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FAN STORIES:
D IE T & FITNESS "BTS HELPED
WHAT IDOSL BLACKPINK HOW TO GET ME FIND THE
LOVE OF MY
BTS
WHAT
TRAINEE O
REALLY H G
G O SO LO ! TH E IDO L LOOK LIFE"

HAPPENED THROUG
NEXT? WE LOVE K-POP
SUPERSTARS 2023
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2
let’s have a

-PO P
K PARTY!
Y
ou love K-Pop. We
love K-Pop. So let’s
have a K-Pop party!
For many years, Korea
has produced many
artists who have served up
some truly classic tunes. While
K-POPTASTIC PL AYLIST
most K-Pop connoisseurs have
long been aware of the majestic While you devour thi
s mag, listen to our fav
ourite K-Pop tunes!
and anthemic pop songs that
have been produced over the Dalla Dalla – Itzy
Gone With The Wind One More Day – Ch
years by the likes of Girls’ – ocolat
Gfriend Su gar Free – T-ara
Generation, Wonder Girls, Love To Hate Me -
Addict – Sumni
WORDS BY CHRISTIAN GUILTENANE; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE

BigBang, Shinee and 2NE1, Blackpink

the rest of the world has only BTD – Infinite
Yours – Jin Give It To Me – Sistar
recently caught up, thanks I Am – Ive
to the rise of groups like Hard To Love – Bla
ckpink Lonely – Hyolyn
BTS, Blackpink, Seventeen, One More Day – Sis
tar and Blueberr
Georgio Moroder y Eyes – Max (Feat
Twice and many more. In Suga)
this special issue of We Siren – Sunmi
Set Me Free Pt 2 – Jim Yummy Yummy Lo
Love K-Pop, we pay tribute in ve –
Nobody – Wonder Momoland
to the sensational K-Pop Girls Bite Me – Enhypen
superstars (old and new) Don’t Love Me – Hy
olyn Beautiful – 2pm
who have captivated the Closer – Oh My Girl
Be Mine – Infinite Siren – Sunmi
world with their catchy tunes Eyes, Nose, Lips –
and rainbow-coloured MVs. Dynamite – BTS Taeyang
Blue – BigBang Love Ya – SS501
We also take a look behind Ice Cream – Blackpin
the scenes to see how an idol Tally – Blackpink k&
Don’t Look At Me Lik Se lena Gomez
is created, and speak to the e That Me Gustas
– Song Ji-eun Tu – Gfriend
fans who reveal how their Fantasy – Vixx
favourite bands have changed Up&Down – Exid
Gone – Rosé One Way Love – Hy
their lives. olyn
VingleVingle – Heize Th e Truth Untold – BT
S
Rose Blossom – H1
-Key

3
 CONTENT S
6 MEET STRAY KIDS gone from strength to strength with relationship, and how seven special boys
Everything you need to know about the their solo outings from South Korea have helped her to heal
K-Pop sensations 52 PROFILE: TOMORROW X TOGETHER 88 PROFILE: AESPA
12 BLACKPINK DAZZLE COACHELLA 54 PROFILE: ENHYPEN 90 PROFILE: MAMAMOO
The girls made history as the first K-Pop 56 FAN CHAT 92 THE POWER OF PILATES
group to headline the festival – here are Psychic healer and animal It’s not only the women of K-Pop who are
all the details of their 18-song set communicator Charlotte tells us about using Pilates to increase their strength
22 PROFILE: MONSTA X the healing power of BTS and stamina – the men are getting in on
24 FAN CHAT 60 PROFILE: LE SSERAFIM the action too
Mya tells us how her dedication to BTS 62 BLACKPINK GO IT ALONE 96 PROFILE: (G)IDLE
helped improve her self-confidence and The girls’ success doesn’t just lie in their 98 PROFILE: WANNA ONE
led to her falling in love with a heart- group efforts, they’ve also had solo hits 100 FAN CHAT
throb of her own and they’re each other’s biggest supporters Gina was struggling with burnout, until
28 PROFILE: TWICE 70 PROFILE: ASTRO BTS came to the rescue
30 THE SECRET LIFE OF A K-POP TRAINEE 72 PROFILE: SEVENTEEN 104 PROFILE: RED VELVET
The road to K-Pop superstardom is 74 PROFILE: NCT 106 THE K-POP DIET
anything but easy. Trainees are expected 76 K-POP COLLABS – WHEN EAST Cook and eat like your favourite idol
to sacrifice a huge amount, and stick to a MEETS WEST 108 PROFILE: EXO
variety of rigid rules – from no dating to Stars are queueing up to collaborate 110 PROFILE: GOT7
weekly weigh-ins – all in the pursuit of with some of our favourite idols, hoping 112 THE DARKER SIDE OF K-POP
their dream a little K-Pop magic rubs off on them With the recent deaths of Haesoo and
34 PROFILE: FIFTY FIFTY 80 PROFILE: NEWJEANS Moonbin, what is happening to our
36 BTS FLY SOLO 82 PROFILE: ITZY beloved idols?
We all feared the worst when BTS 84 FAN CHAT 115 WORDSEARCH
announced their break last year, but we Julie Anne has been through hell – she Keep your eyes peeled for a host of
needn’t have worried – the boys have chats to us about escaping an abusive K-Pop acts in our fun puzzle

4
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

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92
5
 ST R AY
K ID
K
SE TH E
TA
WORLD BY ST ORM
6
 STRAY KIDS

T H ES E K- PO P SE N SA T IO N
S AR E
T H E L AT ES T PO P SU P ER S
TA RS !

Y
ou’d have to be at number one last year. In 2022
living under a rock alone, their Maxident album was
not to have fallen the sixth best-selling album in the
under the spell of world behind records by Bad Bunny,
K-Pop superstars Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, BTS and
Stray Kids. With the Encanto cast. They also outsold
their chart-topping their homegrown rivals Seventeen’s
sounds and super Face The Sun and Blackpink’s
tight dance routines, Born Pink.
they are yet another insanely The group – which is comprised
polished pop combo from South of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin,
Korea. And five years after their Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin
debut, the eight-piece band are and I.N – also ranked seventh in
showing no signs of slowing down. the IFPI’s top 20 list of artists who
In fact, they are going from strength generated the most money in 2022
to strength. Their latest album across streaming, download and
5-Star surpassed 5.13 million pre- physical record sales combined,
orders ahead of its June 2 release, beating acts like Harry Styles, Ed
beating a previous pre-order record Sheeran, Eminem, Kanye West,
set by Seventeen back in April. They Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Post
have even out-performed the mighty Malone and even The Beatles.
BTS, whose Map Of The Soul: 7 Not bad for a group whose future
received 4.02 million pre-orders. looked less certain after the sudden
In their home country of South departure of ninth member Woojin
Korea, the record shifted around back in 2019.
2. million on its first day of release In spite of facing a few obstacles
alone, making it the third highest- along the way, the eight-piece have
selling K-Pop album on its debut continued to make music and with
day, behind Seventeen’s FML and hard work and determination fast
BTS’s Map Of The Soul: 7. became the hugely successful and
But this success doesn’t come well respected group they are today.
as a surprise, as their mini albums This is partly due to the fact they’ve
Oddinary and Maxident both made sure they are very involved
crashed into the Billboard 200 chart themselves in the songwriting

7
 process and have enthusiastically the listener want to think about
collaborated with other writers them again.”
and producers on almost every And it’s this sharing of personal
song they have released. Bang thoughts and feelings that the
Chan, Han and Changbin have group think has helped to create a
dedicated themselves to writing powerful bond between the group
and producing and have even and their fandom, Stay.
created their own production team “As much as we love performing
called 3Racha. and singing on stage, not only
“We connect through our lyrics,” did we create our music for Stay,
Han told Teen Vogue about the but Stay also chose to be with us
process. “It’s a personal connection anywhere,” Felix told Bandwagon.
that allows me to mature and also “This brings us closer like friends
be comforted. Music is the only way and family. We’re always willing to
I can show myself.” understand one another through
Changbin agrees and says that music and much more.”
writing lyrics is like sharing his Changbin agrees, admitting he
thoughts in a diary, and the lyrics finds it astonishing that he and his
are then embraced by those who bandmates are so readily adored by
listen. “I’m not a very expressive people across the globe. “It still puts
person,” he admitted. “I don’t share me in awe to think about how we
a lot about myself, but music is are receiving love from all around
like a channel that unravels these the world,” he says. “It makes me
stories within me. On stage, those want to work even harder on our
feelings are magnified. performances in order to make up
“I’m a firm believer in the to everyone’s expectations.”
importance of lyrics,” Hyunjin says. The group recently wrapped their
“Especially as I love poetic lyrics. I Maniac world tour that took in
always try to write lyrics that make North America and Asia and was a

