Sungri confesses the pain of receiving pocket money from his mother during his unknown days

Singer Seongri opened up about the financial difficulties and family history he experienced during his unknown days. Appearing on MBN and Channel S's 'Jun Hyun-moo's Plan 4', Seongri, as the winner of 'Unknown Legend - Trot Men's Hierarchy War', visited Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, with Jun Hyun-moo, KwakTube, Haru, and Jang Han-byeol.

Seongri revealed his past of continuing his life as an unknown singer until his late 20s, during which he had to receive a few tens of thousands of won in allowance from his mother every month. Having failed five auditions, he confessed that his heart was heavy because receiving financial help from his mother felt like he was being an unfilial son.

Unknown days receiving allowance from mother and painful family history

Seongri's upbringing was not smooth. His parents divorced during his elementary school years, and a major change came to the family when his father passed away from cancer when he was 19. From around the age of twenty, the three of them—his mother, older brother, and himself—began living together. The reality of being an unknown singer was too harsh to shoulder the weight of being the head of the household.

He did not hide the self-reproach he felt during the process of failing five auditions. Seongri expressed his feelings at the time, saying, "Given my circumstances, I felt like I really shouldn't do it, and a part of me wanted to run away, but instinctively, I felt that if I didn't take the challenge now, I would regret it for the rest of my life." At the moment he was trying to find a stable job after being discharged from the military, he encountered the recruitment notice for 'Unknown Legend', and the stage he approached with everything on the line led to his victory.

Jang Han-byeol who dropped out of dental school and role model Na Hoon-A

Haru and Jang Han-byeol, the TOP 3 of 'Unknown Legend', also joined the broadcast. Jang Han-byeol revealed the behind-the-scenes story of entering dental school but choosing to drop out to pursue his dream of becoming a singer. His father had indicated that he would allow him to be a singer if he entered dental school, and he actually attended for two more years, but ultimately decided to follow his dream. Jang Han-byeol said, "After 'Unknown Legend', I received a text from my father for the first time saying he was proud of me."

Seongri chose Na Hoon-A as the artist he usually respects. He stated, "I was moved by his life as an artist who silently pursues his own music while constantly telling his fans stories that contain his life and creating a narrative." Seongri sang Na Hoon-A's 'Young Young' passionately at the restaurant. Haru mentioned Nam Jin as his role model.

Seongri's live performance that melted the heart of the spicy octopus restaurant owner

The members' gourmet journey was not smooth. After the filming failed at the first candidate, an anglerfish soup restaurant, they faced a crisis at the second destination, a spicy octopus restaurant. The owner, who has run the shop for over 40 years, refused, saying she had never allowed a broadcast filming before.

Seongri conveyed his sincerity by performing a sweet live song for the owner. Moved by the song, the owner eventually allowed the filming. Thanks to Seongri, the members enjoyed a feast while looking at the fresh octopus tanks, and later moved to a 'Dajji' restaurant, a representative food culture of Tongyeong, to eat seasonal seafood.

The first thing he wants to do with the prize money

Jun Hyun-moo asked Seongri how he would use the prize money. Seongri expressed his wish to go to Jeju Island with his family, saying, "Definitely a family trip." The reason was that they had never been on a proper trip together as a family.

When asked if he was sure about winning, Seongri replied, "If I had to pick someone who I thought would take 1st place, it would be Haru, Han-byeol hyung, or honestly, me."