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Shin Jung-hwan, 16 Years After Hiatus, Sees 100 Million Won Monthly Revenue from Restaurant
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Culture & Society

Shin Jung-hwan, 16 Years After Hiatus, Sees 100 Million Won Monthly Revenue from Restaurant

From Dong-A Ilbo · (7m ago) Korean Positive tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Former singer Shin Jung-hwan has revealed his current life running a restaurant in Seoul, achieving a monthly revenue of approximately 100 million won.
  • After a 16-year hiatus following past controversies, he is now pursuing self-employment and online businesses.
  • Shin Jung-hwan also mentioned his involvement in live commerce and group buying, with some products selling nearly 300,000 units.

It's been 16 years since controversy forced Shin Jung-hwan, once a beloved entertainer, out of the public eye. Now, the former singer is making headlines again, not for his music, but for his surprising success as a restaurateur and entrepreneur. His Seoul-based eatery, a modest 35-pyeong establishment, is reportedly pulling in a remarkable 100 million won in monthly revenue, a testament to his resilience and adaptability.

I thought it was my own fault... I made my young days like that myself, so I avoided crowded places for a long time. It became a habit for my parents and acquaintances too.

โ€” Shin Jung-hwanReflecting on the consequences of his past actions and the long period of self-imposed isolation.

Shin Jung-hwan, who debuted 32 years ago and was a prominent figure in groups like Roo'ra and Country Kko Kko, speaks candidly about his past mistakes. He acknowledges that his downfall was 'self-inflicted' and that the long period of self-reflection has brought him humility and a newfound appreciation for life. This period of absence, he notes, taught him that the world continues to turn even without his presence, a humbling realization that has shaped his current perspective.

The restaurant has been open for about a month and a half. The revenue was about 100 million won. We didn't do any promotions. People from the neighborhood are visiting us so much.

โ€” Shin Jung-hwanSharing his surprise and gratitude for the early success of his restaurant.

Beyond the restaurant, Shin Jung-hwan is diversifying his business ventures, venturing into live commerce and group buying. He speaks with enthusiasm about these new challenges, revealing that one product has already sold close to 300,000 units. This multi-faceted approach to his comeback demonstrates a determined effort to rebuild his career and reconnect with the public, not just as a singer, but as a businessman who has learned from his experiences. His journey serves as a narrative of redemption, showing that even after significant public missteps, a path towards a new beginning is possible through hard work and a willingness to evolve.

It's not easy to run a food business... I realized that you can't entrust a business to someone else when you don't know much about it. I was scammed when I was young, but I consider it paying tuition.

โ€” Shin Jung-hwanDiscussing the challenges of the food industry and lessons learned from past business dealings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.