E I N A W E T O THINK
UTS M
"IT STILL P E R E C E I V I NG LO V E
WE AR
ABOU T HO W N D T H E W O RLD"
ROU
F ROM ALL A
- C HANGBI N

8
 STRAY KIDS

W HO ARE
ST R AY K IDS
Bang Chan Changbin
Born on October 3 Born on August 11
1997. Libra. Lee Know 1999. Leo.
Bang Chan was born Born on October We all know
in South Korea but 25 1998. Scorpio. Changbin for his
grew up in Australia. In Born in Gimpo, distinctive voice and
2011 he moved back to South South Korea, Lee only rapid-fire rap skills, but this talented
Korea to train for seven years as a had to complete one year fella is also one of the group’s
K-Pop star with JYP management. of training at JYP before he found producers and is known as SpearB
in their spin-off production combo
ALL BAND HEAD SHOTS: REALSTRAYKIDS/INSTAGRAM

As the oldest member of the band, he himself in the line-up for Stray
is considered the leader of the group Kids. But his journey to the band 3Racha. Away from the band, he
and because of his great command wasn’t easy. When he participated loves shopping and eating French
of English he takes control during in the band’s survival show, he was fries, has a Munchlax plushie called
interviews. Left-handed Bang is a multi- eliminated in episode four – but Gyu that he can’t sleep without
talented chap who is one of the rappers while it looked like his chances of and once appeared on The King Of
and vocalists, and enjoys the producing stardom had been dashed, he was Masked Singer singing Tomorrow
process of the job. When Bang isn’t swiftly brought back and went on to by Tablo featuring Taeyang. He’s
hiking or watching movies at home, he make the line-up. Phew! Smaller in always been musical and played the
will be hanging with his celeb mates – stature than his bandmates, he is the violin as a youngster.
Got7’s Bambam and Yugyeum, most of dancer of the combo, but also sings
the members of Twice and Blackpink’s and spits out the occasional rap.
Lisa. What a night out that would be. Before he joined the line-up he was a
back-up dancer for BTS!

9
 G O N S T A GE,
BEI N
" I E NJO Y G E A C H AND
E E I N
I E NJO Y S S M I LES"
A Y ' S
EVERY ST AN
- BANG C H
Felix
Hyunjin Born on 15
Born on March Han September 2000.
20 2000. Pisces. Born on Virgo.
Now firmly September 14 We all love Felix for that
established as a main 2000. Virgo. super deep voice of his. Like Bang, he
dancer and rapper in Han is so talented was raised in Sydney and moved to
Stray Kids, only child Hyunjin was that he begs the question, South Korea to become a JYP trainee
spotted by JYP on the street and what actually can’t he do? He’s a in 2017. Hard worker as he is, freckled
asked to become a trainee in 2015. super-gifted freestyle rapper who Felix took a year to train to become
While his English is – as he’d admit can dance, sing and produce. He can a K-Pop star and learn Korean along
himself – pretty basic, he can play probably juggle too. He spent his the way before debuting with Stray
the piano and likes to swim. He early years at an American school in Kids in 2018. He also speaks French.
has a dog named Kkami, who he’s Malyasia so is fluent in both English When he’s not singing, he likes to
had since he was 16. A fussy eater, and Korean. He has a puppy called cook, eat fried chicken feet, play
Hyunjin doesn’t enjoy onions, carrots Bbama, falls asleep wherever and games and collect dolls. He’s always
or aubergines but likes most fruit, whenever he lays down and decided been musical and learned to play the
especially watermelon, although he to become a singer because he liked piano for two years. While we may
hates persimmon. When it comes the idea of telling the story of his life call him our sweetheart, he has more
to looking for love, all he seeks is through music. Well, Han, we love nicknames than Stray Kids have
“someone who would listen to my listening to it. had hits – (deep breath) Happiness,
worries well and can empathise to Yongbokie, Lix, Bokie, Ppokie, Lee
them as if it’s their own worries”. Yeonppok, Meow, Fairy, Elf, Angel,
2D, Chick, Sunshine, Tweety, ASMR
Master and BabyFel.

10
 STRAY KIDS

wonderful chance to get up close and

WORDS BY CHRISTIAN GUILTENANE; ALL BAND HEAD SHOTS: REALSTRAYKIDS/INSTAGRAM; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH
personal with their devoted fans.
“I enjoy being on stage, I enjoy seeing
each and every Stay’s smiles, I enjoy the
whole atmosphere and I enjoy being
there with the people who I love the
most,” Bang Chan told Bandwagon.
“It’s a very comfortable place and I Seungmin
think that is one of the key reasons Born on
why I can express my genuine emotions September 22
and feelings.” 2000. Virgo.
“I’m so proud and extremely One of the main I.N.
happy,” I.N has said. “When we’re vocalists of Stray Born on
performing and watching Stay from Kids, Seungmin is a massive fan of February 8
on stage, watching how happy they fellow JYP group Day6 and Shawn 2001. Aquarius
look also makes me so happy – I feel Mendes. Away from the band he The maknae of the
overwhelmed with all the happiness.” sang a tune called Here Always that band, he’s besties
With the release of 5-Star the boys appeared on the OST for popular with fellow K-Pop stars TXT’s
explain that this record was a project Korean drama Hometown Cha Cha Beomgyu, Enhypen’s Heeseung and
that would offer Stay something new, Cha. When he’s peckish, he loves Just B’s Lim Jimin. Away from the
and see them venturing along new fish bread and eats it from its tail band he loves listening to ASMR
sonic avenues and expanding their first. Yum One thing he doesn’t like and once appeared in the web series
musical horizons. “Since this is our putting in his mouth is anything A-Teen season two with Hyunjin.
third full album, we tried our best to spicy, as it makes him sweat! An early When he was younger, he was a
focus on showing something new for riser, he likes to get up and prepare child model and wore braces on his
the listeners,” Bang Chan said recently. breakfast for the boys! Handy to teeth for around five years to help
“To show something a little different have around. His favourite motto is: give him the dazzling smile we all
is important because we then have a “Today you spent in vain is the day as know and love.
chance to expand our spectrum and tomorrow someone who passed away
show the listeners that we are capable really wants to live through.”
of doing this and that. Which is very
challenging to be honest, but it is a
challenge that we are always willing
to accept.”

11
 I S O O , R O S É A N D LISA
JENNIE, J
D E H I S T O R Y W I T H T WO
MA
S IN THE
S TO R M I NG S E T
E S E R T.
CAL IFORNI AN D
E 'S W H A T T H E Y SANG,
HER W HAT
E Y W O R E A N D
W HAT T H
H E Y S A I D A B O UT THE
T
- B R E A K I N G M OMENT!
RECORD

BL A CK P
N
INK
DESCEND O
COACHELL A
12
 BLACKPINK HIT COACHELLA

lackpink made

B
history when they
returned to Coachella
in April and became
the first-ever K-Pop
group to headline the
Californian festival.
“I believe that left
a mark on all our
hearts,” Rosé told the audience as
the girls returned to the stage. “It
made us remember the passion for
performing for all you guys.
And if their debut made them
feel like that, the 2023 headline
performance must’ve made their
hearts explode. “This is a dream
come true for us to be headlining
one of the largest festivals in the
world,” Rosé added before the girls’
storming high-energy set.
Here, we look inside the band’s
Coachella performance – from
the songs they belted out to the
numerous outfit changes. Plus,
we reveal how the girls really felt
performing on that iconic stage in
front of thousands of adoring Blinks…

13
 BL ACK PI NK ROCK
COACHELL A
The ladies performed 18 tracks
during their sensational set, but
it wasn’t all about the music. The
audience were treated to a range of
stunning visuals, including a ten-
minute drone show before the girls
came on stage, with a caterpillar,
butterfly, a heart and the Coachella
astronaut lighting up the night
sky before Jennie, Rosé, Lisa and
Jisoo appeared. As expected, the
girls’ choreography was out of
this world – and their dancers
were sensational. The crowd wore
specially made LED wristbands that
lit up in pink, with pyrotechnics,
fireworks and flames filling the sky.
And, while their 201 show
was understandably a little nervy,
there was nothing but confidence
as they strutted out on stage to
the sounds of opening track Pink
Venom. Blackpink in your area Yes
please, came the resounding answer
from the crowd. The set followed a
similar format to their world tour,
which meant each of the girls got
a chance to shine with a solo set,
before coming back together for
a rip-roaring Coachella finale
featuring Ddu-Du Ddu-Du
and Forever Young.

