Epik High Tablo opened up about his past trauma, offering grounded advice and comfort to the public.
On the March 31 episode of his podcast "Hey Tablo," titled "Friendship issues? Career troubles? Imposter Syndrome? LET ME HELP!," Tablo connected with listeners and responded to their concerns. After reading a message from a listener who felt anxious despite their achievements, he shared that he, too, has struggled with impostor syndrome for many years.
Impostor syndrome refers to a psychological pattern in which individuals are unable to recognize their accomplishments and live with the fear that they are undeserving or will eventually be exposed as a “fraud.”
“Even people who are considered successful go through this—sometimes even more intensely,” Tablo said. Reflecting on the time when Epik High released their hit song "Fly," he recalled, “When a song I made alone in my room became a global success, I remember thinking, ‘What is this? It doesn’t feel real.’ When I started working on my next project, I was tormented by the fear of not being able to recreate that success. The higher you go, the bigger the anxiety becomes.”
As a way to cope with such anxiety, Tablo emphasized the importance of shifting one’s mindset. “Instead of worrying about how others see you, focus on whether you can help someone today or become better than you were yesterday. People are not as interested in others as we think—they’re busy living their own lives,” he said.
He also drew attention by directly addressing his own trauma. In the past, Tablo was the target of severe cyberbullying from individuals who falsely claimed that his Stanford degree was fabricated. The situation escalated into doxxing of his family, the spread of false accusations, and organized defamation, causing widespread social controversy. Following investigations and trials, key perpetrators were found guilty, with some receiving prison sentences. While the case was eventually resolved, it left behind a lasting lesson about the harm of online mob behavior and public opinion abuse.
“I’ve experienced a lot of trauma. You can just search my name,” Tablo said. “After going through things no one should have to experience, it became very easy for me to worry. I would even create situations that don’t exist and end up tormenting myself.”
He continued, “But those worries ultimately take away time with your family and loved ones. When I start to worry, I ask myself, ‘This probably won’t happen,’ or ‘Is it worth experiencing 100% of the pain in advance for something that has only a 20% chance of happening?’ Sometimes I even look in the mirror and tell myself, ‘Are you being stupid?’”
Tablo also stressed the importance of having the right people around you to manage excessive worry. “You need a friend who can stop you from overthinking. Someone who thinks more simply can actually help balance you out, even if it makes you feel like you’re the strange one. Overthinking itself isn’t necessarily bad, but if everyone around you is like that, it becomes a problem. A team needs a mix of different personalities to stay balanced,” he added, citing his own experience with Epik High.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)