싸이 (본명 박재상, 36)의 대학시절 룸메이트였다고 주장하는 남자가 그의 대학시절에 대해 ‘폭로’해 화제가 되고 있다.

이 남자는 최근 미국의 경제전문지 비즈니스 인사이더에 편지를 보내 싸이의 대학시절 모습에 대해 전했는데, 그에 말에 따르면 싸이는 “뚱뚱하고, 게으르고, 더러웠으며, 전형적인 한국 남자 유학생이었다”고 한다.

그는 자신이 싸이와 1997년에서 1998년까지 같이 살았다고 주장했는데, 그는 싸이가 “매일같이 수업을 빼먹었으며 모든 과목에서 낙제했다”고 전했다. 또한 친구들이 밥을 먹고 술을 마시는 동안 가라오케에서 공연을 펼쳤다고 한다.

그의 회고에 따르면 싸이는 20대 초반의 어린 나이에도 자신이 넘쳤던 것으로 보인다. 이 ‘룸메이트’는 “우리는 항상 (싸이의) 통통한 볼을 꼬집으며, ‘정신차려! 이렇게 뚱뚱하고 못생긴 얼굴로는 절대 연예계에서 성공못해’라고 놀리곤 했다”고 전했다.

그러나 싸이는 그때마다 “성공할 거야! 스타가 될거라고! 두고봐!”라고 장담했다고 한다. (코리아헤럴드)

<관련 영문 기사>

‘Psy‘s roommate’ spills beans on pop sensation’s college life

A person claiming to be Psy’s college roommate recently sent a letter to the media describing the South Korean rapping sensation’s college life in the United States; according to the letter, it was far from glamorous.

“He missed classes all day long. Flunked everything,” the unidentified source told Business Insider. The man, who said that he shared a room with Psy from 1997 to 1998, claimed that Psy was a “typical Korean male studying abroad” who was fat, lazy and messy.

The 36-year-old singer, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, studied business administration at Boston University in the late 1990s. After dropping out of the school he attended Berklee College of Music, where he also dropped out.

Psy said in an interview last year that he had to leave Boston University because he had squandered his tuition “drinking and playing.” He also said that he only went to class five times while he attended Berklee College.

Despite his poor academic accomplishments, now-globally popular singer was ambitious from his early 20s.

According to the anonymous informant, Psy used to be teased by his friends who told him that he was “never going to make it in entertainment with a fat ugly face like yours.” The singer shot back by saying that he would.

“I’m going to be a star! Just you watch!” he would say.

Psy has yet to eat his words.

From news reports

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)