TVXQ’s Kim Jaejoong Discloses His Adoption Secret, Discovered Post-Debut with Family and Friends Keeping It Hidden

During the episode aired on October 16th of MBC’s variety show “Radio Star,”a lineup of guests including Kim Jaejoong, Kim Byungman, Sam Hammington, Cao Lu, and Kim Dongjun captivated viewers.

This marked Kim Jaejoong’s first MBC appearance in 15 years, a notable return following his friend Kim Junsu. Eager to impress, he stated, “I believe I have some untold stories to share this time around.”

Kim Jaejoong reminisced about an encounter with Lee Soo-man aboard a plane four years ago. He shared, “He was seated right next to me. After all that time, I felt the need to express my feelings, so during our two-hour flight, I penned a note on an in-flight postcard. Upon landing, I handed it to him, and he responded with, ‘Keep doing well and strive hard.’”

With a hint of humor, Kim Jaejoong remarked, “I was quite pleased with that moment, but later I learned from Heechul that Lee Soo-man boasts about it, saying things like, ‘Jaejoong gave me a letter; who is Jaejoong?’ He apparently repeated that several times.” Kim expressed heartfelt gratitude, noting, “I owe my existence to him shaping my career and debuting me, and I wanted to show my appreciation.”

Moreover, he clarified a misconception about being coerced into getting a nipple piercing by his management team. He explained, “People assumed that the agency forced me into it. I did get the piercing, but it was entirely my decision. It wasn’t for any concept—I started getting piercings as a way to relieve stress.”

Kim Jaejoong also opened up about his adoption story, which resonated with many viewers. He said, “I was adopted at three into a family with eight older sisters. Surprisingly, I was unaware of my adoption until after I made my debut, and even then, I found discussing ‘adoption’ with my family challenging.”

Describing the moment he learned the truth, he shared, “Even post-debut, my parents kept it from me. While filming the music video for ‘I Believe,’ I received a call from an unfamiliar number. Given my experience with obsessive fans, I was hesitant to answer, but something felt different. I paused filming and picked up the call; the voice said, ‘Jaejoon, how have you been?’ It was then I realized—my aunt used to call me Jaejoon, and everything made sense. The company was creating a photo book, and I had sent them photos from my baby days. Those pictures were from before I turned three, and that’s when my biological family reached out.”

Kim Jaejoong also expressed gratitude towards his friends and family, sharing, “As a child, I believed I should hide my adoption status, but my friends already knew and kept it secret. My youngest older sister even concealed her real birthday. We were classmates, and she never celebrated the actual day to avoid drawing attention. It wasn’t until we grew older that she embraced her true birthday. I felt immense appreciation for that.”

Source: Daum

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