Former K-Pop Idol Reflects On Her Career

A former idol recalled the difficult times during her career.

Recently, OSEN met with a former idol at the plastic surgery clinic where she currently works in Gangnam, Seoul, for an interview.

The former idol, Jung Eunwoo, debuted as a member of PRISTIN in 2017. After their disbandment in May 2019, she re-debuted as part of HINAPIA with former PRISTIN members Gyeongwon, Minkyeung, and Yaebin, as well as additional member Bada, but that group also disbanded in August 2020.

Especially with PRISTIN, after a long hiatus following their second mini-album “SCHXXL OUT” released in August 2017 until their official disbandment, many fans expressed deep regret over their breakup.

Regarding this, Jung Eunwoo said honestly, “I was younger back then, so it felt more disappointing and all that. But now, I think of it as a memory. You can’t stay tied to it forever. I think it remains as a memorable name now.”

Given that she devoted her youth to her dream of being a singer from 2012’s Superstar K4 until HINAPIA’s disbandment in 2020, it’s natural she sometimes felt tired. Jung Eunwoo confessed, “It’s true that I spent my teenage years up to my early 20s fully devoted, so back then, I was a bit exhausted and had a lot of resentment. But now, it’s all just memories. Anyway, I’m working here now and also active on reels again, so through those experiences, people recognize me once more. So now, it’s just good memories.”

When asked if she felt emptiness when the dream of being an idol disappeared, she replied, “Of course there was emptiness. From when I was a baby, I only knew singing and dancing, so at first, it was like that. But you can’t stay like that forever. I quickly realized and accepted what wasn’t working and thought about what I could do instead.”

Though she could have been crushed by giving up on her long-held dream, Jung Eunwoo didn’t stop and immediately set out to find a new path. When told she seemed to have a strong mentality, Jung Eunwoo responded, “I think my mental strength is pretty solid. Going through trainee years to debut as a singer requires a certain level of mental toughness; otherwise, you can’t endure it. I was a trainee for five years, and I never felt ashamed or embarrassed about doing this here. If I’ve done this and that, why couldn’t I do this as well? Feeling shame or embarrassment is temporary; it’s more about wanting to hide it.”

Reflecting on the fierce days including three audition programs and her re-debut, when asked, “If you could go back, would you do it all over again like that?” Jung Eunwoo firmly answered, “I think I would do it all again. That was what I wanted at that time.”