Shinjeon Tteokbokki 'Third Generation' Trainee Ha Min-gi Clarifies 'Chaebol-dol' Controversy

Ha Min-gi, an idol trainee who garnered attention as the 'Third Generation of Shinjeon Tteokbokki,' has directly addressed the 'chaebol-dol' controversy.

A video titled "'Chaebol-dol' Sweeping the News.. Shinjeon Tteokbokki Founder's Grandson, First Real-Life Appearance" was uploaded to the YouTube channel 'One Mic' on the 31st.

Previously, his agency Modenberry Korea revealed Ha Min-gi as one of the trainees for a new boy group scheduled to debut in the latter half of 2026. The fact that Ha Min-gi is the grandson of the founder of Shinjeon Tteokbokki caused a stir. Some raised doubts, questioning the age difference between Ha Min-gi (born in 2007) and CEO Ha Sung-ho (born in 1977). However, the agency clarified in a subsequent statement, "The exact relationship with CEO Ha Sung-ho is that of a nephew," and "The founders of Shinjeon Tteokbokki are a total of two people: CEO Ha Sung-ho and Ha Min-gi's paternal grandmother. While he is a grandchild of the founder, he is not the grandson of founder CEO Ha Sung-ho."

Ha Min-gi himself stated, "I was quite taken aback by the sudden surge of news articles. My friends kept asking, 'Are you debuting?', which made me more nervous and scared about my future." He explained, "My grandmother was the one who first created [Shinjeon Tteokbokki], and currently, my uncle is the CEO. [My family] gets along well, and I receive their full support and active encouragement."

He further shared, "My grandmother was the founder, and I lived with her since I was young, so I ate her cooking and played with her friends. My parents also live with my grandmother." Regarding his grandmother's reaction, he said, "She initially said, 'Why are you choosing this difficult path instead of studying?' saying studying is the easiest. But seeing me now, she said, 'It seems that wasn't entirely true.' She always tells me to be humble."

Ha Min-gi revealed that the company was unaware of his 'Shinjeon Tteokbokki Third Generation' status at first. "They were very surprised, but they were happy and said they were looking forward to it. I'm working hard to live up to their expectations."

Addressing the 'chaebol-dol' label, Ha Min-gi commented, "I don't think of myself as chaebol, but my parents are. My parents lived like ordinary people, going to the market and enjoying things like flying kites in the park. I also spent my childhood playing like that, falling off kickboards and living a normal life." He added, "Honestly, I didn't even know until around 6th grade. I lived a normal life. I saw employee uniform t-shirts at home and asked my dad what they were, and he explained it to me. After finding out, I thought, 'I must not cause trouble,' and 'I shouldn't bring shame to the family.' While it was nice, my dad always told me, 'Never cause trouble,' 'Just live a normal school life and get along with friends. Just because we are in this position doesn't mean we are special. You need to experience hardships like everyone else.' He never said things like 'I'm proud of you.'"

Regarding the nickname 'tteok-sujeo' (rice cake spoon, a play on 'gold spoon'), he stated, "I want to be recognized as a 'talented idol' rather than a 'tteok-sujeo.' I found it a bit funny, but I appreciated the attention it brought." He refuted claims of financial backing: "I saw comments saying, 'If he's a chaebol-dol, doesn't that mean he funded the company?' That's absolutely not true. Except for academy registration fees, I funded all my auditions and preparations myself. I've probably auditioned about 200 times, and through the constant process of success and failure, my skills and mental fortitude have improved significantly, like building muscle through exercise."

When asked about his family's reaction to his dream of becoming an idol, he said, "I persuaded my dad starting in my third year of middle school. It took about a month. My parents didn't have any specific wishes, but they were worried because this industry is like threading a needle with a string, and surviving amidst fierce competition is difficult. I told them I would work hard and promised not to have regrets even if I didn't succeed, which seemed to convince them."

He also revealed that he dropped out of high school to pursue his idol debut. "I first attended an academy in Daegu and went to auditions, which naturally led me to attend an arts high school. I was at SM Universe, which seems like a school created by SM. To do that, I dropped out of regular high school, passed the GED exam a year later, and learned about society and how the world works while living alone in Seoul." He added, "Since I dropped out of school, I feel a sense of responsibility and work two to three times harder than others. I arrive early and leave late, repeatedly practicing."

Recalling his grandmother's advice, he shared, "She told me not to give up. She said the world is harsh and difficult, but not to give up. Since I've been revealed, I shouldn't cause harm to the brand, and people will be jealous and critical, but I'm working hard to show my dedication to those who support me, without minding the negativity."

He concluded by saying, "When I first came to this company, the members were all tall, talented, and handsome, comparable to other companies, so I thought this was worth a shot. The company also wants to debut soon, so I signed the contract quickly and started preparing. We are scheduled to debut in the first or second half of next year. I will work hard to present good music and outstanding skills."

/delight_me@osen.co.kr

Netizens commented, 'Mom, I need to go eat Shinjeon Tteokbokki now,' 'He's really a chaebol,' 'He just needs to prove himself with his skills,' and 'I'm cheering for you.'