"T HIS IS A DREAM

TO US, W E' RE
C O M P L E T E LY
S HOC K E D"

14
 BLACKPINK HIT COACHELLA

T H E S E T L IS T
Pink Venom
Kill This Lov
e
How You Like
That
Pretty Sava
ge
Kick It
Whistle
You & Me – Je
nnie’s solo
Flower – Ji
soo’s solo
Gone/On The
Ground – Ros
é’s solo
Money – Lis
a’s solo
Boombayah
Lovesick Gir
ls
Playing With
Fire
Typa Girl
Shut Down
Tally
Ddu-Du Ddu-D
u
Forever You
ng

15
 "THE REAS
JISOO, J E N ON ALL FO
N I UR OF US -
BECAUSE O E , L ISA AND I
F YOU GU Y - ARE HER
S. T HANK Y E IS
OU SO M UC
H"

16
 BLACKPINK HIT COACHELLA

T HE OUT F I TS
Over two weekends, the girls da led
in an array of designer outfits, each
one more gorgeous than the one
before. Weekend one saw the girls
open with Pink Venom dressed in
black and pink custom-made Dolce
Gabbana ensembles. Each rocked
a different look, true to their own
individual style Jennie opted for
a baby pink mesh corset top with
matching shorts that featured crystal
piping and a lace train, as well as
a blinging mini jacket, which she
paired with leather combat boots.
Lisa channelled her edgy aesthetic
in a criss-cross top with sheer
shimmery sleeves and black shorts
with lace-up ties. Ros layered a
frilly gilet over a lace slip dress,
which was cinched with a belt. Jisoo
went for a more feminine vibe with
a bustier and shorts covered in
pleated pink chiffon.
The solo outfits were stunning.
Jennie wore a white lace crop top
embellished with pearls and a tulle
miniskirt with floral appli u by
Korean fashion label D nicheur.
Jisoo bloomed in a show-stopping
red dress by David Koma adorned
with chainmail and hand-cut leather
flowers. She finished the look with
matching patent leather gloves and
platform heels. Lisa wore a futuristic
ensemble for Money, slipping
into a metallic Mugler bodysuit
worn beneath an intricate laser-
cut bodysuit by Chinese designer
Yue i i. Ros , meanwhile, rocked
an Ellie Mae black leather jacket
with fringing as well as grungy Rick
Owens x Dr Martens boots.
Coming back together, the girls
closed the show in satin black and
metallic outfits featuring designs
by Grace Elwood. Lisa’s top was

17
 T HE LADIE
S UPPED T
STAK ES FO HE ST Y LE
R WEEKEN
D T WO

18
 BLACKPINK HIT COACHELLA

decorated in chains, while Jennie’s They came back together to

mesh shirt was adorned with close out their Coachella set in
flowers. Ros went grunge with outfits from David Koma and
her black halterdress, and Jisoo’s Mugler. Lisa wore a David Koma
embellished two-piece was edgy crystal-embellished chainmail
and feminine. halterneck top and miniskirt with
The ladies upped the style stakes a black and white biker jacket by
for weekend two, kicking off their Debby Upper. Ros smouldered
set in custom pink Mugler outfits. in a sheer embellished black dress
Jennie’s corset showed a bit of from Koma’s 2023 resort collection
underboob while Lisa paired her over a black belted bra. Jisoo,
corset with flared trousers with meanwhile, went for an asymmetric
thigh cut-outs. Jisoo opted for a metallic outfit by David Koma.
miniskirt, and Rosé slipped into a Her chainmail halterneck top and
minidress. The solo outfits didn’t black shorts featured silver floral
disappoint. Jennie bared her abs embellishments. Jennie opted for an
in blue satin Alessandra Rich. Her all-white look comprising a Koma
outfit featured a cut-out on the front belted bra and midi skirt worn with
and ruched hotpants. Jisoo wore a Mugler cut-out bodysuit.
a lilac tulle minidress embellished
with flowers from Aadnevik’s W HAT T HE GI RLS SA I D
spring 2022 collection. Ros wore ABOUT COACHELL A
a transparent se uin dress from
Paco Rabanne for her solo song, During the set, the girls seemed
completing her look with a black pretty overwhelmed that they
feather jacket by Michael Ngo. Lisa were actually gracing the stage at
went warrior princess in a crystal the festival. “Are we headlining
chainmail skirt, metallic bodice and Coachella Can you believe this
se uin gloves. Ros said while embracing Lisa.

19
“This is a dream to us, we’re completely of their backstage huddle with their After the set, the girls took to their
shocked. Us girls, we’ve worked really backing dancers was uploaded, showing socials to pay further tribute to their
hard all the way from Korea, so thank everyone’s ecstatic reactions and the devoted army of Blinks who had turned
you so much, she added. Jisoo said the ladies were so emotional, Jennie and up in their thousands to show their
evening was “unbelievable . She added Lisa were even seen crying. Ros spoke support. “Still feels surreal that we did
“When we came here four years ago, we for them all in saying “I am saying this Thank you coachella for having
couldn’t really tell how many people were this is a dream come true for us to be us! And to all Blinks out there, we
in the crowd. This time, we definitely feel headlining one of the most loved festivals could’ve never done this without you
the amount of love you’ve given us. in the world. The reason all of us Jisoo, guys. We are forever grateful. Thank you
Backstage, you could see just how Jennie, Lisa and I – are here is because again for these unforgettable two weeks
much it meant to the girls. A video of you guys. Thank you so much. and hope to see you all again!”

20
 BLACKPINK HIT COACHELLA

H A N K Y O U A G A I N FOR
"T
S E U N F O R G E T T A BLE
THE TO
E E K S A N D H O P E
T WO W
I N !"
SEE YOU ALL AGA WORDS BY NANCY BROWN; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES

21
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

MONSTA X
WHO ARE THEY? called Monsta X. After the release of THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, their EP Trespass in May 2015 they A series of EPs that all outsold the
Joohoney and I.M. remained a seven-piece, with Wonho singles culled from them, then a
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… also in the line-up, until he left in 2019. string of Korean and Japanese-
In 2014 all six boys were on the THEIR HITS INCLUDE… language albums, the biggest-selling
survival show No Mercy, where 13 Trespass, which only made it to number of which are Take 1 Are You There?
contestants competed in performance 148 in Korea but was a number 14 hit and its follow-up Take 2 We Are
rounds before the nine finalists formed in the US World chart. Rush, All In and Here. They recorded All About Luv
three groups, from which the judges Alligator also did much better in the and The Dreaming in English and
picked seven of them to be in a band States than in their homeland. were rewarded with number five and

22
 PROFILE: MONSTA X

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

number 21 placings in the States apparently. And fans? They’re called schedules or dancing or singing.
respectively. Their latest EP Reason is, Monbebe, which is French for “my baby”. Everything is inspirational to me.
according to Hyungwon, “deeper and FUN FACT When I have thoughts about lyrics,
sexier” than previous releases. Shownu has been away for a while as I pull out my phone and write them
DID YOU KNOW…? he completes his enlistment period in down to remember them.” – Joohoney
The name Monsta X is a mash-up the South Korean military but is due “When I do individual or personal
of “monsters conquering the K-Pop back soon. activities, the time resting isn’t as fun.
scene” and “my star” from the French WHAT THEY SAY… When we’re working as a group, even
word “mon”, meaning “my”. And the “Songwriting is always a different the time when we’re resting is fun and
X? It symbolises “unknown existence”, expression for me than working on enjoyable.” – Hyungwon

