Local singer and producer Hong Junyang, 44, has been officially declared bankrupt. He confirmed the news after his name appeared on a publicly available government list. Junyang explained that his financial troubles stemmed from his Thai street food chain, The Original Boat Noodle, which struggled significantly since the pandemic.
The restaurant chain, which had several outlets in places like VivoCity and Bugis Junction, was Junyang’s first time running a food and beverage business. He admitted that he didn’t have the necessary experience for it.
He shared that the business faced immense difficulty since the Covid-19 pandemic began, stating, “Ever since Covid-19 started, it has been very, very tough for us, up till our closure… I tried my best.” While he chose not to reveal the exact amount of his debts, he was open about how challenging the experience has been.
Leaning on Loved Ones
During this difficult period, Junyang expressed how “thankful and grateful” he is for the support from his family and close friends. He said, “I have family and close friends who stood by me and offered help to me. They are always there for me.” However, he feels it’s his responsibility to face this challenge himself, saying, “But I feel that it’s only responsible that I face this myself and face the music because this is the right thing to do.”
He added that their unwavering support has made him appreciate them even more and has helped him gain a better understanding of who his true friends are.
Junyang sees this difficult experience as an opportunity for personal growth. He described it as a “difficult and painful experience,” but made it clear he will continue to handle it with a sense of responsibility. He said, “I also take this moment to reflect, move forward, reset, relearn and most importantly to rebuild everything to be stronger in the future. I don’t see this as the end.”
For now, his main focus is to continue working and pursuing his passion for music. When asked about how his financial situation was made public, he chose not to speculate on who might have revealed it. Since the information is publicly available, he knows anyone could have found it. He’s choosing to focus on the future rather than letting it cause him more stress.
Junyang, who is married to actress Candyce Toh and has two young daughters, has asked for privacy for his family during this time.
