The Small Town Dreamer
(Flashback)
Yoon Jiho grew up in a modest neighborhood on the outskirts of Seoul, where narrow alleys smelled of rain and street vendors' sizzling tteokbokki filled the air with spicy sweetness.
He was the youngest of three siblings — quiet, observant, and endlessly hopeful.
From an early age, Jiho's mother sang lullabies that carried stories of heroes and heartbreak, planting seeds of melody deep in his soul.
A Childhood of Sacrifice
Jiho's father worked long hours as a mechanic, his hands rough but gentle.
Money was tight.
Jiho learned early that dreams weren't luxuries — they were risks.
But every evening, he practiced singing in his small room, imagining stages far beyond the cramped apartment walls.
The First Step
At age 12, Jiho entered a local singing contest.
Nervous but determined, he sang a ballad his mother taught him.
The applause was small but sincere.
A volunteer from a small agency approached him afterward.
"You have potential. Keep going."
The Price of Hope
As Jiho grew older, the pressure mounted.
Schoolwork, part-time jobs, family obligations — each a chain tightening around his ambitions.
His closest friends drifted away, unable to understand the fire burning in his quiet heart.
A Broken Promise
When Jiho turned 16, a chance came to audition for a reputable trainee program.
His family scraped together the money for travel and preparation.
But the night before the audition, his father fell ill.
Jiho faced a cruel choice: chase the dream or stay to care for his family.
He stayed.
The Beginning of the Fall
The missed audition was a wound.
Jiho vowed silently — one day, he would make the world see him.
But that vow was shadowed by doubt, sacrifice, and the bitter taste of what could have been.