23
 "I FOUND
LOVE
BECAUSE
OF BTS!"
UK-BASED ARM Y M YA CL AV E Y
HAS A LOT TO T HANK T HE BO YS FOR ,
NOT LEAST MEET I NG A HEART-T HROB
OF HER OW N

24
 FAN CHAT

ya Clavey, who lives find out more about them from that

M
in the UK, has a lot point. This was also around the time
to thank the BTS Yoongi debuted as Agust D and I really
boys for. Now 21, admired his style, visual and rap. Yoongi
she told us that they has been my bias ever since then. Now
have made “such a as a young adult I still have endless
positive impact” on love and support for them and I’m
her life in a number thankful for all the happy moments I’ve
of different ways experienced because of them.
– perhaps most notably, though, is the
fact that Mya met her boyfriend, John, When did you first see them live? It
through a mutual love of BTS. She told must have been electrifying…
us: “We were already Army before dating In 201 I got to see them at Wembley
and our first-ever conversation was about Stadium. The atmosphere and
them, so we are really thankful to them for community feel of the concert is the
that.” Mya also credits the South Korean most heartwarming thing – it feels
boy band with giving her a “new-found like you’re all in it together supporting
confidence , thanks to their “empowering the boys. Seeing all the Army bombs
lyrics, their impact on youth culture and together lit up at night is really beautiful
humble personalities”. Mya said that too and something I’ll never forget. I
people are quick to “judge” BTS, but it’s have so many favourite parts of that
thanks to them she’s had some of the concert but I loved the hype energy
“happiest” moments of her life… during Outro: Tear, the boys playing on
the bouncy castle during Anpanman and
Tell us a bit about how you first the final performance, Mikrokosmos.
discovered BTS and what the boys
and their music mean to you… Tell us a bit about how you met
I’ve been supporting BTS for several your boyfriend and how BTS
years and started listening to them as were involved…
a young teen. My introduction to BTS It turns out my now boyfriend and I
was from their Dope music video that were at the Wembley Stadium concert,
I first watched back in 2016. I was sat not too far from each other without
immediately drawn to the music, the knowing. Then a year later we met each
style, rap and vocals and was eager to other properly in my hometown. We

25
 were already Army before dating – he
was a big fan even before me, since
201 . His bias is Jimin. Our first-ever
conversation was about them, so we are
really thankful to them for that.

Do the two of you listen to their

music together and go to their
concerts together?
We love listening to their music
together, watching Bangtan bombs,
lives and celebrating comebacks. We’ve
made playlists for each other full of
their old songs too. It’s really nice to
have someone to relate to in that sense
as BTS has been a big part of our lives,
and happiness, both individually and as
a couple, since our youth. So I’m really
grateful for that.

You said you’ve struggled with

confidence in the past – tell us a
bit about how they helped you to
find your confidence…
They have made such a positive
impact on my life in many aspects,
through their empowering lyrics, their
impact on youth culture and humble
personalities. They really helped me
to find a new-found confidence within
myself throughout the years, and to
see them grow since seven years ago the Love Yourself concept in which
has really been a privilege. I really feel they even campaigned with UNICEF
BTS and Army have a connection like to put an end to youth violence. As a
no other, having gone to their concerts teenager, the Love Yourself concept
and fan events there is always a real made me think more about ways I
strong sense of community. A lot of could improve my life and feel more
people are quick to judge BTS, whether confident within myself, so I’m very
because of their music or passionate thankful to BTS for that. They also
fans, but that’s what makes them so have the ability to connect with such a
great. I really admire BTS for their diverse range of people from different
humble personalities and the positive countries, age ranges and backgrounds,
messages in their music, especially with which I really admire.

26
 FAN CHAT

" NOW AS A YOUNG ADULT I ST I LL HAV E

ENDLESS LOV E AND SUPPORT FOR T HEM AND
WORDS BY NANCY BROWN; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES

I' M T HANK F UL FOR ALL T HE HAPP Y MOMENTS

I' V E E X PER I ENCED BECAUSE OF T HEM"

27
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

TWICE
WHO ARE THEY?
Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo,
Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu.
THEIR HITS INCLUDE…
The girls released their first EP The
Story Begins in 2015, with EP track
They’ve also released Japanese long-
players and more EPs than we have
space to name here. As of 2022 they
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… Like Ooh-Ahh eventually reaching were the highest-selling girl band in
Like many K-Pop superstars, Twice number ten on the Korean chart after South Korea, having sold more than
were put together by the almighty a slow start. The following year’s Cheer seven million albums, and last year
South Korean entertainment and Up was number one in their homeland, sales in Japan took their tally to 14
record company JYP Entertainment a feat that they then matched with million albums in the two territories.
– in their case through the girl group the likes of TT, Knock Knock, Signal, DID YOU KNOW…?
reality survival show Sixteen, which Heart Shaker and Yes Or Yes. Sana was spotted by a JYP talent scout
saw 16 contestants whittled down to THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… when she was out shopping with a
nine. Jihyo is the lead vocalist, Momo Twicetagram, Eyes Wide Open and bunch of friends. And Mina was also
is the main dancer and Chaeyoung is Formula Of Love: O+T=<3 are their spotted when she was out shopping
the chief rapper. huge-selling Korean studio albums. with her mum.

28
 PROFILE: TWICE

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

Dahyun is nicknamed ‘Tofu’ because Their 2021 release Taste Of Love was concept for us, but we learned that
of her pale skin. the first EP by a girl group to crack the the public responded better when
Their sharp moves have inspired top ten of the Billboard 200 chart. our concept was cute and energetic,
dance crazes and viral memes. WHAT THEY SAY… so that’s why we evolved in that
They’re known for their cheerful, “Even though we speak a different direction.” – Jihyo
poppy, hook-filled sound and colourful, language, fans from all over the world “Just as much as we’ve worked hard
youthful image but they’re not afraid are able to relate to our lyrics. I think this [to get where we are], there are also a
to address serious subjects – such just goes to show the power of music and lot of ONCE [the name for their fans]
as the pressures of social media – in that we are all human and experiencing who work hard to cheer us on. Even
their lyrics. the same things. Thank you to all our during the times we’re busy preparing
The video for Cheer Up notched up fans for supporting our music and for new albums and they can’t see us, they
100 million views on YouTube, the always being there for us.” – Mina always wait for us. And during our
most ever achieved by a J-Pop group’s “In the beginning of our years, the concerts and performances we’re really
first promo clip. company decided on a wild and edgy able to connect with them.” – Nayeon

