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Former idol (screen capture)
A shocking revelation from a former sub-vocalist of boy group 'Mask' exploded onto screens during KBS Joy's 'Ask Me Anything'-and yes, the amount he lost is a staggering KRW 180 million (about INR 11,352,000).
The idol's journey from stardom was brutally interrupted: after a heated altercation involving a group member-who struck him with an umbrella-he left the group and retreated into two years of isolation. Yonhap News confirmed his testimony, which took viewers by storm and sparked heated discussion.
From coin dreams to crushing debt
After regaining some hope by doubling his remaining KRW 500,000 through electric vehicle stocks, desperation led him to use borrowed money for coin future investments.
What followed was a nightmare-back-to-back failures that left him with a monstrous KRW 180 million debt, ten times larger than rumored before. The story's raw financial truth makes it one of K-pop's most jaw-dropping falls, with the ex-idol's parents even helping him secure loans which quickly turned into toxic liabilities.
The reality of surviving online
With little left to his name, survival came through live streams on YouTube, scraping by with monthly repayments of KRW 4,650,000 (about INR 293,400), yet sparing only KRW 500,000 (about INR 31,550) for basic living.
He relies on the generosity of a handful of fans-and on his own grit in the face of crushing adversity. Still, his longing for the stage remains, and during the broadcast, he openly confessed both his regrets and dreams.
Tough love and comeback spirit
The MCs didn't sugarcoat their advice: they told him to shorten his broadcast hours, pursue regular jobs interacting with people, and stay grounded in reality. Lee Soo-geun even bluntly said dreaming isn't enough without hard work and preparation. Yet amid sharp critique, there was support-MC Seo Jang-hoon praised his talent and encouraged him to never lose hope. The ex-idol's struggle, drama and pursuit of redemption create a story that resonates with anyone who's ever gambled-and lost-everything for a dream
English (US) ·