[Exclusive]"Paid off 7 billion won in debt and felt empty"... Lee Sang-min, decided to produce an idol group thanks to his wife [★22nd Anniversary FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

After surviving as a broadcaster while battling debts of around 7 billion won, and finally clearing all obligations, he welcomed another chapter of life through marriage. Lee Sang-min, who has been running non-stop since his days with the group Rula, has set new goals once again. Aiming for a debut next year, he is diving into idol production to test his limits yet again.

Meeting Lee Sang-min on the occasion of StarNews' 22nd anniversary, he opened up about his past, present, and future plans.

Lee Sang-min's broadcasting career initially began as a life-and-death struggle against debt. Due to a failed business venture, corporate debts were transferred entirely to him personally, and when his first broadcast appearance fee was seized, he learned of the staggering 7 billion won in debt too late. Rather than hiding it, he chose to face it head-on. While serving as MC for Channel A's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," he publicly disclosed his debt situation and, instead of declaring bankruptcy or seeking rehabilitation, declared that he would strive to repay it all the way through, garnering public support.

Subsequently, Lee Sang-min had no qualms about using his debt as material for variety shows. Instead, he revealed his situation as it was, gradually building a character on screen. In this process, he expressed gratitude toward fellow comedian Kim Hee-cheol, who coined the term "debt-ridden man."

Referencing JTBC's "Knowing Bros," he explained, "'Knowing Bros' has a concept of using informal speech, so (Kim) Hee-cheol's line 'despite being debt-ridden' was expressed very humorously and became a character.' He added, 'Actually, the 'debt-ridden man' character was created by Hee-cheol,' and stated that he is grateful to him for it.

Lee Sang-min also had clear criteria and principles for surviving in long-running variety shows. He said he brings a different sense of presence to each program. Lee Sang-min revealed, "I interpret and distribute my own sense of presence differently for each program." He continued, "In SBS's 'We Are the Best,' I am the protagonist of the episodes I appear in, but in 'Knowing Bros,' I take on a supporting role from the very back row."

He emphasized, "Just because I receive a lot of love in one program doesn't mean my position should change to the back row in 'Knowing Bros.'" He added, "While maintaining the character I've built at that spot, even if I show only 15% of myself, it can make 'Knowing Bros' feel like 100%, and during my episodes on 'We Are the Best,' I must show 100% presence, so I approach each program accordingly."

There were also criteria for selecting programs. Lee Sang-min said, "I set the standard that I must be curious, have something to learn, or find joy, which is why all my programs become long-running and seasons continue to be produced."

The presence of colleagues who accompanied him during the process of paying off his debt was also a great source of strength. Lee Sang-min said, "The closest people are the colleagues I converse with inside the camera," adding, "It was so good to talk face-to-face with Kang Ho-dong, Seo Jang-hoon, Lee Su-geun, Kim Hee-cheol, and others. Sometimes when (Kang) Ho-dong hugged me and told me to cheer up, it was a huge help. The encouragement from colleagues like Shin Dong-yup, Kim Gura, Haha, and others became a major driving force."

Recalling that period, he revealed that the joy of working outweighed the difficult memories. Lee Sang-min said, "I would leave at 4 a.m. and return at 2 a.m. I recorded up to four programs in a day, and on busy weeks, I did as many as twelve." He added, "The situation of continuously paying off (the debt) was so happy that I just kept working for no reason."

Thus, after working tirelessly and finally clearing all long-standing debts, unexpected worries soon arose. This was because the goal that had driven him for so long had disappeared. Lee Sang-min confessed, "Actually, the time when I paid off all my debt was the hardest. With one goal gone, I struggled with the worry of 'what is my next goal?'"

In response, Lee Sang-min found a new goal to push himself again. The answer was "idol production." He said, "It is as painful as paying off debt, and there are quite a few financial aspects that require much struggle with reality. I thought this level of goal would be enough to torment me once again, so I decided to produce an idol group."

Having made up his mind to produce an idol group, he immediately started working on "Song Camp" and began track production. Lee Sang-min said, "Our goal is a debut in June next year," adding, "The members have been tentatively confirmed and are currently practicing, and a business trip for the Japanese member audition is also scheduled for next month." He continued, "We have completed the first round of track production with one German composer and two American composers, and the musical quality is truly excellent." Regarding the new group's concept, he explained, "I can only say that it has two LINEs within one team. The final number of members is fluid."

Lee Sang-min also expressed his intention to try something new in his own way rather than simply following the methods of large agencies. Based on his past experience planning various groups such as Rula, Diva, and Sharkla, he is determined to create trends once again this time.

He emphasized, "If you think you can't do it now because the environment isn't good, you'll never be able to do it in your lifetime. A singer must change the flow and trends of the music industry to succeed."

Behind this bold challenge lies the psychological stability he found by starting a family last year.

Lee Sang-min remarried in April last year when he registered his marriage with a non-celebrity woman 10 years younger than him. Now, one year after getting married, he revealed that his life has changed significantly while living daily with his wife. Regarding his wife, he said, "She has a very strong personality; she is someone who really bothers me too much," but added, "But that bother is such a grateful kind of bother that she is a very significant presence in my life."

When asked about the biggest difference between living alone and his current life, he pointed to "a regular lifestyle." Lee Sang-min recalled, "When I lived alone, I didn't need rules, so on days without schedules, I could lie in bed at home all day. It was a life where I could turn on music emotionally, have a drink from noon, and spend the day like that." He continued, "Back then, when I was alone, I wouldn't go out, but now I do. Because of my wife, I am going out, and my life has become regular."

His wife asking for his opinions and discussing daily life together initially felt bothersome to him as well. However, Lee Sang-min said, "Living together, it's natural to ask questions, naturally discuss things, and naturally ask about thoughts regarding me," adding, "That makes me feel 'I am truly alive.'"

He further stated, "Once I actually come out, it's good, but until then, I lived thinking home was better. That life has been completely changed. She is making the closed-off, quiet me into someone who talks a lot and is changing everything." He also described his wife as "the only person who can change me."

His wife's realistic personality also influenced Lee Sang-min's decision-making style. He revealed that in the past, he couldn't make decisions quickly, often pondering things he wouldn't do for months, and even things he would eventually do were delayed by long hesitation. But now it is different. He said, "At most, it seems to take no more than two days," adding, "Really, most things are decided within one hour or two hours." He continued, "My wife talks to me in a very realistic and calculated way. I add my own thoughts to that and make decisions."

Especially in the process of challenging idol production again, his wife played a significant role. Lee Sang-min said it took him four to five months to decide on producing an idol group, noting, "If it were me back then, it would have taken one or two years, maybe three or four years," and added, "Without my wife, I probably wouldn't have been able to reach a conclusion easily."

Having cleared all his debts, Lee Sang-min is once again testing his limits as a producer. He also expressed his intention to repay the fans who have watched over him for a long time in his own way.

He pledged, "Thanks to those who loved me so much, I was able to stand up again, and I will absolutely never show you the sight of me falling down again."

Lee Sang-min said, "I will do my best to work so that I can emit my talents and be told, 'Indeed, Lee Sang-min, whom we supported, is a very good friend,'" adding, "Being evaluated as 'Lee Sang-min is still alive' or 'He hasn't died yet' is my current goal."

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*This content was translated by AI.