Former SM Entertainment Idol Reveals The “Ugly Truth” Of Celebrity Friendships

The Korean entertainment industry harbors some enviable friendships, like IU and Yoo In Na, Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook, or the popular “Wooga Squad” (BTS’s V, Park Hyung Sik, Park Seo Joon, Choi Wook Sik, and Peakboy). But are all celebrities always as lucky to find real friends among their industry peers? According to a former SM Entertainment artist, it doesn’t always work out in one’s favor.

Brian Joo | Wikitree

Singer Brian Joo, also known by his stage name Brian, was a part of the popular duo Fly To The Sky. He and the other member, Hwanhee, started as K-Pop idols, but their more mature image catapulted them among South Korea’s most popular R&B groups. But as a top artist active since 1999, Brian says he never got around to making solid celebrity friends.

Fly To The Sky’s Hwanhee (left) and Brian (right)| Wikitree

Brian recently appeared on Jang Sung Kyu’s YouTube variety show Breakfast 2. The host went to Brian’s house and chatted over a table full of breakfast foods. When the host asked why Brian settled in Pyeong-taek instead of Seoul, the singer pointed out a few reasons. Firstly, he needs the distance from the bustle of Seoul to truly feel relaxed and at home.

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Secondly, Brian mentioned that the real estate prices in Pyeong-taek were much better than in Seoul. He bought the 1388 square feet apartment for ₩370 million KRW (about $286,000 USD), an unbelievable price that brought out audible gasps from the staff and the host.

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But the less materialistic reason for Brian’s choice was his friends. He mentioned that he has many foreign friends who have also settled in the area and likes to hang out with them in his spare time.

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In contrast, when he previously lived in Seoul, he was not friends with any celebrities, even the ones who lived in his neighborhood.

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Jang was surprised to hear that despite being acquainted with so many celebrities, Brian doesn’t have any celebrity friends. The singer pointed out the reason for this was “too much rivalry.” When he was the busiest, the entertainment industry had intense competition, hindering real friendship.

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Brian then talked about some sour experiences, saying that people previously close to him would switch up if their careers started growing. He recalled that once he met a friend in a waiting room after a long time and tried to greet them happily, but in response, he got told off, “Hyung, these days, we’re different levels.”

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Another instance he mentioned was friends suddenly unfollowing him on Instagram after getting more successful. “Sometimes I wondered, ‘Did I mess up?” Brian said, adding, “I was so shocked. I smiled on the surface.”

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The singer clarified that he knows not all celebrities are the same, but his personal experiences left him so traumatized that he couldn’t develop friendships with his peers anymore.

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