The Struggles of Korean Trot Singer Park Seo-jin and Lessons for Society
Recently, Korean trot singer Park Seo-jin shared a deeply personal and painful story on KBS2’s reality show, "Mr. House Husband 2."
He revealed the reasons behind his attempt at taking his own life, shedding light on the psychological and societal pressures many individuals face today.
Park’s story is not just his own but a reflection of wider societal issues and serves as a crucial talking point for mental health awareness.
Park detailed the hardships he endured as a young musician learning the traditional Korean drum, wandering through market towns to perform. He endured verbal abuse from his seniors and cruel comments online from fans.
These experiences pushed him into a state of despair, culminating in a suicide attempt. Park’s father revealed the harrowing aftermath, mentioning, “Seo-jin once took pills. I was terrified of losing him, especially after already losing two sons.”
Even Park’s father faced mental health struggles, experiencing depression as the family grappled with these immense challenges.

Korean singer Park Seo-jin sheds light on his painful past.
Societal Pressure and Personal Pain
Park’s story goes beyond the entertainment industry. It underscores the sometimes invisible yet overwhelming societal pressures many people endure.
It also highlights the cruel intersections of public criticism, high expectations, and personal vulnerability.
His journey gives voice to those who silently struggle and raises critical questions about how society can better address such issues.
Insights from Experts
"Park Seo-jin’s experience is not merely an issue within the entertainment industry. It reflects the psychological burdens and societal problems experienced by many in our modern world. Addressing these concerns requires collective effort and recognition that they’re not individual problems but societal ones." - Professor Lee Ho-jun
Professor Lee emphasizes the interconnectedness of social pressures and personal suffering. He calls for a collective, societal approach to tackling issues related to mental health and emotional well-being.
According to Professor Lee, recognizing these as societal issues, rather than isolating them as individual failures, is key to finding solutions.
Solutions and Lessons
Park Seo-jin’s story offers significant takeaways for society.
To combat mental health crises and emotional distress effectively, a concerted effort is needed across all sectors of society. Recognizing the issue as communal rather than individual is essential.
This calls for increased dialogue, openness about mental health, and systemic changes that lessen the weight of societal expectations and negative interactions, whether online or offline.
Park’s courage in openly sharing his experiences allows us to explore how we, as a society, can better support individuals facing similar challenges.
Reflections on Park Seo-jin’s Painful Revelation
- Trot singer Park Seo-jin recently opened up about his struggles and attempted suicide, brought about by a mix of psychological and environmental pressures.
- This revelation aired on KBS2’s reality program "Mr. House Husband 2" and highlighted the personal and familial difficulties he faced.
- During his early career performing in markets, Park was subjected to harsh criticism from seniors and disheartening online comments from fans, leading to a suicide attempt.
- Park's father disclosed, “Seo-jin took pills once. I feared losing him after already losing my two other sons.”
- Park cited immense pressure to succeed quickly, coupled with painful remarks from fans accusing him of "disgracing the art of trot," as catalysts for his struggles.
- The family, affected deeply by these events, sought professional counseling. Park’s father, diagnosed with symptoms of depression, is also undergoing therapy.
- Due to mental health challenges, Park was exempted from military service in his early twenties. However, some recent statements he made have sparked controversy among audiences regarding his sincerity.