Born in 1990, Kang Hye-yeon, now 34, is in her sixth year as a trot singer.
She has won over many fans with her cute appearance, earning the nickname “Trot Squirrel”.
She cited an elementary school visit to the Inha University festival as the moment that sparked her dream of becoming a singer.
At that time, after seeing singer Maya passionately perform on stage, she decided to pursue a singing career. She began preparing for the practical music department entrance exam since high school and challenged herself by entering various singing contests and competitions.
She particularly gained attention when she won the gold prize at the Bupyeong Youth Song Festival by singing Mariah Carey’s “Hero”, earning the nickname “Bupyeong Jang Yun-jeong”.
After two years of various part-time jobs while continuing her trainee life, Kang Hye-yeon debuted as an original member of EXID but experienced the pain of leaving the team just two months later.
After a year of reorganization, she re-debuted as a member of BESTie.
The group was initially praised as a talented girl group, but after long hiatuses and member departures, the group faced a crisis. Eventually, due to financial difficulties at the agency, the group disbanded, and Kang Hye-yeon ended her idol career.
After finishing her idol life and contemplating her future, Kang Hye-yeon decided to make a fresh start as a trot singer, inspired by the trot songs she had sung during her group activities.
In 2021, she appeared on TV Chosun’s “Miss Trot” and finished in 8th place, re-establishing her presence with the public.
Thanks to her outstanding vocal talent and lovely appearance, she earned the nickname “Trot Squirrel”.
She subsequently released her first full-length album “Sunday Hye-yeon” and held solo concerts, continuing her active career and entering a new peak in her life.
In February, during the second round of the finals of MBN’s “King of Singers”, she chose to sing Shin Haeng-il’s “Bring Back Youth”, reminiscing about her girl group days. She expressed her feelings of gratitude and apology toward her parents, which resonated deeply with many people.
She shared, “My parents gave me a lot of support. When I was in the girl groups, I had no income, and the final settlement showed a debt of over 100 million won. My parents sacrificed their youth for me, and I want to repay that kindness.”
Source: Daum
