Fin.K.L's Ock Joo-hyun Recounts Debut Struggles and Early Earnings

Ock Joo-hyun, a former member of the iconic girl group Fin.K.L., has candidly shared details about her group's early days, including her debut story and how their earnings were managed. Appearing on the Channel A show 'The Table for Four' on the 8th, Ock Joo-hyun, who debuted with Fin.K.L.'s 'Blue Rain' in 1998, openly discussed her journey into music and the financial practices of the time.

"Honestly, I didn't want to be a mainstream singer," Ock Joo-hyun admitted. She revealed that she was scouted after participating in a radio singing contest but initially refused the offer. However, the agency's CEO lured her in by saying, "You'll end up doing it. Don't you want to see the Sechs Kies concert?" This led her down the path of becoming a singer. She further recounted that after attending the concert, she ended up having an audition at a karaoke room, where she was told, "You'll make it," and became a Fin.K.L. member.

She also expressed her honest feelings about comparisons to rival group S.E.S. "S.E.S. was a group ahead of their time. They were very futuristic and on a high level. Honestly, I thought, 'Why are our songs so old-fashioned?'" she confessed. Tei, a co-host, lightened the mood by joking, "But Fin.K.L. had way more paper fans, though."

Recalling Fin.K.L.'s early performances, Ock Joo-hyun confessed, "Fin.K.L. performed live for their first stage. Most groups lip-synced back then, but we boldly performed live and it was a mess." She added, "When we were promoting 'My Boyfriend,' I really didn't want to, but the CEO told us to quickly do it as a follow-up song. But with that song, our popularity absolutely exploded."

Regarding the income distribution during Fin.K.L.'s active years, she was equally candid. "My parents managed our earnings back then. When we went on overseas trips, the CEO would give us a lot of pocket money. I once received millions of won at once. Considering there were four of us, getting 3 million won was a huge amount of money. But I spent it all as soon as I got it," she said with a laugh.

Ock Joo-hyun's honest revelations about Fin.K.L.'s debut and income management continue to evoke nostalgia for fans even years later.

Ock Joo-hyun debuted as a member of the popular K-pop group Fin.K.L. in 1998, where she was known for her powerful vocals as the main singer. After Fin.K.L.'s activities, she transitioned into musical theater and has since established herself as a highly successful and respected musical actress. She is celebrated for her remarkable vocal range and captivating stage presence.