From Obscurity to Overnight Success — With a Side of Temple Food
So here's the thing about sudden fame and sudden money: apparently, the first instinct for a lot of people is to stash the cash under the mattress. Literally. That was the big takeaway from the latest episode of TV Chosun's long-running food travel show, Sikhek Heo Young-man's Baekban Journey (also known as Baekban Giyaeng), which aired on May 24th. The episode's guests were two of Korea's most beloved trot artists — Jin Sung and Han Hye-jin — and let's just say they did not hold back.
For those unfamiliar, Baekban Journey is a beloved Korean variety-food program hosted by legendary cartoonist Heo Young-man, where he travels around Korea with celebrity guests, eating simple, home-style Korean meals — the kind grandmothers make. It's warm, unpretentious, and often surprisingly candid. This episode was no exception.
Jin Sung and Han Hye-jin are often referred to together as the "trot siblings" — not because they're actually related, but because of their long friendship and shared journey through Korea's trot music scene. Trot, if you're new to it, is a classic Korean pop genre with roots going back to the early 20th century, characterized by its emotive vocals and rhythmic, often melancholic style. Think of it as Korea's answer to country music — deeply sentimental, wildly popular, and experiencing a massive mainstream revival in recent years.
Temple Food, Mountain Noodles, and Very Good Dumplings
The trio kicked off the episode at Jingwansa Temple, tucked into the hills of northern Seoul, where they sampled rare Korean Buddhist temple cuisine — including gajuk namul bugak (crispy deep-fried aralia shoots) and cheongguk, a type of fermented soybean dish. Temple food in Korea is entirely plant-based and prepared without pungent vegetables like garlic or onions, making it a genuinely unique culinary experience that most Koreans don't get to try every day.
From there, the group headed to a local favorite near Bukhansan Mountain — one of Seoul's beloved national parks — for kong guksu (cold noodles in chilled soybean broth) and handmade dumplings. All very wholesome. But then the conversation got really interesting.
The Song That Changed Everything — Six Years After Its Release
Jin Sung opened up about the behind-the-scenes story of "Andong Station" (Andong-yeok-eseo), the song that launched him from obscurity into stardom. What's really interesting is that despite the song's title referencing Andong — a historic city in North Gyeongsang Province — Jin Sung is actually from the Honam region (the southwestern part of Korea). He laughed it off, saying he gets mistaken for an Andong native all the time because of the song.
The song was written by a lyricist who actually hailed from Andong, drawing on real personal memories. And Jin Sung? He recorded it for just 500,000 Korean won — roughly 360 US dollars — never imagining what was coming.
"The album wasn't even accessible to people. Everyone was asking, 'Where can I hear this song?' and begging for it to be re-released."
Here's the wild part: the song didn't blow up right away. It took a full six years of what Koreans call a "reverse run" — a delayed surge in popularity — before it finally became a massive hit. In the meantime, Jin Sung did whatever it took to survive. He held over 30 different jobs, including delivering jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) and working day-labor office gigs. It's the kind of story that makes the eventual success feel all the more earned.
Cold, Hard Cash — Literally Hidden in the Fridge
Once the hits started coming and the performance fees rolled in, both artists found themselves in completely unfamiliar territory: holding large amounts of cash and absolutely not knowing what to do with it.
Han Hye-jin went first with her confession. Known for hits like "You Are My Man" (Neoneun Nae Namja) and "Seoul Night" (Seoul-ui Bam), she recalled the first time she started earning 30 to 40 million Korean won per event appearance — that's roughly 22,000 to 29,000 US dollars per gig, which is serious money for regional performance fees in Korea.
"I didn't trust banks with it. So every night I'd move the cash between the refrigerator and the wardrobe. I couldn't sleep because I was terrified of a fire breaking out."
She also revealed that whenever she had to travel to regional events, she'd lie awake worrying a burglar would break in while she was gone. The anxiety of sudden wealth — something nobody really prepares you for.
Jin Sung topped it with his own story: he started sleeping with the cash literally spread out underneath his mattress. "I was too anxious to put it in the bank," he said. And then came the punchline — he had evening performances to get to, but the paranoia was so bad that he'd walk 20 meters out the front door, turn around, walk back to double-check the locks, and then finally head to the show. The audience — and his fellow guests — cracked up.
Han Hye-jin's Unexpected Past: She Almost Became a TV Actress
What many fans don't know is that Han Hye-jin didn't start out as a singer. She was actually recruited through the KBS public talent audition system as a trainee actress — KBS, or Korean Broadcasting System, is Korea's national public broadcaster, and its formal talent recruitment process has historically been one of the most prestigious entry points into the entertainment industry.
The problem? Her Gyeongsang-do dialect. The southeastern Korean accent is one of the most distinct regional accents in the country, and it kept slipping out during script readings. She said she genuinely believed she was speaking perfect standard Seoul Korean — but the production team corrected her constantly throughout filming. Eventually, she made the call to pivot entirely to music, and the rest, as they say, is trot history.
She also touched on a more emotional part of her journey — her father, who sold land and property twice over to support her dreams. It's that kind of family sacrifice that runs through so many Korean entertainment success stories, and it clearly still moves her deeply.
A Fitting Episode for Buddha's Birthday
It's worth noting that this episode aired in the spirit of Bucheonim Osin Nal — Buddha's Birthday, one of Korea's major national holidays. The timing of the temple visit and the reflective, gratitude-filled tone of the conversations felt very much in keeping with the occasion. Across Korea, Buddhist temples were lighting ceremonial lanterns and holding community celebrations, including at Myeongjangsa Temple in Cheongju, where the Cheontae Buddhist order gathered citizens for lantern lighting ceremonies and multicultural performances.
For Jin Sung and Han Hye-jin, sitting in a centuries-old Korean temple, sharing food and swapping stories about hardship, patience, and unexpected fortune — it felt like exactly the right place to be.
This article is based on reports from Mhnse, Xportsnews, News.
