Kim Kook-heon, former member of the group MYTEEN, recently attracted attention after appearing in the new variety show ENA “Baek Jong-won’s Les Misérables” which debuted on November 30th.
Revisiting a painful past
On the show, Kim Kook-heon candidly shared his past hardships and current circumstances, leaving viewers deeply moved. Introducing himself as “28-year-old former failed idol and currently unemployed Kim Kook-heon”, he brought a mix of laughter and sadness to the program.
Kim debuted in 2017 with the boy group MYTEEN, but the group failed to gain significant attention and disbanded after a short time. In 2019, he appeared on Mnet’s Survival audition show “Produce X 101” with high hopes of starting a successful career. Together with fellow MYTEEN member Song Yuvin, Kim impressed audiences with her striking visuals, strong physical presence and impressive skills, maintaining high ratings throughout the show.
However, despite widespread expectations that he would make it to the final, Kim was unexpectedly eliminated during the announcement of third place in the rankings.
A victim of vote manipulation
In November 2020, it was revealed that Kim Kook-heon had been one of the victims of the infamous election fraud scandal surrounding the country. “Produce 101” series. His elimination was not due to lack of support, but rather to the manipulation of election results.
Kim admitted that the consequences left him in serious psychological distress. He confessed, “There was a time when I opened the car door on the highway, ready to jump. It’s such a painful memory that I really wanted it to end.”
During this difficult time, Kim found inspiration in an advertisement featuring chef Baek Jong-won, who talked about “resetting your life.” The message reignited Kim’s passion, leading him to participate “Baek Jong-won’s Les Miserables” a program in which 20 contestants undertake cooking missions under Baek’s guidance in hopes of turning their lives around.
Kim explained that the concept of “resetting” his life motivated him to participate in the show, marking a new chapter in his journey.
Life after MYTEEN
After MYTEEN disbanded, Kim and Song Yuvin formed a group called BOY and carried on activities together. In 2021, Kim competed on TV Chosun’s “National Singer” but faced another setback, failing to advance beyond the preliminaries.
The duo has also ventured into YouTube content creation, running a channel called “Give me an empty house, take my house” to explore new creative opportunities.
The journey continues
Kim’s appearance on “Baek Jong-won’s Les Misérables” drew attention to her story of resilience and determination. The show airs every Saturday at 8.30pm, showcasing the contestants as they work towards personal growth and life transformations through culinary challenges under the guidance of Baek Jong-won.
Source: Wikitree
