"Scar Under My Philtrum" Koo Chang-mo reveals robbery incident in Russia and story of collecting $98,000

Singer Koo Chang-mo revealed his turbulent past experiences, including life-threatening situations encountered during business trips to Russia and losses incurred during a deer antler business.

According to a video released on the YouTube channel 'Dongchimi' on the 22nd, Koo Chang-mo shared an anecdote about traveling to Russia to collect payments after purchasing nine used cars on credit in the past. At the time, upon a request from a Koryo-saram customer who wanted to buy cars near Novosibirsk, Siberia, Koo delivered nine vehicles on credit based on trust. The customer explained that there were people who would drive the vehicles to Siberia and that the money could be recovered several months later.

"Left a scar under my philtrum"... Robbery crisis faced in Russia

Koo Chang-mo recalled the tense moment when he encountered robbers locally while visiting Russia to collect the payments. He stated that while moving to collect the money, he was surrounded by Russian men who threatened him by pulling out thin knives. Regarding the situation at the time, Koo said, "Knives came in from both sides," and "It was a dangerous situation enough to leave a scar under my philtrum." He explained that to escape the crisis, he responded in Russian saying, "There is more money," and was able to flee by striking the opponent while twisting his body.

He added that due to the injuries sustained at the time, he underwent surgery at a local hospital to receive seven stitches, and a scar remains on his philtrum area to this day. He also shared the painful situation where the anesthesia wore off during the surgery, requiring an additional three stitches. Later, Koo stated that the incident concluded after he met those individuals again in Moscow and recovered the full amount of approximately $98,000 (equivalent to about 100,000 Korean won).

Koo Chang-mo shared experiences of witnessing shooting incidents not only in Russia but also in the United States and Germany. He mentioned that while visiting a nightclub in LA, United States, with members of Green Area in the past, he witnessed a shootout on the scene. Koo conveyed the tense atmosphere at the time, saying, "I heard the sound of guns firing from above." At the scene, the smell of gunpowder was overwhelming, and the situation ended along with the sound of police car sirens.

Furthermore, during a trip to Germany, while staying at an accommodation due to an acquaintance Jeong Yeong-dong's restroom issue, he also witnessed the scene of a gun incident that occurred nearby. At the time, an incident occurred on the street in front of a McDonald's in Germany where a man fired a gun at citizens. Koo recalled the chilling situation, saying, "If I had suggested not going to the restroom, I would have been in that spot."

Koo Chang-mo also mentioned the process of incurring massive losses after investing in a deer antler business in the past. He was deeply involved in the business, visiting a large-scale deer antler farm in the Altai region of Russia to personally check the grazing conditions and the grades of the deer antlers (Grades A to F). At the time, Koo personally confirmed the process of harvesting deer antlers by feeding deer in a farm spanning hundreds of thousands of pyeong in the Altai region. Deer antlers were structured such that prices varied depending on the grade, divided into upper, middle, and lower classes based on size.

In the video, the context regarding the economic losses incurred during the promotion of the deer antler business was mentioned, but specific figures or causal relationships regarding exactly how Koo lost that amount were not specified in the video transcript.