29
 ET LIFE OF A
THE SECR

K-POP BECOMI NG AN I DOL MAY BE T HE DREAM,

BUT T HE HARD WORK CAN BE A NIGHT MARE
TR AINEE

W
hen a K-Pop If they make it past the application But it’s not just the rigorous
act bursts into stage, they may be asked to audition rehearsals that keep the hardworking
the world out so they can show off their singing, trainees busy. If they are still of
of nowhere, rapping, dancing and acting skills school age, they must squeeze in
you’d swear in front of a panel of tough judges. school work between their rehearsals.
they were There, they will usually be asked to Lessons can last until around 4pm
heaven sent perform two songs – one in English, before they start training in the
as they arrive one in Korean and to show off some evening between 5pm and 7pm.
fully formed, choreography. The judges will not Then after dinner – which comprises
immaculately styled, with pitch pass comment on the day, so eager of strict low-carb meals such as
perfect vocals and tight complex hopefuls have to leave wondering salads and soups – they will do more
dance routines. But that magic isn’t whether they’ll get a call back. training until around ten o’ clock.
the work of a mysterious wizard in Then judges will whittle the This process will go on for years and
the sky. These young idols have been auditionees down to around 15-20 hopefuls are worked hard, with the
put through their paces for years people, and then each must record a weakest being released resulting in a
before they make their debut. track. Based on this, some will receive group that is strong across the board.
With so much money to make, and a call back for a second audition. Successful trainees are usually of
with so many fresh faced groups and If they successfully get through school age. Occasionally older teens
singers trying to make an impact on that, a trainee will be offered a two- may get the chance to try their luck,
the market, it is important for the year or four-year contract, or maybe but it is considered tougher for older
growing number of management more. However, this contract does wannabes to break through.
companies to find the best of the not guarantee they will make In the end, only about ten per cent
best and train them hard so that it through to debut. Once the of youngsters with K-Pop stars in their
they can learn to cope with the contract has been signed, trainees eyes will make a successful debut. In
pressures that recording, touring must follow a strict set of rules training, their singing and dancing
and fame will bring. and schedules. Much of skills will be regularly evaluated by
The training regime, in which their time will be spent a panel of judges to see if they are
young hopefuls will be whipped on hours of training, strong enough contenders to be in the
into shape, is tough, but before such as dancing, singing, band. Only the best of the best will
these young wannabes even get rapping, acting and more. survive. But even if they do make the
to that stage, they must first get As the weeks and months group, more hard work follows. Their
past the audition stage – and go on, some of these trainees next challenge is to debut – and that’s
that process is rigorous. will be asked to leave. when the real hard work begins.

30
 LIFE AS A TRAINEE

BL ACK PI NK 'S T R A I NEE MEMOR I ES

Since their debut in 2016, Blackpink training was so hard-going that it
have become one of the biggest would leave her feeling overwrought.
K-Pop bands in the world, and yet “If I was going through a hard time,
they still haven’t shaken off the I’d go to the bathroom, sob my heart
memories of their trainee years. The out,” she revealed in an interview.
group was originally supposed to be “Then I was on to the next thing.
made up of seven members If you told me to do that again,
and YG Entertainment I could never.”
began looking for ten to 20 Lisa was so stressed out being
trainees to join the group away from her home in Thailand
as early as 2011, and spent that she considered giving up. “I’d
six years whittling them call my mom wanting to quit,” she
down into a four-piece. recalled. “And she’d tell me to hang
Rosé admitted that on just another year, just hang on.”

BITOON: I T R IED OUT FOR BTS

"I'D CALL

K
M
WAN T I NG Y MOM
im Ji-hun might not be a name
TO QUIT" you recognise (unless
you know him better at
- LISA YouTuber Bitoon), but
had luck been on his
side, he might have become a
member of the mighty BTS.
As a teen, the hip hop fanatic
auditioned for Big Bang (now
called HYBE) in 2011 and was
offered a trainee deal alongside the

PHOTO: @BITO_ON94/INSTAGRAM
bunch of boys who became the world’s
greatest K-Pop band. Although his peers were all
friendly and supportive, he admitted that he felt
his dancing skills were nowhere near as polished as
some of the others.
“I thought they were just these amazing, talented
people, and I was a little ashamed of my skills,”
he said in an interview with Vice. Every time the
monthly evaluations came around, he felt super
stressed as he tried his best to compete with his
fellow trainees. “And this psychological pressure
was massive. I went up on stage smiling, and then I
suddenly fro e. That was the first time I cried after
becoming a trainee.”
Sadly, no matter how hard he tried, he soon
became resigned to the fact that he might not have
what it took to become an idol. “I used to think
that hard work pays off, but there were things that
couldn’t be achieved through hard work,” he said.

T H ROUGH
Eventually, after another evaluation he was told

" I F I WAS GOI NG

his journey was over. Although disappointed, he
GO TO T HE
A HARD TIME, I'D
wasn’t surprised, as he knew he was up against

MY HEART OUT"
better hopefuls. “I was sad that I could no longer be

B A T H R O O M , S O B in a team with these friends,” he recalled. “I blamed

- ROSÉ
myself for not making it to the team.”
The rejection hit him hard, and he hit a low
point, revealing: “I was living in depression and
remorse up to my twenties, always thinking that
I wouldn’t make it, I couldn’t do it.” He decided
to try another avenue and years later established
himself as a YouTube star called Bitoon.

31
 SECRETS F ROM T HE
T R A I NI NG DORMS
I F YOU FANC Y YOURSELF AS AN
I DOL , HEED T HIS WARNI NG

F
ormer idol trainer turned YouTuber In Jin Woong
has said that the process of creating an idol is actually
training these young hopefuls to be consumer
products. “When a large agency releases a recruitment
announcement, more than 10,000 audition videos are
sent in,” he told News 1 Entertainment TV. “After beating the
competition and becoming a trainee, these kids go through
the process of being created into a consumer product.
RAINED WITH
" T HE AGENC Y I T
Y W E IG H T E V E R Y
Basically changing their way of thinking.”
As soon as these young hopefuls sign up to
W O U L D C H E C K M
become a trainee, their lives are no longer theirs.
LY D IS P L A Y
“These kids can’t even go to the convenience W E E K A N D P U B L IC E W A L L"
TH
store by themselves until they have certain
T H E F IG U R E S O N ,
- K I M J A E -K Y U N G E R
years of experience,” he says. “They are told: ‘If
you want to become a celebrity, that lifestyle is a
W MEMB
given.’ I feel it’s a way to trap people into this well
that’s called the entertainment industry.” FORMER R A I NBO
In Jin also revealed that he had seen kids as young
as eight and nine signed up to become trainees, who for the
next six or seven years are forced to compete against each
other to land a place in the final band. But as they get older,
they see other trainees who have been doing it longer living
a certain lifestyle which then for them becomes the norm.
“They enter the agency at the age of eight, nine or ten
and train for about seven years and debut at the age
around 15 or 16,” he said. “They are at the age when the
set of values in life haven’t been established, but these kids
only see older girls and boys going on diets, singing and

" I T 'S A WAY TO T R AP

PEOPLE I NTO T HIS W ELL
T HAT 'S CALLED T HE
ENT ERTA I NMENT I NDUS T R Y "
dancing, and living their life as a celebrity. To them, that’s
normal. It’s hard, but that becomes their norm.”
Of course, only a select few make the final line-up, but
how do those who don’t make it fare – especially if they
have spent so long trying to make it into the band. “There
are smart ones who make it [in life],” In said. “These kids
come out and can do other things, but the ones who just
went with the flow don’t turn out well. A majority of them
T W IC E 'S M O M O
haven’t gone to college, and their life values haven’t been -
instilled properly. Also, a lot of them don’t have the basic I NS T RUC T ED B
YH
knowledge/social skills with people because their schedule
AGENC Y TO LOS ER
E7
BEFORE A SHO W KG
was set from morning to night for them. They only lived the
way they were told. A lot of them who don’t make it come to
CA
me and ask me: ‘What can I do now?’ Many of them become
AND WAS GI V EN SE,
despondent and sometimes end up in the seedy red light O N LY
district industry. Of course, there are those who make it big A W EEK TO DO I
in life; they become dance studio teachers. But this system T!
is a pyramid formation, which makes it really hard.”

32
 LIFE AS A TRAINEE

TRAINEE RULES
T HE DO'S AND DON' TS OF A K-POP T R A I NEE
BO YS AND GI RLS ARE K EP T SEPAR AT E
In 2017, Blackpink’s Rosé revealed on Radio Star that male and female trainees
were banned from hanging out with each other. To ensure they never came face to
face, dinner times would be scheduled at different times, and the girls’ managers
would keep a beady eye on the boys to make sure they didn’t linger.

NO DAT I NG
It will come as no surprise that dating is banned, even after the final group debuts.
JYP Entertainment, the agency behind huge bands Twice and Got7, is well known
for their strict rules about keeping their artists single until at least three years
after they have been in the public eye. “After the debut, I advise them to not
meet friends and only stay focused on practising for three years,” founder Park
Jin-young tweeted, elaborating in an interview: “After that they are free to bring
boyfriends over, and I would buy them dinner.”
In 2016, Wonder Girls appeared on the show Radio Star and joked about being
free to finally start dating, announcing “Now we are free to date anybody. So if
you guys have any interest, call us, text us, whatever, thank you.”

