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🔥An idol who debuted three times just passed the civil service exam and started at a city hall

5AinoAm2026.10.07 01:21👁 4215💬 31♥ 72

Koreaboo picked this up from a local news report and I keep thinking about it.

Kang Hyeonsu debuted in 2013 with LC9, again in 2017 with BLK, went on Produce X 101 in 2019, and debuted a third time in 2021 with NIK, a Korea-Japan group that disbanded two years later. After that he studied electrical work (his family's influence) and is now a public official in a technical role at Boryeong City Hall. His own post said something like "an idol who debuted three times, now retired and passed the civil service exam."

In the TJB News interview he says everyone guides him kindly and it feels like stepping into a protective circle. After three groups ending, that line hit harder than it should. Meanwhile I failed one driving test and needed a week to recover. Three debuts and then a civil service exam is a different kind of stamina. Does this make you sad or happy? I can't decide.

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Comments 31

4Thandi2026.10.07

congrats to him!! new chapter

6ppalli_ppalli2026.10.07

Saved: 공무원 = public official. And people call the exam 공시, right?

5cryingagain2026.10.07

"protective circle"... after three groups ending, he finally gets a team that stays. I'm crying

5nunchi_zero2026.10.07

I can't pass a pop quiz and he debuted three times AND passed that

6kkt.882026.10.07

For context, 공무원 (civil servant) is a dream job for a lot of Koreans because it's so stable. Passing that exam is no joke

7Sebin2026.10.07

Happy. He tried three times, gave it everything, and picked stability on his own terms. That's not a sad ending

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5AinoOP2026.10.07

ok this is a better way to see it. happy then

4Thandi2026.10.07

congrats to him!! new chapter

6kkt.882026.10.07

For context, 공무원 (civil servant) is a dream job for a lot of Koreans because it's so stable. Passing that exam is no joke

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6ppalli_ppalli2026.10.07

Saved: 공무원 = public official. And people call the exam 공시, right?

5cryingagain2026.10.07

"protective circle"... after three groups ending, he finally gets a team that stays. I'm crying

5jaywalker2026.10.07

Three debuts and no group that lasted says more about the industry than about him

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6Ioana2026.10.07

Or some groups just don't work out. Not everything is the system's fault

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7Sebin2026.10.07

Both can be true. The industry is rough and some groups just don't click. Either way he kept trying, that's the part I respect

5Oksana2026.10.07

"Not today" for three debuts, then a big yes for the exam

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5lyric.thief2026.10.07

"I'm not done yet" for the stage, "I'm done, thank you" for the exam

5nunchi_zero2026.10.07

I can't pass a pop quiz and he debuted three times AND passed that

3Thiago2026.10.07

respect

6Yoonseo2026.10.07

Vocab: 시청 (sicheong) = city hall. From 무대 (stage) to 시청 is a big jump, but it sounds like he's happy

8Taeho2026.10.07

Three debuts across 2013, 2017 and 2021 is almost a full decade of trying. That he can talk about the new job with that much warmth says a lot about him

7Nari2026.10.07

My uncle in Busan is a city hall worker and says the first year is all paperwork and nice older colleagues bringing snacks. Sounds like he'll be fine

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6Lukas932026.10.07

Paperwork and snacks sounds like a great deal compared to three disbandments

5Aurelien2026.10.07

The industry produced three debuts and zero stability for him, and the state gave him both in one exam. That's the real story

4Doha2026.10.07

Wishing him a long peaceful career. Being a former idol at city hall is the most wholesome plot twist

4Sølvi2026.10.07

did he say whether he still sings at all? or did he leave that completely

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5AinoOP2026.10.08

from what's in the post he didn't say, it's mostly about the new job. I'd love to know too

6Jaehee2026.10.07

Meanwhile I've had one career change and it was from "unemployed" to "tired"

6Mateo2026.10.07

Random fact: NIK was a Korea-Japan group, so he basically worked in two industries before this one

5Valen2026.10.07

I'm crying at the "protective circle" line. After all that he deserves people who guide him kindly

7Minjae2026.10.07

Happy. He gave it everything three times and now he gets a calm job where people are kind to him. That's a good ending

5Sanne2026.10.07

is LC9 the one with the song people still post on old kpop playlists? the name sounds familiar

5Andrei2026.10.08

*screams in respect* three debuts AND the exam. My resume is crying

5Fernanda_m2026.10.08

Fluorescent office lighting is brutal on skin. Three debuts of stage lights and now a new enemy. I hope he keeps SPF in his desk

6Hayoon2026.10.08

Three debuts and a civil service exam. My boys just debuted and I'm already stressed for them. Be nice to him, everyone

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An idol who debuted three times just passed the civil service exam and started at a city hall · KOMMU.LIVE