Soyou expresses gratitude to Lee Chang-sub and Jeong Jin-woon after father's passing

Singer Soyou tearfully revealed that she participated in the filming of a scheduled travel variety show immediately after losing her father. For her, who had to stand before the camera without even time to express her grief, Lee Chang-sub and Jeong Jin-woon stayed by her side, telling her "not to feel sorry" rather than forcing the mood up, and Soyou repeatedly expressed her gratitude to the two.

In the episode of KBS Joy's "Birds of a Feather" broadcast on the 9th, the final story of the 4-day, 3-night trip taken by Lee Chang-sub, Jeong Jin-woon, and Soyou in Shodoshima, Japan, was revealed. While the trip was filled with laughter and pranks as they moved between Olive Park and the beach, the story Soyou brought up during the final interview instantly changed the atmosphere of the broadcast.

Soyou cautiously began by telling the production team, "Actually, I haven't even told the staff yet." She revealed, "My father was in an accident before I came to film. I sent my father away the day before I came here," and eventually burst into tears. Soyou's father passed away on July 25, and at the time, Soyou had expressed her thanks to those who sent her condolences through SNS.

Her mother's wishes were also a reason why the scheduled filming was not canceled. Soyou shared that her mother said, "Still, work is work, so go and do your job. Your dad would want that too." This was the reason she decided to fulfill her given schedule despite having just lost a family member.

The problem arose after arriving at the travel destination. Soyou initially intended not to inform Lee Chang-sub and Jeong Jin-woon of her situation. However, on the first night, the two noticed her condition and asked, "Is something wrong?", which ultimately led her to confess the fact that she had lost her father.

That moment was another burden for Soyou. She did not want to make the atmosphere heavy for her friends who had come on the trip because of her grief. She recalled her feelings at the time, saying, "I felt so sorry to say those words."

However, the reactions of Lee Chang-sub and Jeong Jin-woon were different from what she expected. The two told Soyou, "Don't say you're sorry," and instead relieved her burden by saying, "Don't force your energy up. We'll handle everything."

Soyou said she was able to laugh a lot thanks to the two making silly jokes and lightening the mood by her side.

Soyou remarked, "I laughed a lot because of them. I think it was a necessary time for me. They were very reliable." This means that the trip went beyond a simple variety show filming and became a time for a person experiencing unexpected loss to briefly return to daily life.

In fact, there were moments during the broadcast where Soyou could not suppress her emotions. While Soyou, overcome by sudden emotion, was composing herself, Lee Chang-sub and Jeong Jin-woon listened quietly rather than adding special words. It was a way of accepting the emotion itself rather than trying to solve the sadness.

As the trip concluded, Soyou once again said "Thank you" to the two. Lee Chang-sub replied, "I hope it was a good trip for you," and a sense of trust deeper than the temporary friendship often seen in variety shows was evident between the three.

The two men's confessions also served as a part that explained why their relationship is special. Jeong Jin-woon said, "As you get older, you can't be friends if the interests don't align, and there's no need for that. It's so comfortable."

In an environment like the entertainment industry, where interests and competition constantly intersect, this meant that a relationship where one does not try to gain something from the other can instead become the foundation of a long-lasting friendship.

Lee Chang-sub also said, "We are a group where there is no discomfort at all." He explained it as a relationship where it is not awkward even without speaking, and they can be together without forcing a mood.

Jeong Jin-woon also emphasized the chemistry between the three, citing "being able to go without thinking about anything" as the most important value of this trip.

Soyou debuted with SISTAR in 2010 and solidified her public standing by releasing consecutive hits such as "Alone," "Give It To Me," and "Touch My Body." Since then, she has expanded her field of activity as a vocalist, combining solo activities with collaborations, highlighting her singing ability and tone. Lee Chang-sub moves between BTOB activities and solo music, and Jeong Jin-woon has been consistently active in music, variety shows, and acting based on 2AM.

The three grew in different groups and fields of activity, but in this "Birds of a Feather," their image of laughing and chatting comfortably like old friends was highlighted more than their outward appearance as stars. In particular, as Soyou's personal loss was revealed, their relationship transcended simple "variety show chemistry."

The broadcast began by showing the joy of the trip, but ended by leaving a question about the nature of friendship. Rather than telling someone in pain to "be okay" or trying to force a change in mood, true friendship is being able to tell them they don't have to pretend to be okay. This is why Soyou repeatedly told Lee Chang-sub and Jeong Jin-woon "Thank you" when reflecting on the filming following her father's passing.

In moments of loss, a person staying by your side can be more powerful than grand words of consolation. While Soyou, Lee Chang-sub, and Jeong Jin-woon's trip used the light format of a variety show, it ultimately remained a scene that revealed the essence of relationships during their heaviest moments.