On the June 7 broadcast of KBS1’s Back to the Music 2, MCs So Chan Whee and Shin Yu welcomed Pearl as a guest. During the episode, the singer reflected on her hit song “I Will Survive” and the story behind its success.
The track, a remake of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” featured lyrics written by Park Jin Young and arrangement by Bang Si Hyuk. Looking back, Pearl recalled, “Park Jin Young told me the lyrics were written rather casually and asked me to just give it a try. But I actually liked it—it felt like the lyrics were originally meant to be that way.”
She also revealed that the song was not initially planned as the title track. According to Pearl, composer Yoon Myung Sun, known for the hit “Oh My Goodness,” strongly pushed for the song to become the lead single.
As the first singer signed under JYP Entertainment, Pearl reflected on her early days with the agency. She shared, “At first, I participated in recording Park Jin Young’s song ‘Shall We Love?’ A few months later, he told me to prepare for television appearances because he had filming schedules. That was when I started feeling like something had changed between us.” Eventually, Park Jin Young took charge of producing her debut album.
Pearl then candidly explained why she decided to leave JYP. “When I was there, JYP didn’t even have its famous signboard yet. But around the time I left, the company was growing rapidly. Park Ji Yoon and RYANG-HYUN RYANG-HA joined, and everyone became very busy,” she said. “I started feeling like I was being left behind and thought maybe I needed to do something for myself. I wanted to study, so I decided to become independent.”
Her decision eventually led to a major academic achievement—Pearl was accepted into Berklee College of Music on a full four-year scholarship.
However, the transition was not easy. She admitted that because she had been singing since childhood, she did not fully understand real-world financial challenges. “I didn’t even realize how much money studying abroad would require,” she confessed. In a rush, she signed with a new agency, but the relationship soon turned into a legal dispute.
“The agency wanted me to be constantly active as a singer,” Pearl explained. “After signing the contract, we started having disagreements over activities. Trust issues also emerged.” Looking back, she said she regretted not simply going abroad and working part-time while studying.
The conflict escalated into a lawsuit, and to make matters worse, her lawyer reportedly disappeared after taking legal fees. Forced to prepare her case alone, Pearl immersed herself in legal studies and even passed the first stage of law school entrance exams.
“I went to English academies in the morning, worked part-time as a vocal instructor, studied for law school exams again, and worked as a radio DJ at night,” she recalled. “I lived like that for at least seven years—almost ten.”
Today, Pearl has built a new chapter in academia. She revealed that she is currently a professor in the New Media Music Department at Sangmyung University. “I still remember the expressions on my students’ faces during my first special lecture,” she said. “After teaching, I realized there was a whole different world, and that sparked my interest in education.” She added that she began as a part-time lecturer in 2005 and has now spent 21 years teaching.
Recently, Pearl also received an award for Best Academic Paper and shared that she is passionately involved in an alumni choir, continuing to nurture her love for music in a different way.
Sources: Daum
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