Red Velvet's Joy reveals how a middle school talent show changed her life

Red Velvet member Joy revealed on Kian84's YouTube channel on the 5th that she once ranked second in her entire school before her grades dropped significantly following a middle school field trip talent show.

Red Velvet member Joy has opened up about her difficult childhood circumstances and why she devoted herself to studying during her school years. A top student who once ranked second in her entire school, she recalled that her life's direction changed following a talent show during a middle school field trip. Joy's candid story about contemplating her future even before her debut as a singer is drawing attention.

On the 5th, a video titled "Daily Life 2, Filmed and Edited Alone" was released on Kian84's YouTube channel. Appearing as a guest, Joy spoke about her school days and the path she has walked prior to her debut. Kian84 expressed curiosity regarding whether she had nurtured her dream of becoming a singer since childhood and what kind of student she was before her debut.

Regarding her success, Joy stated, "I was actually a lucky case." In response, Kian84 acknowledged and encouraged her efforts, saying, "Why are you lucky? You did well because you worked hard. You also met a good company." His comments suggested that her success was not merely luck, but the result of the effort and preparation she had accumulated.

Joy also revealed her firm criteria for debuting as a singer. She confessed, "From the beginning, if I didn't pass the audition at SM, I wasn't going to become a singer." Rather than blindly deciding to become a celebrity, she had a clear plan to only pursue the path of a singer if she passed the audition at the company she desired.

Her childhood circumstances influenced that decision. "Since my family's situation wasn't that good, studying hard was the only thing I could do when I was young," Joy said. In a situation where she was not economically well-off, she believed studying was the best choice available to her, and she indeed focused on her studies to the point of ranking second in her school.

An unexpected turning point arrived for Joy, who had been focused on her studies, during a second-year middle school field trip. Recalling her experience performing at a talent show at the time, she reminisced, "I couldn't hold back my talent and went out for the talent show. At first, everyone was like, 'Who does she think she is, acting out?'" Although the reactions from those around her were not initially positive, the atmosphere changed after she took the stage.

Joy described the moment by saying, "I suddenly became a celebrity." As a student who usually focused on studying, she gained attention among her friends by showcasing her singing and talent on stage. This experience served as an opportunity for Joy to newly confirm her own talent and potential.

Following this, changes occurred in her academic life. Joy said, "After that, my grades started to drop significantly because I was singing. So, I was actually lucky." She explained that while her grades declined as she shifted the time she once spent studying toward singing and performing, it ultimately led her to the path of a singer.

Upon hearing Joy's story, Kian84 offered a kind word, saying, "You would have done well even if you hadn't become a singer." To this, Joy expressed confidence, stating, "I think so myself. I had confidence in myself." Having achieved success in her studies, she believed she would have been successful enough even if she had chosen a different path than being a singer.

From a student so dedicated to her studies that she ranked second in her school to a singer growing on stage, Joy's debut process is drawing new interest as she reveals her childhood, where she viewed studying as her only option amidst difficult family circumstances, and the moment she discovered her talent through a talent show.

Read the original (Korean)