Singer Choi Suho revealed the story of how he followed an elite course in gugak and debuted as a trot singer.
On the afternoon of the 21st, Choi Suho held a release commemorative interview for his mini second album "BIG IMPACT" at a cafe in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
This mini second album includes a total of five tracks showcasing diverse charms, including the title track "Keungeoondda." The title track "Keungeoondda" features intense lead sounds and powerful lyrics, and Choi Suho's strong vocals blend well with EDM sounds to deliver an impact to listeners.
Choi Suho was born in Japan and lived there until elementary school, then came to Korea when he entered the National Middle School of Gugak. He then effectively followed the gugak elite course through the National High School of Traditional Korean Arts and the Korea National University of Arts.
When asked whether he had no desire to further pursue his major after following such an elite course, Choi Suho said, "It's embarrassing to call it an elite course, but I went to good schools and learned a lot. Many of my friends around me are amazing. There is a competition where the winner gets military exemption, and more than half of my friends proudly received exemption," adding, "On one hand I also thought it would be nice to win a cool award and receive exemption with my friends, but my motto is 'don't regret it.' I'm doing very well now, so I'm running to find another kind of happiness here."
It was somewhat surprising that he majored in pansori in Japan. To this, Choi Suho recalled, "I also found that part puzzling, but actually I didn't feel any sense of alienation. I attended a Korean school in elementary school, so I had many opportunities to encounter gugak and Korean culture. After-school activity clubs included gugak and dance, and my mother knew from a young age that I wasn't academically strong, so she put all her bets on arts and physical education. I was made to learn folk songs and was so good that I met good teachers, and thinking that studying pansori more professionally would allow me to live in Korea, I practiced diligently."
When asked whether his entire family returned to Korea at that time, Choi Suho explained, "We lived as a family of four in Japan, and my older brother went to university in Korea first. The three of us lived like that, and then I came to Korea for middle school. Because I couldn't go alone, my mother came to Korea with me, and later because of COVID-19 my parents became a split family living apart due to work."
What prompted him to switch from pansori to trot singing? He said, "Although my major was pansori, I really loved singing. It's not an exaggeration to say I learned Hangul through songs; holding a microphone and singing was my dream."
Choi Suho added, "I entered a competition because it was a good opportunity, and my parents were very happy. They liked seeing me on TV singing more than me working hard on pansori and winning competitions. Because my family all liked it, I thought I could show filial piety and make them happy. My two grandmothers' wrinkles disappeared and they became cute."
Earlier, Choi Suho had revealed in an interview with OSEN that he started living alone after living with his older brother until the brother moved to another region. Asked if he had gotten used to living on his own, Choi Suho laughed, "It's only been about two years. I'm very happy," adding, "Sometimes scary things happen and it's frightening, but now that I'm an adult and a man I overcome them on my own, and apart from that everything is good. Cleaning the house is a bit tough, but living alone makes me feel a bit more grown up."
Asked what his personal joys in life are, Choi Suho said, "I really have many hobbies, and I relieve stress and find joy in life through hobbies. I also like snowboarding, and riding helps me refocus and decide to work hard again. My friends seem to be my joy in life. I also go snowboarding with friends."
Choi Suho appeared on "Mr. Trot 2" in 2022 and "King of Singers 2" in 2025, participating in competition programs twice. When asked whether he planned to appear on competition programs again, he explained, "I recently felt a lack of dopamine in my life and asked myself, 'Shall I try a competition one more time?' I appeared on trot programs twice, so I probably won't go on them again. If there's some other fun TV program that can provide another dopamine boost, I might consider it. You never know what might happen."
He succeeded in reaching the top seven in both programs but did not manage to win. Asked if he aimed to be first, Choi Suho said, "I want to, but I don't think I'll enter a competition solely to be first. When you're too greedy the results tend to be worse. You might make mistakes on stage, so I don't think I'll target being first."
When asked if he had plans to promote in Japan, Choi Suho said, "I speak Japanese, so I want to be active in Japan. There's no concrete plan yet, but while doing the 'Korea-Japan king of singers match' I held a concert and the response wasn't bad. Maybe there will be good results."
About plans he definitely wants to achieve in 2026, Choi Suho expressed determination, saying, "I definitely want to hold my first solo concert," and added, "This year is the year of the horse and I'm born in the year of the horse. I'll look straight ahead and run."
Meanwhile, Choi Suho's mini second album "BIG IMPACT" will be released at 6 p.m. on the 23rd.
[Photo] Provided by Pogo Entertainment
[OSEN]