SEOUL — Life after K-pop is looking very different for Hyunmin, the former ARrC member who has gone viral after revealing how he is rebuilding his life following the group’s disbandment.
At just 22, Hyunmin has traded the idol stage for a dramatically different routine. He told Yonhap News TV that he is currently juggling around four part-time jobs, including regular part-time work as well as shifts at a logistics center and construction sites.
Yet rather than describing the transition solely as a setback, Hyunmin said the experience has given him an unexpected sense of freedom and control over his own life.
ARrC’s Journey Ended Less Than Two Years After Debut
Hyunmin debuted as a member of ARrC, a seven-member boy group managed by MYSTIC STORY, in August 2024.
The group featured Hyunmin alongside Andy, Choi Han, Doha, Jibeen, Kien and Rioto.
But in June 2026, MYSTIC STORY announced that ARrC’s group activities would officially conclude. The agency said the decision followed discussions with the members, who would each pursue their own paths.
For Hyunmin, the end of ARrC meant confronting life outside the tightly structured world of idol promotions.
He had spent roughly one year and 10 months promoting as an idol before beginning a very different chapter.
From Idol Promotions to Four Part-Time Jobs
Hyunmin has since taken on multiple jobs while trying to establish a more ordinary and stable routine.
He said he currently has two regular part-time jobs, while also taking daily shifts at a logistics center and on construction sites.
The work is physically demanding, but Hyunmin said he has been surprised by how comfortable and happy he feels.
Rather than viewing his current circumstances simply through the lens of what he lost as an idol, he described the experience as having regained control over his own life.
That perspective has resonated with people online, turning his story into a conversation about what happens when young entertainers suddenly have to rebuild their careers outside the spotlight.
His 155-Kilometer Walk Became a Viral Moment
Hyunmin also launched a YouTube channel called “Gwangjin City Boy” on July 1.
His first major video documented an extraordinary 155-kilometer journey on foot from Seoul to Jecheon.
The five-day, six-night trip was intended as a personal reset following the end of his idol career.
Hyunmin said he chose a destination connected to the classic Korean film “Peppermint Candy” after reflecting on the idea of starting over and wondering whether he would want to return to an earlier point in his life.
The journey was not easy. He described carrying a heavy backpack and struggling during the first couple of days, but eventually deciding to continue rather than turn back.
His video later attracted more than 700,000 views, along with thousands of supportive comments.
Fans Were Comforted — and He Was Encouraged
One of the unexpected aspects of Hyunmin’s viral moment was how viewers responded to his story.
Some viewers said they found comfort in watching his journey and reading about his attempt to begin again.
Hyunmin, however, said the encouragement worked in both directions.
Reading viewers’ messages made him reflect on his own ability to overcome difficult circumstances and helped him feel encouraged about what comes next.
His story has therefore become less about the abrupt end of an idol group and more about the uncertainty that can follow when a young performer has to redefine his identity and career.
He Has Not Given Up on Music
Despite taking on jobs outside entertainment, Hyunmin has made it clear that he does not consider his music career finished.
He has spoken about thinking about the stage even while working at the logistics center or simply eating.
His message is that he does not know exactly when he will return, but he intends to do so eventually.
That ambition gives his current chapter a different meaning.
The former idol is not necessarily walking away from entertainment; he is using this period to figure out how to move forward after his first professional chapter ended sooner than expected.
A Different Side of the K-Pop Dream
Hyunmin’s experience also highlights a less visible side of the K-pop industry.
The public often sees debut announcements, music videos, stage performances and fan events. Much less attention is given to what happens when a group ends before its members establish long-term careers.
ARrC’s official conclusion in June left its seven members free to pursue individual paths. For Hyunmin, that has meant taking on everyday work while continuing to build an online audience and keeping his connection to music alive.
At 22, his career is far from being defined by one group or one chapter.
For now, Hyunmin’s story is about starting again — one job, one video and one step at a time.
