Apink Yoon Bo-mi's Husband, Rado, Recalls Pre-Debut Struggles: 'Four of Us Shared One Meal for Three Days'

Rado (real name Song Ju-young 송주영), the renowned music producer and husband of Yoon Bo-mi (윤보미) from K-pop girl group Apink, initially pursued a career as a singer. In 2009, he joined the four-member male R&B group Someday, performing under his birth name, Ju-young, alongside members Han Hyun-hee (한현희), Jung Se-young (정세영), and Jung Won-kyu (정원규). Someday gained attention shortly after their debut for singing “Do You Know” (아시나요), an original soundtrack (OST) for the KBS drama Boys Over Flowers. They released their first full-length album, Someday, in March of the same year.

Despite initial buzz, the members faced significant financial hardship. After Someday disbanded, Rado abandoned his singing career to focus on songwriting, gradually transitioning into a composer, lyricist, and producer. In 2014, he formed the production duo Black Eyed Pilseung with composer Choi Kyu-sung (최규성), creating hit songs for artists such as TWICE, SISTAR, Apink, and Chungha. Today, Rado is not only a prominent music producer in the Korean music scene but also the chief producer at High Up Entertainment.

Recently, Rado appeared on the KBS2 variety show Happy Together – Happy Because I’m Not Alone. For the episode, he temporarily set aside his identity as a “famous producer” and revisited his past as the youngest member of Someday, sharing the bittersweet stories of pursuing his dream 17 years ago.

Someday’s debut track, “Do You Know” from the Boys Over Flowers OST, topped the BGM chart on a Korean mini-homepage, bringing the group attention. However, the song's popularity did not improve the members' financial situation. Leader Jung Se-young revealed that during their activities, they had “almost no income” and even had to economize on stage outfits, stating, “We exchanged clothes, taking turns wearing shirts and pants.”

Rado recalled that even basic meals were a struggle. He confessed, “The four of us shared one meal, and we ate it for three days.” Even more heartbreaking, he shared an incident where a burglar broke into their home but left without taking anything after witnessing their living conditions.

Recalling those days, Rado admitted, “We were so hungry and struggled so much back then that we decided to disband just to survive.” As he spoke, his eyes welled up with tears, moving the other guests on set.

After Someday’s disbandment, Rado decided to give up his singing career and move behind the scenes into production. He expressed with emotion, “I desperately wanted to succeed back then, but no one knew.” Reflecting on the days when his efforts yielded no results, he said with teary eyes, “That’s when I realized that some things, no matter how hard I tried, might still be impossible.”

From chasing a singer’s dream on stage to becoming a renowned music producer today, Rado’s 17-year musical journey has been long, and he still feels a sense of poignancy looking back at his past choices.

Another highlight of the program was Someday’s reunion after 17 years, marking their first performance on a major Korean terrestrial television network. The members, who once struggled to sing despite difficult living conditions, have now embarked on vastly different paths: some are office workers, while others are composers and producers.

Stepping onto the stage again after 17 years, Someday recreated their Y2K style, and the familiar melodies filled the air with nostalgia. The members’ reflections on their past and their return to the stage they once dreamed of moved guests like Yoo Jae-suk (유재석), Jang Hang-jun (장항준), Yoon Jong-shin (윤종신), and Ahn Eun-jin (안은진) to tears.

Someday’s 17-year story and reunion performance will be revealed on the KBS2 program Happy Together – Happy Because I’m Not Alone, airing on the 4th. The show broadcasts every Friday at 8:30 PM KST.

Beyond his music career, Rado’s personal life has also garnered significant attention. He and Yoon Bo-mi grew close while working together on Apink’s 2016 title track “Only One”. Their relationship blossomed into romance, and they began dating in April 2017. After their relationship was revealed in April 2024, the couple openly acknowledged their romance, officially going public.

After approximately nine years of dating, the couple married in May of this year. From a struggling unknown singer who once fought to eat, to a renowned producer now married to Yoon Bo-mi after years of love, Rado’s life has indeed written a completely different chapter.