NO PHONES AND NO SOCI AL MEDI A

Because trainees are worked so hard, it is important that they’re not distracted by
anything in the world outside. So as soon as they are signed up, they must refrain
from using phones. This way they are not able to say anything they shouldn’t
on social media, which could come back and bite them when they are idols.
Only when performers win first place in a music show are they allowed access to
their personal phones. In 2016, girl group GFriend said during an appearance
on Immortal Songs: Singing The Legend that they were only allowed to have
their personal phones once they’d won a music show. After going solo, SNSD’s
Tiffany Young told the Zach Sang Show that at the start of the project none of
the members had a cell phone, so she had to go out to a phone booth to make
international calls to her parents in the US.

S T R IC T DI ETS
To ensure trainees are as fit as possible, they are forced to live on an incredibly
strict diet. High calorie foods are banned, so they must wave goodbye to tteok-
bokki, jajangmyeon, ice cream and hamburgers. Of course not every wannabe
idol sticks to the rules – even K-Pop’s biggest stars. In an interview on The

WORDS BY CHRISTIAN GUILTENANE; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES, INSTAGRAM, UNSPLASH, YOUTUBE

Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, RM revealed that he once snuck out
of his dorm, dashed to a nearby restaurant and gobbled up some jajangmyeon
within four minutes.

W EEK LY W EIGH-I NS
To make sure that trainees are a healthy weight, they are weighed weekly and
their results are announced for everyone to see. Kim Jae-kyung, the actress who
debuted with girl group Rainbow, said the agency she trained with would check
their weight every week and publicly display the figures on the wall. She said
it became so stressful for the girls that they would try anything to reduce their
weight for the weigh-ins such as cutting their nails short, going to the bathroom or
even spitting out saliva.
It seems like she wasn’t the only one. On V Live in 2018, Twice’s Momo claimed
she was instructed by her agency to lose 7kg before a showcase – and was given
only a week to do it. This prompted the Japanese idol to embark on an extreme
weight loss plan – eating only one cube of ice and then going to the gym – an
approach so traumatic that she cried herself to sleep “scared that I might not wake
up again”. The Twice girls around her gasped in surprise and Jeongyeon even said:
“Ask them to try it for themselves.”

33
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

FIFT Y FIFT Y
WHO ARE THEY? THEIR HITS INCLUDE… sped-up version of the song was
Saena, Aran, Keena and Sio. They’re among the new girls on the a sensation and propelled them into
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… block so there are just two so far: the US charts (it reached number
The girl group was put together in Higher and Cupid, with the latter 1 as the fastest K-Pop entry ever
2020 by the independent record label reaching number eight in the UK, over there.
Attrakt, with Saena having already making them the first K-Pop girl band THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
appeared on Korean TV dance contest to break into the top ten. Aran was That debut EP plus The Beginning:
Dancing High. They trained for two thrilled, saying “Being in a K-Pop Cupid, although it’s a so-called “single
years before revealing their logo and group with a K-Pop song charting album” which includes three versions
releasing a video for debut song Lovin in the UK charts is very hard, that’s of Cupid. Fans are now eagerly
Me on their YouTube channel in what we’ve heard, so it’s a great awaiting the release of their first
November 2022. A day later the girls’ honour for us.” proper album.
names were revealed, just ahead of the After the girls launched a dance DID YOU KNOW…?
release of their EP The Fifty. challenge on TikTok, a fan-created, It’s a complex concept but the name

34
 PROFILE: FIFTY FIFTY

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

Fifty Fifty represents a merging of FUN FACT looks so powerful and she has so much
50 per cent “ideal” and 50 per cent For astrology fans, Sio and Aran are the confidence. Aran
“reality” to form a 100 per cent whole youngest members – born within days “We tried to show various sides of
between the girls and their fans. Or of each other in October 2004 – and our inner selves through Cupid, which
something like that! Their fans are are both Libras. Eldest member Keena is about a pure, amateur love. We
called Hunnies. is Cancer and Saena is Pisces. wanted to express love in the most
Saena is lead vocalist and Keena’s WHAT THEY SAY… direct and honest way, so that’s how
rap stylings have been praised, not “Our music is about duality. So I’ll say the song came about.” – Sio
least by Sio, who says: “Her voice is that to all future listeners: The more “I believe all of us, individually, have
unique and I especially love her rap you listen to [our music], you will be very specific, uni ue and different
tone because it’s very, very powerful.” able to hear and experience a variety of vocal tones. I think we will have more
Cupid was originally sung in Korean genres and unique sounds.” – Keena opportunities to really show how Fifty
but Fifty Fifty also incorporated “I love Ariana Grande. And I love Fifty could build up our own unique
English lyrics into the “twin version”. the way she sings on the stage. She vocal tones in the future as well.” – Saena

35
36
B
G
T
O
SIT ALONE
 FLYING SOLO

AF T E R AN NOU NCI NG T
HEIR
DE VAS TAT I NG NE WS L
AST

B
TS may be busy working on their
Y EAR , T HE BT S BO YS H solo material – or, in the case of Jin
AV E and J-Hope, undertaking military
GO N E F RO M S T R E NG T H service – but that doesn’t mean the
TO band is no more. When they said
S T RENG T H W I T H T HE I they were going on a hiatus, they
R actually meant it.
S O L O P R O J EC T S Not only have they released a
brand new tune called The Planet
(which is featured in the new animated show
Bastions), they also marked their tenth anniversary
with an outdoor festival at Seoul’s Yeouido Hangan
for fans to enjoy. Among the things to see was an
exhibition of some of the guys’ outfits, plus a place
for Army to get their own temporary tattoo. RM even
made an appearance via Weverse Live, and the day
was topped off with an extravagant fireworks display.
But while fans were initially cautious about the
band’s decision to part company for a while, they
have enjoyed the solo offerings from the insanely
talented septet. Here’s the rundown on the record
breakers, the superstar teams behind the music and
the members who keep us guessing…

37
 J-HOPE torming the global charts performance without his bandmates.

S
with his mix tape Hope Chronicling all of that is his
World in 2018, J-Hope Disney+ documentary J-Hope
described the process of In The Box, which also lets
making his own material as a us into the gruelling creative
“really pure, innocent and beautiful” process he puts himself
experience. Unsurprisingly, Hope through and promotional
World topped the iTunes chart in activities around the album.
109 countries. To put that feat into As if that wasn’t enough, he
perspective, Beyoncé’s Lemonade turned his hand to modelling
could only manage 108 territories! when he walked shows for
Following the announcement of the Louis Vuitton, Dior and Hermès
band’s break, J-Hope was first to push at Paris Fashion Week.
out a solo album in July 2022, entitled As of April 2023 he’s officially
Jack In The Box. Later that month, enlisted for mandatory military
he became the first Korean artist service, but left fans a gift in the
to headline world-famous festival form of second single On The
Lollapalooza, which was not only his Street featuring rapper J Cole.
first headline show but his first ever Something to remember him by!

38
 FLYING SOLO

HE BECAME T HE
FI RST
KOREAN ART IS
T TO
HEADL INE WOR
LD-
FAMOUS F ES T I
VAL
LO LL APALOOZ A

39
 SUGA tarting his career as a songwriter and

S
producer has meant Suga has become the
most prolific BTS member when it comes
to spreading his wings. He’s credited on
more than 100 songs! Often releasing
music under his pseudonym Agust D – which is a
combination of the initials of his birthplace, Daegu
Town, and Suga written backwards – he put out
his first self-titled mix tape in 2016, followed by
D-2 in 2020.
He claims to be able to reveal himself more
honestly as Agust D, which is exactly what we heard
when he released his first album D-Day. The album
features the energetic rapping we’ve come to know
him for, and honest lyrics touching on subjects
such as his mother’s heart surgery and his father’s
liver cancer. On Haegeum he ponders: “Really what
is it exactly that’s been restricting us? / Maybe we
do it to ourselves.”
He hit the road and became the first BTS
member to headline his own tour, throughout May
and June in the USA and Asia. Performing as Suga
and his alter ego, the tour imagery featured both
names as fans got lucky with a two-for-one offer.
Outside of the music industry, Suga’s keeping
busy as a brand ambassador for Valentino, taking
part in the designer’s Paris Fashion Week show,
and he hosts foodie-talk show Suchwita on the
YouTube channel BangtanTV, where guests have
included RM, Hoshi from Seventeen and Big Bang
member Taeyang.

