to his name.
Kenta (Credits: Koreaboo)
The confession came in a recent video on the YouTube channel Idol Commerce Universe, titled “Kenta’s Korean Home Revealed,” where the idol spoke candidly about life after JBJ.
Kenta Opens Up About Debt After JBJ Disbanded
Kenta revealed he started living alone after a member he had shared a home with for seven years left for military service. JBJ debuted in October 2017 as a project group formed from contestants on Mnet’s Produce 101 Season 2, and despite winning first place on music shows with “My Flower,” the group disbanded after only seven months.
Since then, Kenta has worked as a solo artist and moved into the live commerce field. But the transition came at a heavy cost. “I went into debt when I left the company after being an idol,” he admitted. “Because of that, I have a heavy feeling that ‘I have to pay this off,’ and I feel a sense of responsibility.”
“How Am I Going To Eat?” — Kenta’s Lowest Point
Kenta described how his accounts were seized over the debt, leaving him suddenly with only a thousand-won bill. “I was worried, ‘How am I going to eat tomorrow?’ I was just trying to survive day by day,” he said, adding that friends around him sent rice and supplies to help him through.
He also admitted the hardship nearly ended his career. “There was a time I wanted to quit. I thought I should stop being an idol. It didn’t suit me. I experienced burnout and lost my goal in life for the first time,” he said.
But Kenta says he has found a new purpose — first among them, clearing what remains of the debt. “I still have a lot left,” he acknowledged, while framing the help he received as a different kind of debt, one of kindness. “Living life trying to repay that kindness is a good way to live,” he reflected. “So I am actually thankful for this debt. It became my driving force. I’m glad my life isn’t ordinary.”
Also Read: MAMAMOO’s Wheein Tears Up Recalling Group’s Heyday, But Netizens Show No Sympathy
Source: Koreaboo — read the full story there.
