Former Produce 101 Season 2 contestant Kenta has opened up about his financial struggles, revealing that he accumulated approximately 400 million won in debt after leaving his agency.
On October 24, the YouTube channel ICU released a video titled A Tour of KENTA's Home in Korea, where the singer spoke about his financial difficulties, career struggles, and efforts to rebuild his life.
During the interview, Kenta revealed that leaving his agency resulted in a significant financial burden.
"I ended up in debt after leaving the company while working as an idol. It was 400 million won," he shared.
He explained that the debt left him feeling a strong sense of responsibility, as he knew he would eventually have to repay the money.
"Because of that debt, I feel the weight of having to pay it back. I also feel a sense of responsibility," he said.
Kenta admitted that his difficulties once made him consider leaving the entertainment industry entirely.
"There was a time when I wanted to quit. I thought I should stop being an idol because maybe it wasn't right for me," he recalled.
He explained that he eventually experienced burnout and lost his sense of direction.
"For the first time in my life, I lost my goal," he said.
However, Kenta revealed that he has recently found new motivation, with paying off his debt becoming his biggest priority.
"I've recently found a goal again. First, I want to pay off my debt," he shared, adding that a large amount still remains unpaid.
One of the most difficult moments came when his bank accounts were seized because of the debt, leaving him with almost no money.
"Because of the debt, my accounts were seized. Suddenly, I couldn't access my accounts, and all I had left was a single 1,000 won bill," he revealed.
Kenta recalled worrying about how he would afford food the following day.
"I kept thinking, 'What am I going to eat tomorrow?' I was just busy trying to survive each day," he said.
During that period, people close to him helped by sending rice and other necessities.
The singer expressed his gratitude, explaining that he considers the kindness he received another kind of debt that he hopes to repay someday.
"I believe there are debts in life beyond money. Receiving help from someone is also a kind of debt. I think living a good life means trying to repay that kindness," he explained.
Despite his financial situation, Kenta said he now views his experience as something that motivates him to keep moving forward.
"I'm grateful even for this debt because it gives me a reason to keep going. My life hasn't been ordinary, and I like that," he shared.
Kenta first gained attention through Mnet's Produce 101 Season 2 before debuting as a member of the project group JBJ.
He later formed the duo JBJ95 with Kim Sang Gyun. The two subsequently became involved in a legal dispute with their agency over their exclusive contracts.
Although the contracts were ultimately determined to be no longer valid, the court found that the members bore primary responsibility for the contract violations, resulting in an obligation to pay damages to the agency.
Now, Kenta says his priority is to repay his remaining debt while continuing to move forward with his life and career.
