Lim Young Woong reveals ambition to be 'world's best'

“I want to be the best in the world, too.” Lim Young Woong, who has always maintained a humble demeanor, finally revealed the ambition he had been harboring. This was not during a grand press conference, but rather during a relaxed gathering in New York, United States, while sharing drinks with friends. His honest remark revealed a side of the "human Lim Young Woong" that differs from his public persona.

In a video released through his channel on the 24th, Lim confessed, “To be honest, I want to be the best in the world,” while chatting with friends at his accommodation in New York. He continued, “I have always wanted to be number one,” making no attempt to hide his desire for success. Contrary to the humble attitude he shows before the public, a competitive spirit aimed for the highest heights resides deep within him.

What drew even more attention was his mention of having "compromised with reality." Lim confessed that if he were in his early 20s, he would have spoken much more boldly, but as he has passed his mid-30s, he found himself unable to voice such thoughts due to the practical difficulties of achieving them. It is not that his dreams have shrunk, but rather that he has become more cautious with his words as he has come to understand reality more clearly.

However, this does not mean he has completely let go of his ambitions. Lim stated that his continuous challenges in various fields, not just music, could be part of the process of achieving the goals he has held since childhood. He hinted that his expansion into new territories after reaching the top of one field might be connected to his long-held goal of becoming the "world's best," rather than being a simple expansion of his scope.

Lim's confession is particularly notable because he is already a singer who has achieved significant success in South Korea. After making a name for himself through an audition program, he built an explosive fandom and established himself as a pop culture star, moving beyond the genre boundaries of a trot singer by expanding into digital music tracks, performances, broadcasting, and advertisements. Despite this, he does not view his current achievements as the final destination.

In particular, the expression "world's best" carries a different nuance than simply wanting to hold the number one spot domestically. It reflects a desire to not remain just the most beloved singer in South Korea, but to prove his name and music on a wider global stage. It is compelling to see someone who is already near the top express a desire to climb even higher, shifting the very standard of his success.

Ultimately, Lim's words from New York are less a glamorous success story and more an honest confession to himself—a reflection of how one might compromise with reality as they age. Even within his past-tense expression, “I wanted to be number one,” his current desire to be the best in the world remains alive. This is why attention is focused on how far Lim's next challenge will reach.