Jo Kwon of the K-pop boy group 2AM recently opened up about his early career struggles, revealing that his first paycheck, received three years after debut, was so small that it brought him to tears.
In a video uploaded on July 4 by the YouTube channel 'Studiomaeil,' Seo Eunkwang of BTOB visited Jo Kwon's apartment in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Impressed by the stunning view from Jo Kwon's high-rise apartment, Seo Eunkwang exclaimed:
"Isn't this a proof of success? Only successful
During their conversation, Jo Kwon reflected on his 16-year career and the challenges faced by rookie artists.
"Whenever I see them, I think about how they are just starting. They would feel excited and joyful about everything they are experiencing. But watching them after going through all that myself, I can't help but think, 'Ah, you guys are just getting started...'"
He candidly added, "If I were to go back, I don't think I could do all that all over again. It was way too hard."
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When asked by Seo Eunkwang about the most challenging period of his career, Jo Kwon replied:
"Trainee days, of course, since I had less money during that time. There was nothing I could do. When you make money, you can have a delicious meal. It gives you more freedom to do things you want to do. But you don't have money in trainee days."
Seo Eunkwang shared his own trainee experience, stating, "I would receive advance payments from my company back then. Five hundred thousand won (around 362$) per month."
Jo Kwon's experience was different. "There was no such thing like that for me," he said. "And I felt really sad when I first got my paycheck."
Jo Kwon recounted the moment he received his first paycheck: "The company took the expense I owed them in my trainee days out of my paycheck. When I finally got my first paycheck three years after my debut, it was 210,000 won (around 152 dollars). I couldn't stop crying. My mom and I grabbed onto each other and cried together."
He continued, "I used the money to cover my phone bills. The memory is still clear in my head. My mom used to cover it for me, so that was the first time I paid my phone bill with my earnings. I thought, 'It can't be only two hundred thousand won. It must be two million won, and I've seen the zeros wrong.'"
Despite the hardships, Jo Kwon's journey from a struggling trainee to a successful artist serves as an inspiration.
You can watch the full candid confession below.
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Written by Cassidy Jones.
