Former Girl Group Member Turned Trot Singer Faces Humiliation with Zero Audience at Concert
On May 20 at 10 PM (KST), TV CHOSUN’s Dad and Me will feature So Myeong, the 38-year veteran trot singer behind the beloved hit “Bye Bye,” alongside his daughter So Yumi.
So Yumi, who debuted as an idol, relaunched her career as a trot singer in 2015 and has been following in her father’s footsteps for a decade. However, she expressed frustration with her father, saying, “Dad is very ambitious about work and has high standards for dreams. No matter how hard I try, it’s never ‘enough’ by his standards. He doesn’t acknowledge my efforts or empathize with me.”
In particular, So Yumi has always been labeled as “So Myeong’s daughter” rather than being recognized for her own name. Whether at performances or elsewhere, her father’s story always takes precedence. While So Yumi takes pride in being So Myeong’s daughter, she also feels burdened by it. Ultimately, she declared, “I want to challenge myself as my own person, without relying on Dad’s help,” and decided to hold her first-ever solo concert in Japan, a milestone she hadn’t achieved even in Korea.
Arriving alone in Japan, So Yumi said, “Since this is my solo concert, I wanted to do it myself,” and took to the streets to promote it. However, passersby ignored her, leading to moments of humiliation. Still, So Yumi remained resilient, stating, “The concert is in a few hours, so there’s no time to feel hurt.”
Yet, 30 minutes before the concert, the audience seats remained completely empty. A venue staff member warned, “There have been cases with zero audience members. If no one shows up, the concert will have to be canceled,” heightening So Yumi’s anxiety. So Yumi remarked, “Can it be this quiet? It’s completely still…” but continued to warm up her voice and rehearse, masking her unease. Watching a preview clip, host Jeon Hyun-moo said, “What do we do? I can’t watch this,” expressing his sympathy, while So Myeong appeared visibly tense.
So Yumi debuted in 2010 as a member of the girl group Kiss & Cry, known for its strong vocalists. After the group disbanded, she transitioned to trot music in 2015, capitalizing on her father’s legacy and her own vocal talent.
As the daughter of So Myeong, a renowned trot singer, So Yumi has faced challenges in establishing her own identity, often overshadowed by her father’s fame. But her courage to define her own path and risk failure publicly adds depth to her journey as both an artist and individual. Fans will be watching closely to see whether her solo concert succeeds, and whether So Myeong finally recognizes her not just as his daughter, but as an artist in her own right.
