Lee Chan-won Reveals Fear of Being Abandoned During Preparations for Final

Trot singer Lee Chan-won revealed that he feared being abandoned during a singing competition and sometimes kept his worries to himself to spare his family concern. A video released by TV CHOSUN MUSIC follows his song selection ahead of the final and the conversations with his parents that helped him steady himself.

Lee Chan-won said that even when he was enjoying himself, being left alone could bring a fear of abandonment. His parents, meanwhile, described their own worries and a sense of being left out when they saw how extensively other contestants’ parents had prepared. They felt they had not been able to support him enough.

Wanting their son to live an ordinary life, his parents said they had advised him, “Don’t work in entertainment,” rather than offering a hopeful outlook on his future as a singer.

A father's suggestions for the final

Introducing himself as someone who had come from Daegu and devoted 24 years to trot, Lee Chan-won described how earnestly he had approached the competition. Being evaluated by the masters had once been a dream of his.

Unable to decide what to sing for the final, Lee Chan-won called his father and sought his opinion on several candidates: “Miun Sane” by Yoo Jin-a, “18-se Suin” by Na Hoon-a, “Mangguseok” by Kim Tae-gon, “Thousand-Year Rock” by Park Jeong-sik and “Chilgapsal” by Joo Byeong-seon.

His father's suggestions included “Jjinttobaegi” and “Let Me Cry.” Considering his son's disposition, he advised choosing a song that would allow Lee Chan-won to produce a “pal-se” sound. He also encouraged him to enjoy the process itself.

A mother's request for “Balsam Flower Romance”

A video call with his mother, arranged to ease the tension at the competition venue, gave Lee Chan-won emotional support. She could not attend in person because of the COVID-19 situation and greeted him over the call instead. Lee Chan-won told her he missed her and promised to return to Daegu when the situation calmed down.

His mother asked for “Balsam Flower Romance,” a song Lee Chan-won usually enjoyed, and he performed it for her. After singing, he thanked his parents for raising him with care and expressed his wish to give them a happy path ahead.

Source: TVCHOSUN MUSIC (YouTube)