Wong Bo-yum Reveals Secret Romance with Wong Yik, Career and Health Struggles
SingTao · 1 SOURCES1 day ago6 MIN
Summary
Former 1985 New Talent Singing Competition (新秀歌唱大賽) fourth-place contestant Wong Bo-yum (黃寶欣) has opened up about her past secret relationship with fellow singer Wong Yik (黃翊) in a recent interview on the YouTube channel "Hao Ran Zheng Xi" (浩然正戲). The couple, both products of the same singing competition, maintained their romance underground for years due to idol image concerns, with Wong Bo-yum describing the experience as deeply unhappy. Wong Yik's record company New Music Treasures (新藝寶) allegedly applied immense pressure, eventually resulting in Wong Yik being "shelved" in the industry. After leaving entertainment in 1998, Wong Bo-yum transitioned to insurance, opened a beauty salon and Western-style bakery, married and had two children, but eventually divorced. Six years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy and targeted therapy, briefly contemplating suicide before successfully overcoming the disease with family support.
Key Points
- Wong Bo-yum (黃寶欣) gained fame with her signature song "Clinking Wine Glasses on the Piano" (酒杯敲鋼琴) after competing in the 1985 fourth New Talent Singing Competition, though she remained "red song, not red person" (紅歌不紅人)
- She and Wong Yik (黃翊) dated secretly, entering cinemas separately and dining at different times while using friends as cover, with Wong Bo-yum stating "it was actually very unhappy"
- New Music Treasures (新藝寶) imposed extreme pressure on the couple, with Wong Yik eventually being "shelved" and subsequently fading from the music scene despite attempts at films and shows
- Wong Bo-yum left entertainment in 1998, worked in insurance for a decade, then opened a beauty salon and Western bakery before divorcing her husband after having a son and daughter
- She was diagnosed with cancer six years ago, underwent chemotherapy and targeted therapy, briefly contemplated self-harm, and successfully recovered with her family's care
Why It Matters
Wong Bo-yum's candid revelations shine a light on the hidden struggles faced by Hong Kong idols in the 1980s and 1990s, where record companies held immense control over artists' personal lives and relationships were often sacrificed for commercial interests. Her story of overcoming cancer and rebuilding life after divorce also offers an inspiring perspective on resilience, particularly given the support hotlines mentioned at the end of the article highlighting the importance of mental health awareness for those facing similar challenges .
Wong Bo-yum's candid revelations shine a light on the hidden struggles faced by Hong Kong idols in the 1980s and 1990s, where record companies held immense control over artists' personal lives and relationships were often sacrificed for commercial interests. Her story of overcoming cancer and rebuilding life after divorce also offers an inspiring perspective on resilience, particularly given the support hotlines mentioned at the end of the article highlighting the importance of mental health awareness for those facing similar challenges .