[Edaily Reporter KIM HYUNSIK ] "I found the courage thanks to the members' support."

Ko Ji-yong, a former member of the group Sechs Kies, revealed this in a written interview with E-Daily on the 6th, explaining what led him to resume his activities through performances.
Ko Ji-yong was a member of Sechs Kies from 1997 to 2000 and was beloved for songs such as “Comeback,” “School Song,” “Road Fighter,” “Couple,” and “Premonition.” After the group disbanded, he left the entertainment industry to focus on his personal business, and even when Sechs Kies reunited following his appearance on MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” in 2016, he did not participate in the group’s activities.
Now, Ko Ji-yong is returning to the stage. He will perform at a year-end dinner show on the 15th and 16th of next month at the Inspire Tower Ballroom in Incheon alongside Sechs Kies members Jang Su-won and Lee Jae-jin.
Ko Ji-yong revealed, “Last summer, Jae-jin hyung suggested we hold an event together. At the time, there was talk of doing some busking around November, but I told him I didn’t feel confident about busking in the cold weather since I’d been living as a non-celebrity for so long and my skills were lacking.”
He continued, “Then, when Su-won joined us, the project grew in scale and evolved into a plan to ‘host an event that would satisfy our fans and share the simple stories of the three of us.’ Since Jae-jin and Su-won are active celebrities, I trusted them and went ahead with the decision.”
Go Ji-yong has occasionally shared updates through broadcasts—such as his 2017 appearance on the KBS 2TV parenting variety show *The Return of Superman* with his son Seung-jae—but he has prioritized his personal business ventures over entertainment activities.
He reflected, “It’s true that I missed the fans who loved the members and me, but I had family and my main career, so there were limitations on my activities,” adding, “Since ‘The Return of Superman’ was filmed only on weekends, it didn’t interfere with my schedule. It was also a program where my son, not me, was the main character.”
This dinner show is titled “THE TREE in INSPIRE – Sechskies’ Untold Stories.” Some fans have expressed disappointment that Ko Ji-yong, who did not participate in the reunion activities, is now performing under the Sechskies name.
In response, Ko Ji-yong emphasized, “The official title of the performance is ‘THE TREE,’” adding, “It’s an event planned with the intention of the three of us comfortably sharing the stories we didn’t get to tell.”
He continued, “I think the reason this performance has become a hot topic is because there are still so many people who remember and care about Sechs Kies,” adding, “Next year marks our 30th debut anniversary, and since many people have misunderstood my decision not to join the previous reunion activities, I wanted to address this directly.”

◇A Fresh Start After Divorce… Preparing for Activities While Recovering His Health
Interest is also focused on Ko Ji-yong’s next steps, as this marks his first performance since belatedly revealing his divorce. Last July, Ko Ji-yong announced via social media that she had divorced two years prior. She married a family medicine specialist in 2013 and gave birth to a son the following year. She is currently involved in legal proceedings regarding visitation rights. It has been reported that her ex-wife holds custody of their child.
Ko Ji-yong stated, “It was such a personal matter that I was cautious,” adding, “I hope the issue of seeing my child will be resolved smoothly according to the court’s decision. We should know the outcome through the upcoming trial.”
He continued, “My biggest concern throughout this process is my child,” adding, “I’m sorry to have caused my fans worry. However, I believe that if I just dwell on my worries, I won’t be able to move forward. I sincerely hope for a positive outcome for both my child and his mother.”
He also spoke candidly about his health. Previously, Ko Ji-yong had been the subject of speculation regarding his health due to sudden weight loss. He recently revealed that he had suffered from cirrhosis.
He said, “I’m worried because my bronchial tubes haven’t fully recovered to their previous condition since I had COVID-19,” but added, “I’ve gained about 10 kg since then. I see my doctor once a month, take my medication, and am working on getting back in shape.”
He continued, “Although I haven’t fully recovered yet, I’m doing my best to get better,” adding, “Ever since I started thinking about performing again, I’ve naturally begun exercising and preparing myself mentally.”
Ko Ji-yong also expressed optimism about the possibility of continuing his entertainment activities following the concert.
He explained, “I’m paying the price for not taking care of my health in the past,” adding, “The members have offered me a lot of comfort through messages, phone calls, and in-person meetings. Thanks especially to Jae-jin hyung reaching out to me, I was able to find the courage.” He added, “If there are any activities in the future that fit my schedule, I’d like to give them a try.”
However, when asked if there were plans to pursue activities as a full group next year to mark Sechs Kies’ 30th debut anniversary, he replied, “Given the paths the members have walked, I don’t think it’s right for me to take the lead.” He did note, though, “If I’m invited to participate in the 30th-anniversary activities, I’d like to participate wholeheartedly so as not to cause any trouble.”
Finally, Ko Ji-yong said, “Ko Ji-yong, who once performed under the name Sechs Kies, has been running a business for a long time and is now planning to hold small-scale events with the members again. I want to make it clear that this is neither more nor less than that.” He added, “Since this event was planned because there are many things I want to share and many things I want to hear, I hope to spend a meaningful time with the fans.”