While the lives of these female stars weren't easy at first, their hard work and effort paid off after finally being able to earn money and pay their debts after rising to fame.
Despite starting as impoverished trainees, they gave their best and worked really hard to achieve their dreams of becoming stars.
After earning hard money and paying off their household debts, they continue to show filial piety by helping raise their struggling families.
As a Chuseok special, media outlet Insight recalled heartwarming stories of idols who transformed from rags to riches.
5 Self-Made Idols Who Proved Hard Work Indeed Pays Off
Lee Hyori
Prior to rising as "Nation's Fairy" and member of first-gen icon Fin. K.L., Hyori grew up in a financially-challenged family.
In a past broadcast, she revealed that their family used to live in a 26.5 sq.m barber shop without a toilet. All of their six family members ate and slept in a cramped space.
Eventually, she rose to popularity and after sitting on a money cushion, her dream of having their own house finally came true. She reportedly presented her parents with a house worth 741.37k USD and even bought a house for her aunt.
IU
IU was initially living a comfortable life as a kid, but their family fell into huge debt after her mother made a mistake as a guarantor.
As a result, she and her brother had to live with their grandmother and other relatives, while their parents were away to due odd jobs.
When she debuted, she didn't rise immediately into fame but she persevered and met fame after releasing her hit track "Good Day" in 2010. IU then became a top artist with an annual sales of 7.4 million USD.
As a result, IU paid off all her family debts just three years after her debut.
Apink Jung Eunji
Apink's main vocalist Jung Eunji paid off all her family debts with the income she has collected over the past three years since her debut.
In an interview in the past, she said that when she finally paid off all her family debts, she was in her happiest moment since she debuted.
Girl's Day Hyeri
In 2010, Hyeri debuted as a member of Girl's Day and became popular for their hit, "Something." She established her status in the entertainment scene even more after she became an actress who rose thanks to her drama, "Reply 1988," in 2016.
But before being in the spotlight, her life as a child wasn't that good. She had to live separately from her double-income parents.
When she finally made an income as an idol, actress and became the highest-paid CF model, she was able to buy her parents a house and presented her father with a luxury car.
Kim Sejeong
You may think that Sejeong didn't suffer in a poor environment due to her bright and pure personality, but she actually grew up experiencing hardships at a very young age.
Because they didn't have much growing up, she relied on groups who were worried about children skipping meals and ate her meals through the provided meal support card when she was in school.
Kim Se-jung narrated:
"If I don't go to school, I can't eat lunch, so during vacation, I had a support card for underfed children. It will be supported at 3,500 won a day (about $3). I would save the money and would have a party with my friends."
When she finally made her stardom as I.O.I and later on Gugudan, Kim Sejeong, who saved money hard after her debut, gave her mother a house under her name.
READ MORE: IU Net Worth 2023: How Wealthy Is the Self-Made Idol?
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
