Singer WOODZ opened up with raw honesty about the hidden chapters of his family history and the ups and downs behind the stage.
On the March 11 broadcast of the tvN variety show You Quiz on the Block, the 12th-year singer WOODZ appeared and chatted with Yoo Jae-suk about his journey.
Before pursuing music, WOODZ left for Brazil at age 14 to chase his dream of becoming a soccer player — but reality there was harsh. Finding comfort in Korean TV shows while in Brazil, he naturally grew interested in music. During school breaks, he flew to Korea to audition and began his path toward becoming a singer. After training, he debuted in 2014 as a member of the Korea–China project group UNIQ, but the group’s activities were effectively halted by China’s Hallyu ban, leaving him without major recognition.
Then, during that difficult period, more devastating news hit. WOODZ said, "While our activities were on pause, my mother called me," adding, "She said, 'Don’t be shocked, just listen,' and the moment I heard that, I knew it wasn’t good." He then shared that he received the news that his father had passed away in the Philippines.
WOODZ said he still doesn’t know his father’s exact cause of death. "We had the cremation done locally, and I personally brought his ashes back to Korea in an urn," he recalled. "It didn’t feel real that the biggest person in my life was now in a small urn." He added calmly, "As I get older, I think of my father even more."
WOODZ remembered his father as "a true romantic." He added, "He once talked about wanting to ride motorcycles with me around the country and even get matching tattoos. That romantic side of him definitely rubbed off on me."