40
 FLYING SOLO

T HE FI RST BT
S
MEMBER TO
HEADLINE HIS
OWN
TOUR , T HROU
GHOU T
MAY AND JUN
E IN
T HE USA AND
ASIA

OTOKYJ80
INSTAGRAM/PH

41
 RM WAS
T HE FI RS
MEMBER T
OF THE
GROUP T
O RE
A SOLO M LEASE
I X TAPE

42
 FLYING SOLO

RM he group’s main

T
spokesperson,
fluent English
speaker and
sometime-
producer was always
destined for solo
greatness. His rapping
caught Warren G’s
eye in 2015 and the
collaboration marked the beginning of a number
of exciting recording projects with equally diverse
American artists such as Wale on the socially-
charged Change, Fall Out Boy on the anthemic
Champion and an iconic duet with Lil Nas X.
RM was the first member of the group to release
a solo mix tape, 2015’s RM, which saw him in
soul-searching mood on subjects such as fame and
mental health. In 2018, Mono followed which was
an introspective and mature record, and finally
in December 2022 he unleashed his long-awaited
debut ten-track album Indigo. He describes the
“diary-like” record as “the last archive of my
twenties” and went on to have a cultural moment
performing for an NPR Tiny Desk session.
About the album, RM says: “I’ve worked hard on
it for four years. It’s very different from my previous
works, and fun people are included in it.” Duets include
the likes of Erykah Badu, Anderson .Paak, Mahalia and
others. But it’s on to the next for fans, who speculate he
has a secret second album ready to drop.

43
 JIN in didn’t feature on solo in October 2022. The Astronaut

J
independent songs until 2019, is a sweeping tune co-written with
when poignant ballad Tonight Coldplay that has the famous band’s
– about a pet who had died – stamp all over it. It placed number
landed on Soundcloud. Next 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, along
came the pandemic-inspired Abyss, with a top spot on Billboard’s
which deals with Jin’s feelings of Digital Song Sales chart, and Jin
burnout and being alone, but he was was invited on stage to sing it by
back in playful mood with viral hit Coldplay in Buenos Aires on their
Super Tuna. Music Of The Spheres World Tour.
While he’s the first member of He also hosts a show with famous
the group to enlist in the military Korean chef Baek Jong-won
you might think music is on the called Jin’s Traditional Alcohol
backburner, but he found time to Journey, which sees the pair make
release his official solo debut single traditional alcohol and eat food
alongside guests. It’s a passion he
hopes to return to following his
military service as he plans to open
a brewery under his own name.
“He’s been filling oak casks with
alcohol, which should be ready to
drink by the time he’s discharged
from the military,” Baek explained.
“I want to add oak scents and
flavours to soju, similar to whisky.
There’s no official name of this
drink we’re creating just yet.”

HE' S T HE F
I RST
MEMBER OF
THE
GROUP TO E
NLIST
IN THE MIL
ITARY

44
FLYING SOLO

45
 SI NGLE
LIKE C
SL ICE RAZY W
OF FUN
AND TO K Y DAN AS A
PPED T CE
HO T 10 HE BI L -POP
0, MAK LBOARD
HIGHES I N G JIMI
T- C H A R N THE
SOLOIS T I NG
T OF AL KOREAN
L TIME

46
 FLYING SOLO

JIMIN lways adding a flourish to the

A
group’s work with his famous
falsettos, Jimin released his first
song outside of the BTS catalogue
in December 2018 called
Promise, which enjoyed the biggest
24-hour debut in Soundcloud’s history.
It was a promise – quite literally – of
something big to come, and the singer
didn’t disappoint when he
dropped debut album Face
in March this year. Single
Like Crazy was a slice of
funky dance-pop and topped
the Billboard Hot 100, making
Jimin the highest-charting
Korean soloist of all time. He
describes the album as showing
a more “raw” and “mature” side
in his solo music. “I want to be
better and cooler,” he pledged.
There’s been no expense spared
in working with super producers
such as Pdogg and Mr Franks, who
masterminds Ariana Grande’s work.
Jimin’s claimed that hit Like
Crazy was inspired by the 2011 rom-com movie of
the same name. “I tried to express the feelings of that
movie. You know, the somewhat complex, somewhat
lonely, somewhat happy emotions,” he told Rolling
Stone. “I tried to express all these ambiguous and
subtle emotions in a slightly sexy way.”

47
 JUNGKOOK HIS SONG D
BECAME T H
REAMERS
E OFFICI AL
FI FA WORL
he baby of the band has album. Just one more song came D CUP

T 2022 ANT H
come a long way since in 2020 at the annual BTS Festa
his first solo BTS song
Begin in 2016, which saw
celebrations – Still With You –
before the focus was switched
EM
him sing wistfully about back to BTS.
leaving his hometown Busan Post-hiatus, Jungkook was
for the bright lights of Seoul as the first member to release a
a teenager. By the time 2018’s track with Charlie Puth – the
Euphoria came around, Jungkook catchy Left And Right – but it
had made the leap from fledgling was his song Dreamers that
star to bonafide solo artist. The led him to a unique honour.
emotional tune became Rolling The song became the official
Stone magazine’s greatest ranked FIFA World Cup 2022 anthem
solo BTS tune at the time. and he performed at the
He began to tease a mix opening ceremony of the event,
tape and Army even coined becoming the first South Korean
the hoped-for project artist to do so. While many fans
JJK1 (an abbreviation expressed their pride, some were
of his full name, Jeon left upset by the controversy
Jungkook) but in 2019 the event caused in the wake of
he apologised for the Qatar’s human rights record.
wait, saying he felt he His mix tape still eludes him,
needed to hone his craft but there’s no doubting he’s got
before putting out an half the track list already sewn up.

48
FLYING SOLO

49
 "I WAN
T TO PR
K IND O ESENT
F MUSI A
NEVER C T HAT
TRIED I'VE
BEFORE
"

50
 FLYING SOLO

V
M/THV
INSTAGRA

ack in 2020, V teased he was

B
working on a mix tape with
the goal of releasing it in
the same year, but later told
Rolling Stone the project
turned out to be “more complex” than
expected and it was shelved. In fact,
he admits he has a habit of deleting
music he’s not 100 per cent sure of.
Post-BTS, V has popped up on a
variety of Korean TV shows and some
fans think he may return to acting,
having made a name for himself in 2016’s
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, but
we’re yet to hear a solo V album.
Appearing on the cover of Vogue
Korea in September, he teased again
that new music might be coming. “I want
to present a kind of music that I’ve never
WORDS BY LIZZY PRICE; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES, INSTAGRAM, UNSPLASH, YOUTUBE

tried before, something that sets apart

from the style BTS’s V has shown,” he
told the magazine. “Being able to pursue
one’s own music style lights the passion
and enthusiasm in us. That’s what keeps
us in love with what we do.”
While nothing has been confirmed, the
rumour mill suggests he’ll drop it this
year. The husky-voiced singer released
his first song Scenery in 2019, self-
written and composed, which broke
Soundcloud records. Later releases
included Winter Bear and Snow
Flower with K-Pop star Peakboy,
and he collaborated with Swedish
pop star Zara Larsson, together
with bandmate J-Hope, on a song
called A Brand New Day.

