Melomance Reflects on Two-Year Rift and Emotional Reunion

In a candid interview on Park Na-rae’s YouTube channel Narae-sik, beloved K-pop ballad duo Melomance opened up about a two-year-long conflict that nearly tore them apart. The video, titled “We Even Blocked Each Other…Turn Off the Camera!” shed light on the emotional struggles behind their skyrocketing fame and how they eventually mended their friendship.

Comedian and host Park Na-rae, who previously connected with the group through the popular show Sugar Man, visited Melomance’s studio for an intimate conversation. The members, Kim Min-seok and Jeong Dong-hwan, were classmates at the Seoul Institute of the Arts and initially bonded over their shared passion for music.

When prompted by Park about whether they ever clashed despite their strong bond, Kim replied, “It got really bad between us. Ironically, the more success we had, the deeper the rift became.” He alluded to jealousy and competitiveness that crept in after their breakout hit “Gift” propelled them into the spotlight.

Park confessed she sensed tension during rehearsals for Sugar Man, noting, “It felt like they were walking two separate paths despite heading in the same direction.” Jeong elaborated, sharing that their relationship deteriorated to the point where they avoided even eating together. “We had to sit far apart, even at highway rest stops,” he admitted. “I’m almost embarrassed to say it—but we blocked each other on messaging apps.”

The turning point came when the two reunited over drinks after a two-year estrangement. Kim recalled, “As we drank, memories of the early stage of our career came flooding back. I wanted to tell him, ‘You know I never enjoyed performing alone. It was always better because you were there,’ but it was hard to say.” Both were overcome with emotion and began to cry, marking a cathartic moment that helped them finally reconcile.

Now celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut since March 2015, Melomance is back with renewed synergy. While Jeong continues to handle composing, arrangement, and piano, Kim lends his voice as lead vocalist and lyricist. Their hit song “Gift,” which experienced a dramatic resurgence after a performance on Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook, remains symbolic of both their struggles and triumphs.