Trot star Kim Yong-bin has confessed that he couldnât read a single character until he was nine years old â because he was too busy falling in love with singing.
The singer opened up about his surprising past on the October 11 broadcast of KBS2âs variety show âBossâs Ears Are Donkey Earsâ (episode 376), where he appeared as a guest.
Kim revealed that he would memorize entire songs after hearing them just once or twice, then sing along while appearing to read the lyrics. His incredible memory meant even his own parents never realized he couldnât read. âAt nine, youâre supposed to know how to read, but at nine I didnât know how,â he admitted.
âMy parents didnât even know I couldnât read,â he continued. âThey thought I was reading the lyrics while singing, but I had just memorized the whole song.â
Host Jeon Hyun-moo also praised the singerâs massive popularity, calling him âthe trend of trends in trot right now.â Kim shyly acknowledged his star power, revealing that at the peak of his fandomâs fervor, around 70 fan buses showed up to follow him to an event.
The episode offered a rare glimpse into how the trot singerâs childhood passion turned into a career â one built on a memory so sharp it fooled everyone around him.
