Go Ji-yong Breaks His Silence Before SECHSKIES Dinner Show With a 600,000 Won Ticket

"This is my first interview in 26 years, since SECHSKIES disbanded," Go Ji-yong said when he met the press on the 5th at a Gangnam café in Seoul. He is preparing to stand on stage with bandmates Jang Su-won and Lee Jae-jin for the first time since the group split in 2000.

The occasion is a dinner show titled "The Untold Story of Jekki," set for December 15 and 16 at the Inspire Tower ballroom in Incheon. Go said he wanted to correct several misunderstandings that had spread online, from the nature of the show to his personal life.

How the three came together

The idea began over the summer, when Go met Lee privately. Lee proposed a busking event in the fall. Go pushed back: it was cold, and he is someone who does not sing even at karaoke. He had no confidence. Once Jang joined, the concept shifted away from a song-centered busking set toward a year-end party where the members mingle with fans. Go hopes for a shared space where people can eat and play games together.

He was firm that this is not an official SECHSKIES reunion. Eun Ji-won and Kim Jae-duk are not taking part, and Go said he did not contact them, assuming their schedules were full with variety shows. The plan, he said, was always for the three of them.

The ticket price has drawn criticism. It was announced at 600,000 won per person, and the organizers say that figure covers lodging, transportation and other costs on top of the dinner show itself.

Why he stayed away in 2016

Go left entertainment after the 2000 breakup and did not take part when the group reunited through MBC's "Infinite Challenge" in 2016. He rejects the idea that he simply did not want to. He was the only member with a family then, he said, and his main work in finance and real estate consulting made group activity hard to balance. "I didn't want to be an inconvenient presence for the team," he said. His appearance on KBS's "The Return of Superman" was possible, he added, because it was a parenting show filmed only on weekends.

He also explained why he left the industry in the first place: he felt he had no weapon of his own to offer. Some fans have voiced disappointment that he is returning only now, and Go said he understands. He wants the event to be a place to talk with them, to tell the untold stories the title promises and to answer questions about himself.

Worries about his voice

The set will include SECHSKIES hits, though songs are still being chosen. Go's biggest concern is his voice. Since catching COVID-19 he can no longer sing in falsetto, and the loss has cost him confidence. Dancing worries him too. He plans to practice hard and keep pace with the others.

He also addressed the health rumors that followed his sharp weight loss. He said he was defrauded around that time and under severe personal stress, and tried to dull the pain with alcohol. That led to cirrhosis, and his weight dropped to 63 kg. He is now back to 72 kg and attends the hospital regularly.

In July, Go revealed on social media that he had divorced two years earlier. He married a family medicine specialist in 2013 and their son was born the following year. The two are in a legal dispute over visitation rights, which Go says he trusts the court to decide. He talks with his son often, he said, and they get along like friends.

What comes after December

SECHSKIES debuted in 1997 and, alongside H.O.T., was one of the top idol groups of the late 1990s. Next year marks their 30th anniversary, and Go said all members are aware of it. A new album may be out of reach, but he hopes for a concert. "If we have the 30th anniversary as a reason, maybe we can talk to each other," he said, adding that nothing concrete has been planned.

Asked about future group activity, he was cautious: if it happens, he will take part where he can, but nothing is decided, since everyone has their own life and age to consider. He also said he would like to return to television if the chance comes. Variety feels more accessible, he noted, and he watches travel shows, long-running "I Live Alone," and "Divorce Camp," which features his close friend Lee Dong-gun.