![Singer Im Young-woong. [Provided by Mulkogi Music]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/24/news-p.v1.20260624.e1952f7be65d4c5e9ee878ebc181c573_P1.jpg)
Singer Im Young-woong turned heads after saying he does not consider himself a singer with hit songs.
On Tuesday, Im appeared on the SBS variety program "Sangol Chonggak Yeongung" (Mountain Bachelor Hero), as the host of a mountain cottage, spending time with close friends Heo Gyeong-hwan, Hyeon Bong-sik and Jo Jjaejeu.
That day, Im and his guests set out to build a jazz bar together.
The woodworking project proceeded under Jo's lead, and Im impressed everyone by showing off an unexpected talent for carpentry.
When Jo remarked that Im seemed to have done some carpentry before, Im said: "I worked part-time at a furniture factory run by my uncle. I did it in high school and again before I went into the military. I kept going back to earn pocket money."
Jo and Hyeon said they were struck by how attentively Im listens to others and by his dedication to acting, a field beyond music.
Im said, "Acting is fun. Talk shows are a different story — I am not confident with them. I am not good at answering questions I have not prepared for."
In a preview clip released afterward, Im surprised everyone with a candid admission: "My fans love me, but I do not think I am a singer with hit songs. I want to know what it feels like to be that kind of artist."
Im is widely regarded as a national singer with a string of beloved hits, including "Can We Meet Again," "Our Blues," "Trust Only Me Now," "My Love Like Starlight" and "Love Always Runs Away." He drew considerable attention after reports that his overwhelming ticket-selling power and steady output earned him 15.5 billion won ($10.1 million) last year.
choigo@heraldcorp.com
