Jeokwoo Admits to Hateful Comments on 'I Am a Singer'

Singer Jeokwoo revealed his struggles with malicious comments during his past appearance on MBC's "I Am a Singer" (hereinafter referred to as "I Am a Singer") and the reasons behind his recent decision to challenge "Miss Trot 4." Appearing on KBS1's "Morning Yard" on the 24th, Jeokwoo shared behind-the-scenes stories of joining "I Am a Singer," explaining that the production team was looking for "hidden masters recognized by singers but not well-known to the public." A meeting was arranged through a writer who saw his performance materials at the Seoul Arts Center during his unknown days.

However, just the news of his appearance on "I Am a Singer" led to him topping search rankings for three days, and he recalled receiving malicious comments such as "Die," and "How dare you stand on that stage." At the time, unlike other contestants, Jeokwoo was an unknown singer, and his performance experience in entertainment venues led to public criticism.

Regarding his recent transformation from a rock singer to a trot singer, he admitted he was taken aback when he was offered a chance to appear as a contestant on "Miss Trot 4." He confessed that he thought he was too old and had never even considered auditioning for a different genre.

Despite this, the decisive reason for his decision to challenge was the fans who had loved him for 15 years. He revealed that he decided to challenge "Miss Trot 4" for his fans, who encouraged him to vote even while he was in a difficult situation, undergoing dialysis every other day due to heart problems, bringing tears to the audience.

Born in 1971, Jeokwoo has proven his talent through shows like "I Am a Singer," "Immortal Songs," and "King of Mask Singer" since his debut in 2004. He successfully transitioned to a trot singer, finishing in 11th place on "Miss Trot 4," which ended in January.