[Sportschosun Jo Min-jeong reporter] Forestella member Ko Woo-rim revealed the story behind his admission to the vocal music department at Seoul National University (SNU) and his wife Yuna Kim’s reaction.
On the recently released YouTube channel "Salty Brother Shin Dong-yup," Forestella members Son Tae-jin, Cho Min Gyu, and Ko Woo-rim appeared and shared a variety of stories. That day, Ko Woo-rim said he had dreamed of attending SNU since childhood.
He spent his school years in Daegu and recalled, "I really wanted to do something in Seoul," adding, "I cried and begged my parents to let me go to Seoul." He went on to say, "I came up to Seoul, prepared for competitions, and eventually was accepted into SNU’s vocal music department," and added, "It was the most intense period of my life."
He also said he was influenced by a family of vocalists. Ko Woo-rim noted, "My mother also majored in vocal music," while the other members explained that vocal majors have to learn a range of languages, including German, Italian, French, and Russian.
The conversation naturally turned to his wife, Yuna Kim. Ko Woo-rim said that while dating, he believed a person mattered more than background or family ties, but after marriage he jokingly asked Kim a question.
He said he asked, "Still, being from SNU was a plus, right?" Kim reportedly replied, "It wasn’t nothing," drawing laughter. After hearing that, Shin Dong-yup said, "That’s the best answer for boosting a husband’s confidence," and the cast burst into laughter.
Ko Woo-rim later spoke about his concerns over his music career. He said, "Since there aren’t many low-voice vocalists, I often wonder what kind of music we should make to stay loved for a long time," adding, "Rather than chasing popularity alone, I want to make music that we can be satisfied with ourselves."
Meanwhile, Ko Woo-rim married figure skating queen Yuna Kim in 2022. He has since completed his military service and returned to Forestella activities.
Jo Min-jeong mj.cho@sportschosun.com
