[Interview] Balladeer Kim Hyunseong Returns: "I Worked at a Company, But Never Stopped Singing"

A Ballad Star of the 2000s Releases a New Song After 15 Years
Retired Due to Vocal Nodules...
Inspired by His Wife's Support to Return

Singer Kim Hyunseong is participating in an interview held on the 30th of last month in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Nexstar Entertainment

"I stood in front of the door for a long time. As I looked at the company logo on the recording studio door, I was overwhelmed with emotion at the thought, 'I can sing again.'"

Singer Kim Hyunseong vividly remembered the emotions he felt on the day he recorded a new song for the first time in 15 years. Loved in the early 2000s for songs like "Heaven" and "Wish," he has returned after 15 years with a new single, "Trying to Love Again." When we met him on April 30 at the Nexstar Entertainment building in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, he calmly shared his thoughts on his comeback, saying, "Only now am I truly able to sing again."

Kim Hyunseong left the stage in his late twenties. His vocal cords deteriorated due to vocal nodules, and his physical strength declined severely. He ultimately decided to halt his activities because he judged that it was difficult to maintain his condition. He confessed, "If I kept performing, I would inevitably make mistakes, and in the end, I felt I might lose everything I had built up, so I quietly decided to retire."

Afterward, he joined a regular company and worked as head of marketing and public relations. He worked at a senior food company, visiting nursing hospitals and facilities to introduce meal products and even handled sales. Life at a regular company was not easy for someone who had enjoyed popularity as a ballad star. Meeting people was also burdensome due to the nature of the job.

"There were times when people checked my name and asked, 'Are you really that person?' At one nursing home, the staff member stared at me for a while. They didn't say anything, but their eyes seemed to recognize me. That day, I felt quite out of place. Exhausted from work and unable to recover my voice, I realized it would be difficult to continue both life and music, so I eventually picked up the microphone again."

Although he left the stage, his passion for singing remained. After work, Kim Hyunseong would visit a practice room and train his voice every day. He continued vocal exercises for more than five hours a day for over three years. From the beginning, he did not aim for a comeback. He said, "Rather than wanting to stand on stage again, I had a stronger desire to properly recover my voice."

The recovery was slow. He was later diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia, a condition that cannot be resolved even with surgery, and even domestic vocal coaches could not offer a clear solution. He recalled, "Sometimes I could sing, sometimes I couldn't. I would get better, then worse again. I think I became stronger through that repetition."

Singer Kim Hyunseong is participating in an interview held on the 30th of last month in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Nexstar Entertainment

The strength to endure came from those around him. In particular, his wife, who was his girlfriend at the time, supported him by his side. Having debuted as a singer in the group Badkiz, his wife accompanied Kim Hyunseong throughout his rehabilitation and practice to recover his voice. "When I went to the practice room after work to do vocal exercises alone, she would quietly come and watch over me. Although we were not yet married, we already considered each other life partners, and her support was a great source of strength."

The turning point came with JTBC's "Sing Again 2," which aired in 2021. Composer Cho Youngsoo, who saw Kim Hyunseong perform as Singer No. 43, reached out to him first, saying, "My heart ached watching your performance," and that became the start of their relationship. The two signed an exclusive contract in March 2022 and began preparing for a full-fledged comeback. The day of the demo recording is also an unforgettable memory. He said, "As soon as I started singing, composer Cho quietly turned away, and the CEO began cleaning a flowerpot in silence. At that moment, I resolved to recover, if only for these people."

After about three years of work, the new song "Trying to Love Again" was completed. Composed by Cho Youngsoo and written by Kim Eana, the song expresses Kim Hyunseong's unique delicate emotions and high notes, blending the sensibility of 1990s pop ballads with a modern touch. He also clearly remembered the moment he first heard the demo. "My wife and I received the audio file in the car, but at first, I was so nervous I couldn't bring myself to play it. After hesitating for a long time, I finally pressed play. After listening, neither of us said a word. We were so moved that we were speechless, and that's when it finally hit me: 'This is really the beginning.'"

Currently, his vocal range has recovered to over 80%. He can now perform "Heaven" in its original key without difficulty, thanks to his signature high notes. He said, "I'm more stable than before. As long as I don't overdo it, I can maintain good condition," expressing confidence in the sustainability of his activities. Going forward, he plans to focus more on the depth of his music and the delivery of emotion rather than quick results. He is also gradually planning performances in small theaters and other venues where he can interact directly with fans.

This comeback means more to Kim Hyunseong than a simple return. It is the result of 15 years of absence and recovery, and a process in which he proved to himself that he can sing again. He said, "Standing on stage is now even more precious to me. From now on, I want to find a way to sing healthily for a long time."