Joy, 30, a member of the group Red Velvet and an actress, shared an anecdote about how she had devoted herself exclusively to her studies during her school years due to her family’s financial difficulties.
In a video uploaded on Thursday to the YouTube channel of webtoon artist and broadcaster Kian84, Joy was seen visiting Kian84’s studio for a conversation.
Joy bickered with Kian84, who was unaware of her current activities as both a singer and actress, before bringing up her childhood by saying, “I was actually a lucky case.”
When Kian84 asked, “Why is that lucky? You worked hard, so things turned out well. Didn’t you also find a good company (agency)?” Joy said, “If I hadn’t passed the audition for SM (Entertainment) from the start, I wasn’t going to become a singer,” surprising Kian84.
Joy said, “Because I studied very hard and did well,” adding, “Since our family’s financial situation wasn’t great, when I was young, the only thing I could do was study diligently.” She then shyly confessed that she had ranked first in her class and second in her entire school.
Joy, who said she had many worries about her future since childhood, revealed that a turning point came during a middle school field trip in her second year of middle school.
She recalled, “I couldn’t hold back my talent and went on stage for the talent show. At first, everyone was like ‘What is that person doing, showing off?’ but suddenly I became a famous figure.”
Joy, who said she discovered her passion for singing after the talent show, said, “My grades started to drop significantly because I was going around singing here and there. So, in fact, I was lucky.”
When Kian84, who had been listening intently, said, “You would have done well even if you hadn’t become a singer,” Joy replied, “I think so myself. I had confidence in myself,” revealing that she had possessed a determined personality since childhood.
When Kian84 suggested Joy was the top student academically among Red Velvet members, she praised Wendy, saying, "Wendy even received an Obama award. She was a true elite."
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