Henry Opens Up About Intense Workaholism and Struggles While Moving to the U.S. During the Pandemic

On the March 10 episode of Channel A’s “Table for 4”, singer Henry appears as a guest.  On this day, actor Kim Soo-ro, broadcaster Sam Hammington, and TV personality Sayuri, who are close with Henry, also gather.

Here, Henry reminisces about the past with his longtime friends, recalling how he struggled with military jargon and culture as a foreigner and even had to take an ice plunge in the middle of winter. He also humorously confesses that he once tried to escape harsh filming conditions by secretly sneaking into a Korean sauna without his manager and production team’s knowledge, only to be caught and brought back. Afterward, Henry expresses his gratitude toward Kim Soo-ro and Sam Hammington, saying that their support at the time kept him from giving up, which ultimately shaped who he is today.  

The four friends also update each other on their lives. In particular, Sam Hammington and Sayuri have entered a new chapter of life as parents, while Kim Soo-ro has been running a theater production company for nine years, actively performing as an actor and producer.

During the show, Henry opened up about the challenges he faced after moving to the United States during the pandemic and how his perspective on work has changed since then.

Henry revealed, “I went to the U.S. during the pandemic, and for a year, I lived like a slave.” He recalled being deeply impressed by the sound systems used on American stages, particularly by Kanye West, whom he considered the best in the industry. Determined to learn from the best, he reached out to Kanye’s sound engineer – but was ignored for an entire month.

However, upon discovering that the engineer had a background in violin, Henry found a way to connect with him, emphasizing their shared musical experience. This led to an opportunity where he spent four to five months learning sound engineering techniques. He impresses his friends with his exceptional violin performance and singing, showcasing his musical genius.  

Henry showcased his cable-coiling skills, impressing Kim Soo-ro and Sam Hammington, who jokingly asked if he had met Kanye. Laughing, he admitted he hadn’t.

Now in his mid-30s, Henry opens up about his concerns, saying, “I work 364 days a year, but I don’t even know what I’m working so hard for.” A self-proclaimed workaholic who works 364 days a year, Henry shared his realization that he had only seen his family five times in the past ten years. “Even when I put ‘Call my family’ as the top priority on my to-do list, I still don’t get around to doing it,” he said regretfully.

Hearing this, his fellow foreign broadcasters, Sam Hammington and Sayuri, offer advice based on their own experiences. Sam emphasizes the importance of work-life balance and encourages Henry to make time for himself. Sayuri adds, “Life is like a crosswalk. There are times to move forward and times to stop,” comforting Henry with her words.

Kim Soo-ro also weighed in, emphasizing the need to invest time in personal happiness. “Interacting with people and enjoying various activities is key to mental well-being,” he said. However, he also bluntly pointed out Henry’s emotional instability, noting, “You swing from being overly excited to utterly hopeless. That’s a problem. You need a reality check.”