SECRET member Jun Hyosung has revealed a difficult chapter in his career, sharing that he once worked for three years without receiving any compensation for his appearances.
The emotional confession came during a recent YouTube video on comedian Kim Sook’s channel, in which the two reunited and reflected on their past working together.
In the video uploaded on June 15, 2026 (KST), Kim Sook recalled her time on the MBC program Every1 Star of the videoexplaining that he often ate with Hyosung during filming. However, he noted that the singer’s energy has changed over time.
“She was really passionate at first,” Kim Sook said. “But at some point, I wondered why she seemed unmotivated. It was because she wasn’t making any money.”
Kim Sook then revealed the shocking detail that Hyosung hadn’t received any appearance fees in about three years. Jun Hyosung confirmed the statement, acknowledging that it was a painful but important time in his 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 occurred during a major life transition when she transitioned from her 20s to 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 said she eventually took a break from work. During that time, he focused on recovering from personal difficulties and later found a desire to return to music.
Kim Sook added that she has never seen Hyosung ask for help easily, recalling a time when the singer only asked for a short broadcast segment for SECRET, TheChosun reported.
The comment left Hyosung emotional during the conversation. Despite the difficulties, Jun Hyosung said the period helped shape her outlook on life. She explained that she has learned to understand happiness beyond work and has developed a stronger sense of resilience through the experience.
After stepping away from the spotlight for a while, Hyosung is now back on the K-pop scene. He is currently preparing for a comeback with fellow SECRET members Jung Hana and new member Yebin. The group is ready to release their special mini-album Secret flavour on June 18th.
