On the Nov. 29 episode of the JTBC variety show Getting to know the brothersDio members Kim Tae Woo, Son Ho Young and Danny Ahn talked about the group’s iconic variety show days and some behind-the-scenes confessions that made the cast and viewers laugh and reminisce.
Kim Tae Woo revealed that he is currently producing a new 7-member girl group that will debut in the second half of the year. “My eldest daughter is 13 and the interns are around that age. As a parent, I feel a lot of responsibility. I really want to help these girls achieve their dreams“he said sincerely.
However, colleague Danny Ahn admitted: “To be honest, we were hoping he wouldn’t go into production.” Kim Tae Woo revealed: “Not once did they cheer me on. Even in the most difficult moments.”
Kang Ho Dong tried to console him, joking, “If your girl group becomes a success, your members will regret not investing.” But Kim jokingly replied: “At that point I won’t even return their calls.”
The conversation turned to God’s legendary debut and the title track of their first album, “To My Mother,” a touching song about family rather than the rebellious themes popular among idols of the time. Producer Lee Sang Min, who was involved in the initial stages, recalled: “When I heard that Dio was debuting, I was nervous. But after listening to “To My Mother,” I felt relieved. Not many people expected that song to be successful.”
One of Dio’s most defining moments was their appearance on the variety show Babysitter’s diarywhich skyrocketed their status to become “the nation’s idol”. Kang Ho Dong shared that the show was originally made for HOT, which Kim Tae Woo confirmed: “Yes, it was initially created with HOT in mind, but SM rejected it due to their strictly mysterious image.”
Then came the revelation of the punchline: “Our manager, who was close to HOT, was there when they refused. He immediately said: “We will also appear in our underwear!”.” Danny Ahn chimed in, “Park Joon Hyung actually once showed up only in his underwear.”
When asked about the challenges of filming while raising children, Son Ho Young shared, “It started as a one-off shoot, but once it became a regular schedule it was tough. We were juggling more than ten schedules, non-stop.”
What started as a rejected opportunity by SM Entertainment turned into a turning point for God, which not only shaped their image but also left an indelible mark on the history of Korean variety show.
Sources: Daum
