On the June 7 broadcast of KBS1’s Back to the Music 2, MCs So Chan Whee and Shin Yu welcomed Pearl as guests. During the episode, the singer reflected on her hit song “I Will Survive” and the story behind her success.
The track, a remake of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”, featured lyrics written by Park Jin Young and arrangements by Bang Si Hyuk. Looking back, Pearl recalled: “Park Jin Young told me that the lyrics were written rather casually and asked me to try them. But I actually liked it: it seemed like the lyrics were originally meant to be like that.”
He also revealed that the song was not initially planned as the title track. According to Pearl, composer Yoon Myung Sun, known for the hit “Oh My Goodness,” pushed hard for the song to become the lead single.
As the first singer to sign with JYP Entertainment, Pearl reflected on her early days with the agency. He said, “I originally participated in the recording of Park Jin Young’s song ‘Shall We Love?’ A few months later, he told me to prepare for TV appearances because he had filming schedules. That’s when I started to feel like something had changed between us. Eventually, Park Jin Young took charge of producing his debut album.
Pearl then candidly explained why she decided to leave JYP. “When I was there, JYP didn’t even have its famous sign yet. But around the time I left, the company was growing rapidly. Park Ji Yoon and RYANG-HYUN RYANG-HA joined and everyone became very busy,” she said. “I started to feel like I was being left behind and thought maybe I needed to do something for myself. I wanted to study, so I decided to become independent.”
Her decision ultimately led to a major academic achievement: Pearl was accepted into the Berklee College of Music on a four-year scholarship.
However, the transition was not easy. He admitted that because he had been singing since childhood, he didn’t fully understand the financial challenges of the real world. “I didn’t even realize how much money it would take to study abroad,” he confessed. He hastily signed a contract with a new agency, but the relationship quickly turned into a legal dispute.
“The agency wanted me to be constantly active as a singer,” Pearl explained. “After the contract was signed, we started having disagreements about the activities. Trust issues also emerged.” Looking back, she said she regretted not simply going abroad and working part-time while studying.
The conflict escalated into a lawsuit, and to make matters worse, his lawyer reportedly disappeared after incurring legal fees. Forced to prepare her case alone, Pearl immersed herself in legal studies and even passed the first stage of the law school entrance exams.
“I attended English academies in the mornings, worked part-time as a singing instructor, re-studyed for law exams, and worked as a radio DJ at night,” she recalled. “I lived like this for at least seven years, almost ten.”
Today, Pearl has built a new chapter in academia. She revealed that she is currently a professor in the Department of New Media Music at Sangmyung University. “I still remember the expressions on my students’ faces during my first special class,” she said. “After teaching, I realized there was a completely different world and that sparked my interest in education.” He added that he started as a part-time teacher in 2005 and has now been teaching for 21 years.
Pearl also recently received an award for Best Academic Paper and shared that she is passionately involved in an alumni choir, continuing to pursue her love of music in a different way.
Sources: Daum
