Legendary Girl Group Member Confesses To Living In Abject Poverty

One of the honest appeals of being a K-Pop idol is undoubtedly the financial aspect—successful idols are known for earning handsomely, which helps them live lavish lives. But does it happen the same way for all of them?

In the October 20 broadcast of Channel A’s Best Friend Documentary: Table for 4, legendary first-gen girl group S.E.S.’s Bada shared how she had to fight through poverty while chasing her dream of being an idol.

Bada | @bada0228/Instagram

During the episode, Bada shared that her father was a pansori (Korean folk music) performer, and hence, becoming a singer herself felt like the natural progression of things. Life was comfortable, and she attended a private kindergarten with a swimming pool. But her life was turned around overnight once her father fell sick.

Medical professionals told the family that he had only six months to live. His medication was so expensive that eventually he had to stop taking it. The family moved to the countryside to cut down on expenses, but unfortunately, they fell victim to rental fraud. Eventually, Bada and her family ended up living in a prefab house.

The financial situation got so dire that her parents tried to dissuade her from attending an arts high school. When Bada insisted, her sick father started performing night shows to fund her education. “Watching him leave the house wearing straw shoes, I made up my mind that I had to succeed,” she added.

Bada recalled that her mother also worked at a hospital cafeteria and later spent years boiling medicinal herbs at a traditional clinic. Her financial situation didn’t improve until S.E.S. happened.

Sharing a particularly heartbreaking memory, Bada recalled how the first time the group’s manager dropped by at her house during a holiday, he mistook the prefab house for the bathroom. The idol also recalled how she felt guilty using facilities such as warm water at the dorm because she knew her parents were showering with cold water.

Needless to say, after debuting as the leader and main vocalist of S.E.S., the first girl group under SM Entertainment, Bada fulfilled her promise of succeeding as she made a name for herself. She remained active as an artist the longest among the members, doing solo projects and musicals. Today, the idol enjoys a luxurious life with her husband and daughter, standing tall as an example of undefeatable perseverance.