Beloved Idol Reveals He Almost Quit The K-Pop Life While Working Part-Time Jobs

In a new interview with News1, B.A.P member-turned-soloist Jung Daehyun opened up about how close he came to walking away from music, and what ultimately drew him back to the stage.

B.A.P’s Jung Daehyun | @official_jdh/Instagram

After his last activities in 2019, Jung Daehyun left the Korean entertainment business to complete his military duty. When he returned, he found the industry reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. With his agency also struggling, he found himself unable to promote—and the long hiatus began to take a toll on him.

I couldn’t do anything but endure it, and as time went on, my self-esteem dropped lower and lower. I even thought, ‘Maybe I should quit being a singer.’

— Jung Daehyun

Away from the stage, Jung Daehyun studied and took part-time jobs, even considering a different career altogether. But stepping outside of music never filled the void, the idol noted. He shared, “When I worked in other fields, I didn’t feel alive. I was just working to survive, and little by little, I lost my energy. The world felt black and white.” The turning point came when he appeared as a guest at fellow B.A.P member Moon Jongup’s fan meeting.

Moon Jungup (left) and Jung Daehyun (right) | @bysun7566/YouTube

The moment I stood on stage and heard the fans cheer, something inside me stirred. It was a feeling different from debut—a kind of emotion you can only feel after going through so much. That’s when I thought, ‘I want to be a singer again.’

— Jung Daehyun

Fortunately, talks with Jongup’s company opened the door for his return. Last year, Daehyun joined a special B.A.P unit project, BANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON, alongside Bang Yongguk, Yoo Youngjae, and Moon Jongup. The experience, he said, helped him regain his footing.

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Working as a team again after so long reminded me of the incredible energy that comes when we’re together. It was such a happy experience, and if the chance comes again, I’d love to reunite.

B.A.P feels like my roots and my very existence. There were hard times, but also so many happy memories. That period gave me the nourishment I needed to grow.

— Jung Daehyun

Now focused on cementing his path as a solo artist, Daehyun also leaves the door open to future challenges. “I want to establish myself more as a singer,” he said. “But if the timing is right and the opportunity for a good musical comes, I’d love to return to the stage as an actor too.” B.A.P fans look forward to all that he has in store.

Listen to “Haengro,” Jung Daehyun’s latest release, here: