Sung Si Kyung confessed that he even contemplated retirement after suffering financial damage from his former manager’s embezzlement, revealing that the stress became so severe he temporarily lost his voice.
On February 14, SBS aired the Lunar New Year special ‘Sung Si Kyung Concert Special,’ a television version of Concert Sung Si Kyung, which was held from December 25 to 28 last year. Standing on stage, Sung Si Kyung candidly shared, “This was actually a performance I decided to do after gathering a lot of courage. I truly wanted to rest. I thought I needed to rest. But I felt that if I did, I might be buried in dark energy. I wasn’t confident, but I pushed forward anyway. I’m still nervous and scared, and I prepared a lot.”
He continued, “I quit smoking for five weeks and felt like it might be time to stop for good. I drastically reduced drinking as well. I even wondered, ‘Is this Buddhism?’ That’s how focused I was. I only thought about the concert.” During the show, Sung Si Kyung opened up further, saying, “I think I’m a bit twisted. I’ll just speak honestly and get it out of the way before we start. A lot of things happened to me, and it was extremely difficult. I think my body broke down a little. Recently in Japan, my voice completely gave out. For the first time in 25 years since my debut, I was in total shock. I thought, ‘Ah, this is retirement.’”
He admitted that he seriously considered taking a break from performing but ultimately decided otherwise. “I thought about resting from concerts, but I chose to go ahead because I wanted to take a chance. I wanted to try to get better.” Sung Si Kyung added, “This may sound shameless. People who are seeing me for the first time might think, ‘What’s wrong with this guy?’ But I wanted to lean on my fans just once. Has there ever been a singer like me who never hands over the mic? I felt that if I didn’t hold this concert, I would sink deeper. So I had this bold thought that maybe it’s okay to borrow strength from my fans during times like this.”
He also reflected on his future, saying, “If I become washed up, I’ll admit that I’ve become washed up. I wonder if at 53 I’ll still be able to passionately sing "You Touched My Heart" in the original key. Of course, there are extraordinary legends like Na Hoon A and Cho Yong Pil, but for me, it was such a difficult time personally that I began thinking about the end. Today, I plan to pour out everything I have. Please sing along with me. I will gain a lot of strength.”
Previously, it was revealed that Sung Si Kyung suffered financial losses amounting to several hundred million KRW due to embezzlement by a former manager, identified as Mr. A, whom he had worked with for nearly 20 years and treated like family, even covering wedding expenses.
The manager had reportedly overseen overall management duties related to Sung Si Kyung’s concerts, broadcasts, advertisements, and events. His agency acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and expressed a sense of responsibility regarding management oversight.
Later, Mr. A received a non-indictment decision regarding the occupational embezzlement charges. Sung Si Kyung’s side stated that they did not wish for punishment against the former manager and did not want further investigation to proceed, effectively granting leniency.
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