Hong Kong pop personality Wallace Kwok, known as “193” of the group ERROR, recently disclosed a profound professional downturn and symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from last year’s public controversy over his purchase of a luxury sports car. Speaking in an interview with Metro Broadcast’s Pear Chamber program, the singer provided a candid account of the incident’s severe psychological toll and the subsequent steps he took toward personal recovery, including the painful decision to sell the vehicle.
The controversy, which Kwok referred to as the “sports car incident,” arose after he acquired a Lamborghini, a move that drew intense public scrutiny and criticism. Kwok stated that the purchase fulfilled a long-held childhood ambition, emphasizing that the achievement was solely the result of his own labor since returning to Hong Kong. “After I started working in Hong Kong, I never took a single cent from my family,” Kwok explained. “I felt that I worked hard to obtain this and realize my dream. Having it at this age, using my own money, felt right. If I waited until I was 50 or 60, the feeling wouldn’t be the same.”
However, the widespread backlash led to a crisis of confidence and a significant disruption to his career. Kwok admitted he experienced feelings of severe anxiety and depression in the aftermath, characterized by symptoms he identified as PTSD. “I was terrified and felt immense sadness. It felt like the entire world was talking about it,” he shared. “I felt I had made a mistake, but you can’t change it. You can only apologize.” He described canceling work engagements and isolating himself at home, grappling with a profound sense of powerlessness. “That feeling of helplessness, that it truly happened, and even acknowledging the mistake 100 times couldn’t change the situation.”
Following the ordeal, Kwok resolved to liquidate the asset, concluding that possessing the car had accomplished its symbolic purpose. “Having owned it was a great achievement, but I decided I should not be so ostentatious in the future. One time was enough,” he said, signaling a shift toward more private personal pursuits.
To navigate his emotional recovery, Kwok turned to creative expression, personally penning the lyrics for his song, “Keep Walking.” He found the artistic process therapeutic, noting that listening to his own lyrics helped him adopt a more optimistic outlook. Furthermore, he realized the song’s broader utility: “Sometimes people message me saying the lyrics encouraged them. Helping others makes me feel like the effort was not in vain.”
Kwok also touched upon the evolution of his professional life and the dynamics within his group, ERROR, which is marking its seventh anniversary. He acknowledged that the team experienced significant initial friction. “Of course, there were conflicts, especially when we first started. Four different individuals suddenly forced together led to huge divergences, so we argued frequently at first,” he admitted. Over time, however, Kwok said the members established a deep and enduring bond reminiscent of a long-term relationship, marked by mutual understanding and compromise.
Before his unexpected turn into show business through the talent competition King Maker, Kwok confessed his initial motivation was simply practical. “I just thought hosting paid well,” he recalled, assuming his background and command of English would make him a suitable master of ceremonies. The journey with ERROR, however, provided an entirely new direction, one he has embraced even through intense public scrutiny.
