Jun Hyo Seong on Secret's comeback: 'I used to just do what companies told me'

Jun Hyo Seong, a former member of the group Secret, has opened up about the honest emotions hidden behind the glamorous heyday of her idol days. Reflecting on a time when she constantly questioned, "Am I truly living the life I want?" amidst relentless schedules, she shared that she is now even happier to stand on the Secret stage again, this time driven by her own will.

Appearing on the YouTube channel 'Hahm Eun Jung' on the 22nd, Jun shared candid stories from her debut to the present alongside T-ARA's Hahm Eun Jung and former Spica member Yang Ji-won. As all three were representative members of 2nd generation girl groups, the conversation naturally flowed into the fierce competition of the music industry at the time, trainee life, and behind-the-scenes stories of group activities.

The three met at a snack shop to reminisce about the past. Recalling her first meeting with Jun, Hahm said, "We first met at the Osonyeo dorm where Yang Ji-won and Hyo Seong were staying."

She continued, "She had such a pure image back then, so I was shocked to see her debut with Secret a few years later," adding, "I thought I was going to faint because she had transformed into a completely different concept," drawing laughter.

Jun also revealed how she stood at several crossroads in life before her debut. From the story of how she almost became a member of T-ARA to the process of eventually debuting with Secret, she spoke honestly about the uncertainty and intense competition trainees face before their debut.

When the topic of marriage came up, she mentioned habits left behind by her long years of living in a dormitory. "Since I lived in a dorm continuously, I find living alone so comfortable now," Jun said, recalling her idol days of long-term communal living. Limited privacy and group living are cited as representative characteristics of 2nd generation idol culture, and many singers have shared similar experiences after time has passed.

The conversation naturally led to Secret's activities. Jun calmly confessed the honest emotions she felt during the hectic schedules at the time.

"In the past, it felt strongly like I was performing because the company told me to," she said. "As I kept running forward without looking back, I worried a lot, wondering, 'Is this really the life I want?'"

As the idol industry operates based on a systematic planning system, it has a structure where team activities and schedules take precedence over an artist's autonomy. In particular, the 2nd generation idol market was a period when domestic and international activities were expanding rapidly, providing a historical background where tight schedules and high-intensity practice were daily occurrences. Jun's confession provides a glimpse into the realistic concerns many idols experienced within that industrial structure.

However, as time passed, her thoughts changed.

"Now, no matter what the result is, I have the desire to do Secret activities again," Jun stated. "This time, it feels much more fun because it's not because someone told me to, but because I want to do it."

She emphasized that her current activities with Secret hold a completely different meaning than before, saying, "The biggest difference is that it is an activity I choose to do autonomously." While a sense of obligation came first in the past, she explained that her own choice and will have become the driving force for her activities now.

Hearing this, Hahm Eun Jung and Yang Ji-won offered words of support. Mentioning the choreography video for Secret's recently released B-side track 'GET RIGHT', the two agreed, "You look truly happy in all the videos," to which Jun responded with a bright smile.

Afterward, the three moved to a practice room to film a challenge for Secret's new song 'ICE CREAM'. Expressing special emotions about practicing together again after nearly 20 years, Jun showed her unchanging leadership by leading Hahm Eun Jung and Yang Ji-won with her characteristic bright energy even amidst repeated filming.

2nd generation girl groups are evaluated as the generation that laid the foundation for the global expansion of K-pop. Recently, there has been a trend where past groups reunite or continue project activities, stimulating nostalgia while communicating with fans in new ways. Jun's recent confession adds meaning beyond a simple reminiscence, as it makes one reflect on the changes in the idol industry, artist autonomy, and the significance of standing on stage again after time has passed.

Currently, Jun continues to communicate with listeners as the DJ of BTN Radio's 'Jun Hyo Seong's Secret Night,' while also expanding her field of activity in various ways by balancing group and solo activities. The idol who once stood on stage as part of someone else's plan is now writing a new chapter, standing in the spotlight by her own choice.