Idol-Turned-Actress Reveals The Real Reason She Debuted In A K-Pop Girl Group

Girl group SEEYA member Nam Gyuri, now better known as an actress with a growing filmography, candidly shared the severe financial hardships she endured as a child and revealed the decisive moment that led her to dream of becoming a K-Pop idol.

The idol-turned-actress appeared in the February 7, 2026 (KST) episode of the “Let’s Eat” YouTube show on the kkondaehee channel. During the episode, she recalled, “When I was in the lower grades of elementary school, my family’s situation suddenly became very difficult due to my father’s business failing.”

There were three daughters and one son in our family—six of us in total. We all lived huddled together in a single-room home, and there was always just one reason we fought: money. Aside from that, we were actually very happy, but money was always the problem.

— Nam Gyuri

Nam Gyuri went on to say, “When I was in second or third grade, I remember thinking in my childish way, ‘What can I do to buy a house for my family?’ Then one day, during a school sports festival, a teacher asked me to sing and dance. I ended up going out without much thought and danced to Two Two’s ‘One and a Half,’ and after that, I became a popular star at school.”

That then became Nam Gyuri’s “dream.”

Teachers would call on me every time there was a school trip or an event. That’s when I started thinking, ‘If I sing and become a singer and make money, our whole family can live happily.’ That was how I decided to pursue a career as a singer.

— Nam Gyuri

Fortunately, her incredible vocal skills enabled her to chase that dream and make it come true. Nam Gyuri made her debut in 2006 as a member of the girl group SEEYA, gaining immense popularity for her exceptional voice and doll-like visuals. She has since transitioned into acting and has appeared in a handful of popular K-Dramas, including 49 Days, Cruel City, and Kairos.

Watch the full episode here: