Singer Jin Shimon's Journey Through Life's Trials

On December 12, singer Jin Simon (진시몬) appeared on MBN's Special Report (특종세상), sharing his tumultuous life story following the recent loss of his youngest son. Jin, who rose to fame shortly after his debut, revealed that despite his initial success, he struggled with financial difficulties. He recalled, "I started out of loyalty to my teacher, without even signing a contract. It was a serious mental struggle, wondering what my future would hold."

After facing hardships, Jin ventured into business, collaborating with a classmate to create a toothbrush sterilizer and toothpaste dispenser. He shared, "The response was good, but I was scammed when they asked for 2,500 units without upfront cash, promising profits instead. I ended up with around 700 million KRW in debt and had to work various jobs to pay it off."

After seven years of repaying his debts, Jin returned to music, making a comeback in the trot genre with his self-composed song "A Friend Like Medicine" (보약같은 친구), which marked a new peak in his career.

Tragically, three months ago, Jin lost his youngest son, who passed away from a heart attack at the age of 26 in the Philippines. Jin expressed the profound shock of this loss, stating, "I couldn't speak for a while. It was incredibly hard to accept that something like this could happen to me. I try to stay busy, but when I'm alone, the memories come flooding back. I still can't believe it."

Jin also opened up about his struggles with depression stemming from years of being a long-distance father and the ongoing separations from his family, which ultimately led to his divorce. He later reconnected with his eldest son, who became an international lawyer after studying abroad. Jin shared his concerns with his son, saying, "After losing the youngest, I found myself relying on you more than ever. I worry constantly, and I’ve developed a trauma that I never had before. If you don’t answer my calls, my heart races. Life can change in an instant."

Returning to his mother’s home, Jin prepared for a foot bath, reflecting on the deep bond he shares with her. His mother expressed her feelings, saying, "Sometimes it feels like you’re the only one on my side in this world. You need to live a long time because if you’re gone, I’ll struggle too."