SECRET's Jun Hyosung Reveals She Worked for 3 Years Without Receiving Any Pay

SECRET member Jun Hyosung has revealed a difficult chapter from her career, sharing that she once worked for three years without receiving any payment for her appearances.

The emotional confession came during a recent YouTube video on comedian Kim Sook's channel, where the two reunited and reflected on their past work together.

In the video uploaded on June 15, 2026 (KST), Kim Sook recalled their time on the MBC Every1 program Video Star, explaining that she often ate with Hyosung during filming. However, she noticed that the singer's energy changed over time.

"At first, she was really passionate," Kim Sook said. "But at some point, I wondered why she seemed unmotivated. It was because she wasn't earning any money."

Kim Sook then revealed the shocking detail that Hyosung had not received appearance fees for about three years. Jun Hyosung confirmed the statement, acknowledging that it was a painful but important period in her life.

"Back then, I didn't know how to find happiness outside of work," Jun Hyosung said.

According to Koreaboo, she explained that the experience came during a major life transition, as she moved from her 20s into her 30s. "I learned a lot about life during that time. I became more mature," she added.

Jun Hyosung Reflects on Life and Resilience

The singer also shared that she eventually stepped away from work for a break. During that time, she focused on recovering from personal struggles and later found her desire to return to music.

Kim Sook added that she had never seen Hyosung ask for help easily, recalling a moment when the singer asked for just a short segment of airtime for SECRET, TheChosun reported.

The comment left Hyosung emotional during the conversation. Despite the hardship, Jun Hyosung said the period helped shape her outlook on life. She explained that she learned to understand happiness beyond work and developed a stronger sense of resilience through the experience.

After stepping back from the spotlight for a time, Hyosung has now returned to the K-pop scene. She is currently preparing for a comeback with fellow SECRET members Jung Hana and new member Yebin. The group is set to release their special mini-album Secret Flavor on June 18.