Singer Bada, a former member of the legendary K-pop group S.E.S, revealed her past financial hardships and the emotional story behind her success during her appearance on Channel A’s 'Table for 4,' aired on October 20.
Joined by close friends Eugene and Brian, Bada looked back on her difficult childhood and her father’s illness, which drastically changed her family’s circumstances. “My father used to perform pansori and traditional singing. Before he got sick, our family was doing well. I even went to a private kindergarten with a swimming pool,” Bada shared. “But after he fell ill, everything collapsed within three years.”
She recalled that her father was given only six months to live and eventually stopped taking medication because of the high cost. The family then moved to the countryside, where they later became victims of a rental scam, forcing them to live in a prefabricated home.
Bada also shared her emotional struggle when deciding to attend an arts high school despite her father’s objections due to financial hardship. “I was always an obedient daughter, but for the first time, I insisted on following my dream,” she said. “My father told me, ‘In this field, you have to be number one to survive.’ I said, ‘I can do it.’ That week, he went back to performing at night stages even though he was sick. Watching him put on his straw shoes, I promised myself I would succeed no matter what.”
One of the most touching moments came when she recalled a winter day when her father, preparing to leave for work, sighed that he did not want to go out in the cold. “Our house was so small that the bathroom was right next to the door. Hearing my father’s voice as he put on his shoes broke my heart,” she said tearfully. “I bit my fist so he would not hear me crying. That was the moment I decided I had to succeed.”
Bada also shared a bittersweet anecdote from her early days as an idol. “S.E.S. had this ‘rich girl’ concept, but none of us came from wealthy families,” she said. “One day, my manager drove me home for the holidays and asked, ‘You’re getting off here? Do you need to use the bathroom?’ He thought my house was a public restroom because it was a prefab home,” she laughed. “I told him, ‘No, this is my house.’ He was so embarrassed, but after that, he treated me with more respect.”
Even after debuting, Bada continued taking cold showers, saying it reminded her of her parents. “I did not want to use hot water until the day I could truly afford it. When I finally did, after receiving my first payment, I cried. I will never forget that moment.”
Bada also expressed gratitude to those who supported her through her studies. “There was someone who anonymously paid my tuition, and a priest who covered my study room fees. I am still deeply thankful to them,” she said. “That is why I have been hosting charity bazaars for 13 years to give back the love I received.”
Her heartfelt story moved both her co-stars and viewers, offering a glimpse into the resilience and humility behind her long-standing success.
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