Da-young, Kang Ye-won, Lee Jun-young: 3 Korean stars who carried family debt publicly

Three Korean entertainers — Da-young of WJSN, actress Kang Ye-won, and singer-actor Lee Jun-young — have spoken publicly about family debt that reshaped their careers across TV appearances and social media.

Da-young debuted with WJSN in 2016. At 13, she left Jeju Island for Seoul alone, renting a goshiwon after her biological father abandoned the family with tens of billions of won in debt. She opened up about it on MBC's 오늘을 버틴 노래-플레이리스트 109 and 전지적 참견 시점. When her group renewed contracts, she flew to Los Angeles on her own dime—her agency didn't want her to—and pitched a solo project herself. Her track body hit number one.

Kang Ye-won discovered 1.1 billion won in debt after her father died suddenly. She told SBS's 미운 우리 새끼 that while she wasn't legally responsible for the corporate liability, she paid part of nine months in back wages herself to employees her father had treated as family. Later, on her personal account, she wrote: "I must work hard every day. I will live as a workaholic."

Lee Jun-young — singer and actor, formerly of U-KISS — spoke about his situation before military enlistment on tvN's 유 퀴즈 온 더 블럭 and 차린건 쥐뿔도 없지만. During his U-KISS years he juggled part-time work in Korea. He skipped dating and worked nonstop for five to six years to pay down family debt. He tore knee cartilage while dancing, taught himself scripts, and bombed more than 100 audition rejections. Eventually he paid off his parents' debt in full, then bought them a house and a car.