'Let me use your voice once' — Song Baek-kyung makes public pitch to Lee Ji-hye

Song Baek-kyung, a former member of 1TYM, has drawn attention by publicly reaching out to singer and broadcaster Lee Ji-hye, his debut contemporary.

Song posted a lengthy message on Instagram Wednesday morning that opened with the words, "Ji-hye, we debuted at the same time."

He noted that 1TYM had debuted in the second half of 1998, just one month apart from S#arp — the group Lee belonged to — and reflected, "Back then we were fresh-faced rookies, barely 19 or 20. Now we're just two years away from turning 50."

Song also recalled appearing alongside Lee on the MBC variety program "10,000 Won Happiness" in 2006. "That was already 20 years ago — time has really flown," he said. "We haven't met in person over those 20 years, but I've kept up with you through your broadcasts."

He then praised Lee's evolution as an entertainer. "I knew you could sing, but at some point I started seeing you thrive as a professional variety personality, and I found that remarkable and admirable," he said. "Finding another talent within yourself, polishing it and making it shine — not just anyone can do that."

Song also said he found himself reflecting on his own past after Lee recently revealed that her earnings from four years with S#arp had fallen short of 100 million won (about $65,900). "I, too, only freed myself from the weight of old memories just a few months ago," he said, adding that he found it "cool and deeply respectable" that Lee continued to stand before the public without being held back by the past.

At the heart of Song's tribute to Lee was music. Having recently made his official departure from 1TYM and thrown himself into music production, he was reaching out to Lee not as a fellow singer but as a producer proposing a collaboration.

"I'd love to work on a song with you — we debuted at the same time, we're the same age, and you sing beautifully," Song said. "Please let me use your precious voice on a good track." He added that their shared experience of that rare moment in 1998 made it feel like something worthwhile could come of it. "I'll do my best not to embarrass myself on the rap — just sing your heart out," he said.

Song debuted with 1TYM in 1998 and scored a string of hits including "One Love" and "Hot Ddeugeowo" before putting his activities on hold in 2006. He later performed with the project group Mugadang, worked as a voice actor at KBS and went on to run a food business.

On June 4, Song officially announced his departure from 1TYM and signaled a comeback, saying he was "polishing songs I had always wanted to share with the world but never could, and working on new ones as well."

신정환, 지상파서 안 보인 이유 “예능 섭외 3~4번 왔는데 가족이 극구 반대”

https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10768582