DAY6’s leader Sungjin opened up about the band’s humble beginnings during their appearance on tvN’s 'You Quiz on the Block,' which aired on September 10.
Recalling the early days following their debut, Sungjin confessed that his grand dreams quickly met with harsh reality. “I had big ambitions, like performing at the Super Bowl halftime show,” he said. “But right after our debut, those dreams shrank. Our very first settlement was just 3,600 KRW (about $2.6).”
Despite the financial struggles, Sungjin worked tirelessly to create opportunities for the group. “If we were invited as radio guests and they later had a staff dinner, I would always go, no matter what. I just wanted to spread the word about DAY6 in any way possible,” he explained.
Sungjin also shared how the members got by with limited means. “At the time, a cup of instant noodles cost about 600 KRW (about $0.43). I thought, ‘If we save up, we can afford six a month.’ As the leader, I felt responsible, so I asked my parents for extra allowance and used it to treat the members. We really had no money back then,” he said.
He added that he also made behind-the-scenes efforts: “When I met writers, I would tell them, ‘There’s a band called DAY6. I’d be grateful if you could just give our music a listen.’ Whenever we got a chance to appear on programs, we did everything we could.”
'You Quiz on the Block' airs every Wednesday at 8:45 p.m. on tvN.
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