Insooni Reflects on Her Struggles as a Biracial Artist and Overcoming Adversity
On December 8, 2024, MBC's program 'Heartfelt Speakers' (심장을 울려라 강연자들) featured veteran singer Insooni (인순이), who opened up about her challenging past. During her talk titled 'Accidental Challenges,' Insooni shared her journey as a biracial individual with a Korean mother and an American father, revealing the struggles she faced growing up.
Insooni recounted her experience of feeling lost due to her mixed heritage, stating, "I often wondered, where do I belong? My mother is Korean, my father is American, but where does that leave me?" She also reflected on her financial hardships, which prevented her from receiving her middle school diploma, saying, "I couldn't even pay the school fees to graduate. I had to save up for months to get my diploma later."
The singer discussed her determination to challenge herself, recalling her participation in a fitness competition in 2015 during the MERS outbreak. "I found myself sitting on the couch, eating and watching TV. I realized I needed to do something, so I set a goal to compete in a fitness contest by my birthday the following year." Insooni emphasized how this experience helped her confront her insecurities, particularly about her body image.
Insooni also shared her recent journey on the Camino de Santiago, where she walked approximately 800 kilometers over 36 days. "I thought I would be shedding emotional burdens, but instead, I found joy in connecting with others and expressing my feelings. The word that resonated with me was 'gratitude.' I was thankful to be alive."
Additionally, she spoke about her involvement in 'Golden Girls,' expressing her excitement about the opportunity. "When my fellow members asked if I would join, I immediately said yes. I practiced diligently, thinking, 'If I try 100 times and fail, then that's my limit, but if I succeed, then I can do it.'"
Insooni also discussed her initiative, Haemil School, a multicultural institution in Hongcheon that she founded to support students from diverse backgrounds. "I wanted to create a space for children who might feel lost like I did during my adolescence. We started with six students, and now we have 56, with 60% being multicultural. I want to tell them that being multicultural is not a burden but a unique strength."
Her final challenge was to obtain her high school diploma, which she felt was necessary to set an example for her students. "I realized I was telling my students to study while I hadn’t completed my own education. I wanted to experience the feeling of graduating high school and share that pride with my daughter."
Insooni concluded her talk with heartfelt advice, saying, "There is a right time for everything. Do what you can now, and don’t be afraid to fail. You have plenty of time to rise again. Don’t miss your moment."
