Born in 1990, Kang Hye-yeon, now 34, is in her sixth year as a trot singer.
He won many fans with his cute appearance, earning him the nickname “Trot Squirrel”.
She cited a primary school visit to the Inha University festival as the moment that sparked her dream of becoming a singer.
At that time, after passionately watching singer Maya perform on stage, he decided to pursue a singing career. She began preparing for the practical entrance exam to the music department right from high school and tested herself by participating in various competitions and singing competitions.
She particularly attracted attention when she won the gold award at the Bupyeong Youth Song Festival singing Mariah Carey’s “Hero”, earning her the nickname “Bupyeong Jang Yun-jeong”.
After two years of various part-time jobs while continuing her life as a trainee, Kang Hye-yeon debuted as the original member of EXID but experienced the pain of leaving the team just two months later.
After a year of reorganization, he debuted again as a member of BESTie.
The group was initially praised as a talented girl group, but after long hiatus and member departures, the group faced a crisis. Eventually, due to financial difficulties at the agency, the group disbanded and Kang Hye-yeon ended her idol career.
After ending her life as an idol and contemplating her future, Kang Hye-yeon decided to start over as a trot singer, inspired by the trot songs she had sung during her group’s activities.
In 2021, she appeared in TV Chosun’s “Miss Trot” and placed eighth, re-establishing her presence with audiences.
Due to her exceptional vocal talent and adorable appearance, she earned the nickname “Trot Squirrel”.
She later released her first album “Sunday Hye-yeon” and held solo concerts, continuing her active career and reaching a new peak in her life.
In February, during the second round of MBN’s “King of Singers” final, she chose to sing Shin Haeng-il’s “Bring Back Youth”, recalling her girl group days. He expressed his feelings of gratitude and apology towards his parents, which resonated deeply with many people.
He shared: “My parents gave me a lot of support. When I was in girl groups, I had no income, and the final balance showed a debt of over 100 million won. My parents sacrificed their youth for me and I want to repay that kindness.”
Source: Daum
