Lee Jun-young: 'I paid off my parents' debt and bought them a house'

Singer and actor Lee Jun-young expressed deep affection for his family and shared heartfelt thoughts he had previously found difficult to voice ahead of his military enlistment. He shared that watching his parents struggle during his childhood drove his determination to succeed, and he revealed that he worked tirelessly for several years to pay off his family's debts and even provided a house for his parents, leaving a profound impression.

On the YouTube channel 'Absolutely Nothing Prepared' hosted by Lee Young Ji, a video titled 'Chajwippul, 5 Days Before Lee Jun-young's Enlistment, Romantic Pass' was released.

Filmed just five days before his enlistment, Lee Jun-young appeared nervous as he prepared for his final drinking broadcast as a civilian. Mentioning that he is usually quite shy, he maintained a cautious demeanor throughout the broadcast, repeatedly saying "I'm sorry," while Lee Young Ji lightened the mood by drinking every time he offered an apology.

He also spoke about the people he met for the last time before his enlistment, naming Park Ji Hoon, Moon Sang-hoon, and Director Han Jun-hee.

In particular, he described Moon Sang-hoon as an "existence like a sanctuary." He mentioned that the two even engage in competitions to hold back laughter while drinking. Lee noted that he finds new inspiration by hanging out with people who, like the dance crew Bank to Brothers, are not heavily swayed by trends or SNS flows.

He explained that rather than chasing memes and trends that are quickly consumed and disappear, he learned a sense of freedom from watching people live at their own pace.

Lee's story turned serious when questions regarding dating and family arose.

He did not explain his lack of dating experience simply as a matter of personality or lifestyle. He confessed that because his family's financial situation was difficult during his childhood, he believed that succeeding was more important than anything else while watching his parents suffer.

In particular, he said he endured his life in the entertainment industry with the thought that he would one day surely repay the love he received from his parents.

Recalling his determination, he spoke about how he could not forget the sight of his parents struggling, which led him to set the goal of paying off the family debt and succeeding as an artist.

And that determination led to actual action.

Lee revealed that he worked without rest for about 5 to 6 years to save money, and with those funds, he bought a house for his parents. While it may look like a glamorous star's success story, behind it lies a period of silently enduring and taking responsibility for his family's economic hardships.

He also brought up memories of the time he had to work part-time jobs in Korea during his activities with U-KISS. He looked back on those difficult times, sharing an anecdote of how he burst into tears after unexpectedly running into a manager he was close with on the street.

Unexpectedly, the only hobby he mentioned spending money on was Pokemon cards. Forming a common ground with Lee Young Ji regarding hobbies, Lee also confessed that he has recently been spending much more time just spacing out.

Specifically, he expressed feeling "as if time has stopped," implying that a brief pause has arrived in his life that has been running so busily.

Lee entered the training center last July and began his military service as an active-duty soldier in the Republic of Korea Army. At the end of the broadcast, he left a short but warm message to his future self who will return after completing military service.

It was a belief that just as he has done well so far, his post-discharge self will also be doing well.

Rather than his glamorous achievements as a celebrity, the time the son spent paying off debts and providing a house for his parents for the sake of his family was more clearly revealed in this broadcast. The story left by Lee ahead of his enlistment left a quiet resonance, showing that rather than a star's success, it was the sense of responsibility and family love that made that success possible.