Singer Kim Yeon-ja shared her story of returning home broke after her divorce.
On the September 30 broadcast of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block,' Kim Yeon-ja appeared as a guest.
Having dominated the Japanese music scene for over 20 years, Kim has performed in various countries, including Brazil, Cuba, and Russia.
In response to a question from host Yoo Jae-suk about not receiving any performance fees for her overseas shows, she said, "It turned into a charity show. I earned a lot in Japan."
She recounted an incident during a performance in Hanoi where an instrument broke, and when she offered to fix it, it led to a free concert, explaining the circumstances that resulted in the free performance.
Kim revealed that she entrusted her ex-husband with 1 billion won in earnings but returned home with nothing. "I didn’t keep track of the money; I just focused on singing. My ex-husband was also the president of my company, so he managed all the finances for my overseas charity performances and the costs in Japan," she said.
She added, "I never asked how much I earned or how much he had."
Kim Yeon-ja married a second-generation Korean resident in Japan, who is 18 years her senior, in 1982 and divorced in 2012.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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