Singer No Yoo Min, formerly of the iconic idol group NRG, is making headlines for his successful transition into the food and beverage industry — and his new role as a building owner.
On April 5th, YouTube channel Moneymentary released a video titled “Why this former idol singer now runs a café”, spotlighting No Yoo Min’s entrepreneurial journey.
The singer shared that he’s been running a café for the past 15 years, balancing it with broadcasting and personal wellness efforts. “Broadcasting used to be my main job, but after starting the café, that became my livelihood,” he explained. “I used to operate three directly managed branches, but I closed them and now run a café in a building I purchased.”
The video revealed that No Yoo Min’s café is a spacious, upscale location with top-tier equipment worth over ₩100 million (approximately $75,000 USD). He added, “When I have outside activities or filming, customers often ask about me. So my wife and I decided that if I’m unavailable, we’d rather not open at all. We can do that because I own the building.”
Despite the success, No Yoo Min didn’t shy away from the struggles he faced. “I thought running a café would be relaxing, but I got housewife’s eczema from washing so many dishes. I also did deliveries. There were times I had to eat alone in the storage room — it felt like a prison without bars.”
When asked if he earned a lot during his peak broadcasting days, he admitted: “Yes, I made good money as a singer, but I spent just as much. I thought I’d earn like that forever. Seniors warned me that popularity comes in waves — and they were right.”
No Yoo Min debuted in 1997 with the first-generation K-pop group NRG, which enjoyed immense popularity in the late ’90s and early 2000s. His story stands as a candid reminder of life after stardom — and the resilience it takes to build a second career.
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