On April 26, Korean outlet MK reported on the difficult life of Baby J, a former member of the legendary girl group Jewelry. The singer recently appeared as a guest on a YouTube channel run by the wife of footballer Hwang Soon Min, where she candidly opened up about her current struggles.

During the appearance, Baby J revealed that she is currently unemployed again. She shared her daily routine of self-motivation, saying she repeats affirmations every morning in hopes of turning her life around. Despite keeping a positive mindset, she admitted uncertainty about when she might achieve financial stability.

Her hardships are not new. While competing as a contestant on Show Me The Money, Baby J broke down in tears as she spoke about her life after leaving Jewelry. She revealed that she had taken on part-time jobs at a pizza shop and a clothing store just to make ends meet. Watching her peers succeed while she struggled deeply affected her confidence and emotional well-being.

She also expressed feelings of isolation, noting that while other former Jewelry members continued to appear on television, she was rarely given opportunities in the entertainment industry.

In a previous YouTube talk show appearance, Baby J disclosed that she had been unable to secure any work in entertainment for a long time. As a result, she took a job at a café, working 8 to 9 hours a day for minimum wage—around 1 million won per month. She even quit at one point but later had to reapply for the same position after failing to find other opportunities.

Despite these setbacks, Baby J has not given up on her passion for performing. She shared that she has actively reached out to agencies, asking for any kind of work, but has yet to receive any responses. “In this industry, if you don’t have work, you’re forced to step away,” she said, expressing both frustration and determination.

Looking back on her peak years, Baby J couldn’t hide her bittersweet emotions. She recalled how, during Jewelry’s prime, the group would attend up to six or seven events a day, sometimes even traveling by helicopter to keep up with their packed schedules. Their days were a whirlwind of performances across cities like Daegu, Jeonju, and Busan, repeating nonstop for an entire year.

Baby J rose to fame when Jewelry released the massive hit “One More Time” in 2008—a song that became a nationwide sensation in South Korea and earned a Daesang at the 23rd Golden Disc Awards. At the time, the track was played everywhere, cementing the group’s place in K-pop history.

Born in 1986, Baby J joined Jewelry at the age of 22 and stood out as one of the few female rappers with a bright, high-tone voice. Known for her versatility, she combined a sexy image with a trendy “swag” style that matched her hip-hop performances. She is also the daughter of actor Ha Jae Young.

After leaving Jewelry in 2014, Baby J attempted to revive her career through shows like Show Me The Money 5 and Unpretty Rapstar 3, but neither appearance led to significant success. Since then, her career has steadily declined.

Sources: K14