Singer Kim Jang-hoon shocked viewers by confessing his turbulent teen years — from school violence and gambling to dropping out — and how music ultimately pulled him back from the edge.
Appearing recently on actor Song Seung-hwan’s YouTube channel, Kim revealed, "I grew up thinking I never had a father from the moment I was born," opening up about a childhood marked by deprivation. He spent long stretches apart from his mother, struggled with poor health, and said the loneliness only deepened.
That environment led to rebellion in school. Kim formed a crew with peers to stand up to a notorious upperclassman, admitted to brawling along the riverside, and even facing off while brandishing weapons.
He also mentioned gambling. After first encountering hwatu (Korean playing cards) in middle school, he said high schoolers from different schools would gather to wager money. A game at a Chinese restaurant escalated into fights and a police call, eventually reaching the school. With the pot exceeding 1 million won (around $750), he was disciplined.
There was a separate trigger for his decision to drop out. Kim said he was devastated after seeing a friend physically punished in P.E. class for not being able to pay tuition. "I couldn’t endure that environment," he recalled, adding that he left school in the early part of his second year of high school.
Even afterward, he went through dangerous times, including more group fights, but ultimately found a new path through music. Debuting in 1991, Kim Jang-hoon continues to spread positive influence through concerts and philanthropy.