U-KNOW: Sleeping at Seoul Station and snow removal fueled my passion

TVXQ's U-KNOW has revealed the grueling reality of his trainee days, long before he became a glamorous star. He shared how he once wandered between Seoul Station, parks, and saunas without a home, even working snow removal and part-time jobs at meat restaurants to make a living, proving once again that his reputation as the "Icon of Passion" was earned through hardship.

In the 407th episode of the MBC entertainment program "The Manager," which aired on the 18th, U-KNOW appeared to share his current daily life alongside the struggles he faced before his debut.

During the broadcast, U-KNOW was shown placing coins into piggy banks kept throughout his study. While it seemed like a small habit, it reflected a long-standing philosophy of self-discipline and staying true to his roots.

U-KNOW's manager explained, "The habit of collecting coins has continued since his difficult trainee days. It is a habit he continues to keep even after achieving success to ensure he does not lose his initial mindset."

U-KNOW added that the habit carries a purpose beyond simple saving: "When I collect them steadily and the piggy banks are full, I want to donate them to a meaningful cause."

Following this, MC Song Eun-i asked U-KNOW about his trainee years. Although he is now established as the leader of the Republic of Korea's representative idol group TVXQ, his early life in Seoul was far from smooth.

U-KNOW cautiously recalled his past, saying, "I came up from Gwangju, and since I was from the provinces, I didn't have a house in Seoul."

He surprised the cast by revealing, "At first, I slept near Seoul Station and also in parks." It was a period of survival, driven solely by his dream, in a situation where securing stable housing was nearly impossible.

"In the beginning, I lived in saunas," he said, adding, "It wasn't enough just to practice; I also needed living expenses, so I had to work part-time jobs."

U-KNOW recalled the various manual labor jobs he took on to survive. When Jun Hyun-moo asked, "I heard you also did snow removal work," he replied, "At that time, the hourly wage for snow removal was the highest.""

He explained that he would head out to clear streets on heavy snow days to earn money, noting, "The hourly wage was around 3,800 won, which was quite high by the standards of that time."

He also shared his experience working at a meat restaurant. "I even wiped the grill plates," he reminisced. "At that time, the method was to punch holes in the meat plates so the oil could drain. I worked while punching many holes.""

While U-KNOW is primarily remembered as a powerful performer on glamorous stages, his past was a battle against reality to achieve his dreams. The experience of enduring day by day as an uncertain trainee became the foundation for his current sincerity and meticulous self-management.

The MCs watching the broadcast marveled, saying, "Now I know why U-KNOW is the Passion Man," and "Success was not made overnight.""

Since his debut with TVXQ in 2003, U-KNOW has remained a top-tier artist for over 20 years, demonstrating consistent discipline and stage presence. The young man who spent nights at Seoul Station has become a global star, yet the original mindset he cultivated remains unchanged.

U-KNOW's confession, showing that "passion" is not just an image but a way of life, serves as a reminder of the immense effort hidden behind great success.