Singaporean Singer Hong Junyang Declares Bankruptcy Amid F&B Troubles
Singapore has witnessed another high-profile financial setback as home-grown musician Hong Junyang, 44, was named in the Government Gazette as a bankrupt individual on September 26. The news underscores the wider strains gripping Singapore’s food and beverage (F&B) sector, which has grappled with pandemic-related disruptions, rising costs, and changing consumer habits.
The Collapse of The Original Boat Noodle Chain
Hong’s financial difficulties center on debts tied to his Thai street food restaurant chain, The Original Boat Noodle. Opened in 2018 with a 60-seat concept at Changi City Point, the brand expanded to several high-traffic locations including VivoCity, Suntec City, Bugis Junction, The Seletar Mall, and Northpoint City. The chain’s struggles intensified after the Covid-19 outbreak, culminating in closure and subsequent financial obligations that led to bankruptcy filings. Hong candidly told AsiaOne on October 13 that the pandemic created an “extremely tough” operating environment, stating, “Ever since Covid-19 started, it has been very, very tough for us, up till our closure… I tried my best.”
Other Ventures and Their Outcomes
Beyond Boat Noodle, Hong experimented with several other F&B concepts. In 2020, he introduced the Taiwanese bubble tea brand Machi Machi to Singapore, a venture that reportedly fizzled out by early 2025. Additional pandemic-era endeavors included Caf, a cafe-cum-cloud kitchen, and BananaBro, an Indian banana leaf rice restaurant. Both closed in 2022 as market conditions shifted and consumer patterns evolved. A hawker stall venture, Oppa Kitchen at Tam Chiak Kopitiam in Hougang, opened in 2023 but closed after a year, illustrating the volatility that can accompany entrepreneurship in the F&B space.
Personal Resilience and Family Support
Hong is married to actress Candyce Toh, whom he met during Project SuperStar, Singapore’s long-running reality competition. The couple has two daughters, aged nine and three. In his discussions with AsiaOne, Hong emphasized the importance of family and close friends who offered support during the financial crisis. He described the period as painful, but said the experience sharpened his perspective on reliability, loyalty, and genuine friendship. “I have family and close friends who stood by me and offered help. They are always there for me,” he said, adding that the ordeal has brought him greater wisdom and discernment about who to trust.
Looking Ahead: Rebuilding and Responsibility
Despite the bankruptcy, Hong insists he will face the situation responsibly and use it as a chance to reset and relearn. “This has been a difficult and painful experience. But I feel that it’s right that I face it responsibly, and I will continue to choose to face it responsibly,” he stated. The artist also expressed gratitude for his supporters and family, signaling a broader commitment to rebuilding his career and personal life from a more informed position. Observers note that his public profile—having previously found fame as a runner-up on Project SuperStar in 2005 and later performing on JJ Lin’s JJ20 World Tour—could play a role in his comeback, should he pursue new creative or business ventures with the lessons learned from his F&B ventures.
Industry Snapshot: Pandemic-Era Ventures and Singapore’s F&B Sector
Hong’s case mirrors a wider trend in Singapore’s hospitality industry, where many pandemic-era ventures struggled to achieve sustainable profits in a post-pandemic marketplace. Higher rents, rising labour costs, supply chain challenges, and the shift to delivery-centric models forced operators to adapt quickly or shutter operations. While the government has offered support programs for distressed businesses, the high-profile nature of bankruptcy cases among entrepreneurs and public figures reflects the ongoing pressure the sector faces as it seeks a stable path to recovery.
For fans and industry observers, Hong Junyang’s journey—through fame, entrepreneurship, hardship, and a determined pivot—serves as a reminder that financial reversals can touch even well-known artists. The focus now shifts to how he channels his experiences into future musical projects or new business ideas, balancing ambition with prudent risk management.