51
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

TOMO RR OW X
TOGET HER
WHO ARE THEY? first EP The Dream Chapter: Star was THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun released and went straight to the top of The usual run of big-selling EPs
and HueningKai. the Korean and US World charts. plus three long-players, namely
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… The Dream Chapter: Magic, Still
Another Big Hit Entertainment boy Debut release Crown was a US World Dreaming and The Chaos Chapter:
band signing, and their second after number one, and the video got a record- Freeze (a number one in their
BTS, the youngsters with an average breaking 14.5 million views on YouTube. homeland and an impressive number
age of 17 at the time were launched Singles like 9 And Three Quarters five in the US .
onto the K-Pop scene in January 2019. (Run Away), Can’t You See Me?, 0x1 DID YOU KNOW…?
The campaign began with a website = Lovesong (I Know I Love You) and Although The Dream Chapter: Star
countdown and the phrase: “You and Good Boy Gone Bad have all done better only entered the Billboard 200 at
I, different but together. The names in the States than in Korea, but this number 140, it was the highest-
of the seven bandmates were then year’s dance-pop song Sugar Rush Ride charting debut EP by a K-Pop boy band
revealed over a few days before their took them to number 11 in Korea. to that date.

52
 PROFILE: TOMORROW X TOGETHER

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

Tickets for their six-city US tour in By the way, the boys aren’t keen on WHAT THEY SAY…
May 2019 sold out in less than 24 hours. the TXT handle, telling a TV show that “As a team, we’re all about reflecting
Their mission statement is to be they prefer their full name. the world as we see it or basically the
a group of five people “who come Their fan club name is MOA, experiences we and our generational
together under one dream in the hopes meaning Moments of Alwaysness . peers go through. Beomgyu
of building a better tomorrow . Soobin is the official leader but none “I don’t think that enjoying music
They sing about teenage growing of the others have set roles, such as is just an auditory experience. There
pains but, as one critic put it, their lead dancer or head rapper – they do a are ways to expand that experience
music is “bright, breezy and blissfully bit of everything. through movements and choreography,
free of life’s worries, focussing more on They’ve promoted or modelled for costumes or through sets and lighting
fantasy and fun . skin care brands It’s Skink Manyo which our tour team puts a lot of hard
TXT, as they’re often referred to, Factory and Clio, beauty brand 4OIN work into. HueningKai
were the first Korean act to perform at and personal care brand KUNDAL. “I think it’s very important to try and
America’s huge Lollapalooza festival. They’ve also modelled student uniforms. be a good person. Yeonjun

53
 K-POP SUPERSTARS
ENHYPEN
WHO ARE THEY?
Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo,
Jungwon and Ni-ki.
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER…
The band was formed through the 2020 I-Land
survival show, which put 23 trainees through
their paces until all but seven were eliminated.
THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE…
Given-Taken, Drunk-Dazed and Tamed-
Dashed, all of which were bigger in Japan than
Korea. Drunk-Dazed was a number three hit
on the US World chart and Blessed-Cursed was
number seven there.
THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
Four EPs to date, including Korean number ones
Border: Carnival and Dark Blood.
DID YOU KNOW…?
The name Enhypen is based around the world
‘hyphen’, with the explanation: “Just like
hyphens connect different words to make new
meanings, the members will connect, discover
each other and grow together.”
Their fandom name is Engene, a play on the
words ‘engine’ – as the fans “are like engines that
let us grow and keep going” – and ‘gene’ because
the band and the fans “share the same DNA”.
Plans to release new music in September
2021 were scuppered when everyone in the
band except Sunoo tested positive for Covid-19.
Sunoo caught the virus the following February.
The band have their own webtoon series
called Dark Moon: The Blood Altar.
They have worked with lifestyle brand
GOALSTUDIO plus the Ami Paris and Abib
fashion and skincare brands. They were the
face of Nike Air Max in Japan and have also
fronted campaigns for Coca-Cola, Kolon Sports
and BYS Cosmetics Philippines.
WHAT THEY SAY…
“We’re together physically 24/7 and we do
almost everything together so we’ve formed a
strong relationship.” – Sunoo
“I think the most important thing is
communication, so I try to listen to our members’
opinions as much as possible. Enhypen’s
chemistry is really solid.” – Jungwon
“Some things are dark, some things are
bright, some things are R&B or rock, and
dedicating ourselves to each style is better
than, like, me being just me.” – Jay
“I feel like all the sacrifices that we made
through the years have all paid off with our
fans’ support and all the love we get whenever
we perform and do stuff like that. Jake

54
55
PROFILE: ENHYPEN

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

 "MANY ARMY
HAVE BEEN
TRULY SAVED
BY BTS -
THEY'RE
NATURAL
HEALERS"
PS YCHIC HEALER AND ANI MAL COMMUNICATOR
CHARLOT T E WALK ER DELV ES I NTO T HE SECRET
HEAL I NG MESSAGES YOU MIGHT HAV E MISSED,
BUT HAV E MOST DEF I NI T ELY F ELT, I N BTS' MUSIC!

56
 FAN CHAT

e’ve all heard the of Koreanet’s Beyond The K initiative,

W
saying that BTS which will work to promote Korean
find you when culture around the world.
you need them Here, Charlotte delves into the hidden
the most. But healing messages inside the group’s
have you ever work, how the boys help “empower their
wondered why fans to be their free, true selves and
that is, or how the how there’s no denying BTS are way
boys come into more than just another manufactured
your life when you need them the most K-Pop boy band
UK-based author, psychic healer and
animal communicator Charlotte Walker Tell us a little about how you
has studied the boys as both a fan and discovered BTS and what the
a professional therapist for the past boys mean to you…
nine years. And she’s uncovered a strong I knew of K-Pop since PSY in 2012, as thrived in the pandemic, hosting their
link to healing, both in the boys’ music it was such a monumental moment in cancelled 2020 shows online some
and videos and in their actions, which music history, and I was aware of BTS for free, which created a larger fan base.
you might have missed. since 2018/1 . However, BTS didn’t They sparked my interest due to them
Charlotte told us “As a healer, BTS truly make an appearance for me in having so many references to healing
intrigued me with their references to my life until 2020 during the Covid-1 in their music, videos and interviews.
healing through their concepts, whether pandemic. As the saying goes, BTS don’t These nods to healing have been there
through the music videos, lyrics, spoken find you until you really need them. throughout their nine years supported
word or the BU. She added “I noted It has been said that so many people by Big Hit Music and its tagline Music
how this affected and helped other fans found BTS when the world stopped Artist for Healing. It’s a huge shame
through personal trauma. Many Army as they had time to search through the tagline was lost in 2022 with the
were truly saved by BTS. YouTube to entertain themselves. With company restructuring to Hybe Big Hit
With this in mind, Charlotte put mainstream music in the Western world Music. Many of the fandom identified
her art skills to the test and ended never playing what is considered foreign with the meaning behind the slogan. To
up making a banner entitled Proof music, people had the opportunity to them it truly emulates the truth of the
Of BTS Healing which is now on explore further. When the pandemic BTS vision and dream.
display at London’s Victoria Albert forced the music industry to cancel lots
Museum. ollowing on from that of concerts and gigs, BTS and Big Hit A lot of the boys’ fans have told us
she’s also been appointed an honorary saw an opportunity. When other musical they’ve helped them through very
reporter representing the UK as part performers stopped, BTS pivoted and di cult times – give us your ta e

57
 on that – what is it about the boys
and their music that helps so many
people who are struggling?
Many Army were truly saved by BTS.
So many people have healed from
all sorts of personal trauma from
abusive relationships, mental anxiety,
depression, physical health issues,
loneliness, eating disorders, financial
troubles, grief, suicide, the list goes
on. BTS have given people self-worth
in life when it’s all too easy to forget
that everyone could be struggling
with something at any time. rom the
UNICE Love Yourself campaign to the
song from very early on in their musical
career Save Me, their music has really,
truly saved many.

You are a healer – e plain to

people with little or no nowledge
what you do, how it can help and
how BTS translates this through
their music…
I am an interspecies healer and animal
communicator, which means I work
with humans and their companion
animal pets by helping them to heal
themselves through empowerment
and universal energy. One form most
people understand is reiki. I work with
energy, nutrition, herbs and massage to creativity within Army, prompting a where there are no country borders
give holistic health and well-being. This huge range of fan art. BTS empower or language barriers, it is said there
holistic way of working heals physically, their fans to be their free, true selves. is no age limit, no race or gender in
mentally, emotionally and behaviourally the Army.
to help achieve a well-balanced lifestyle How are older fans li e yourself
with empowerment. And the animal accepted into the BTS fandom? You attended the second BTS
communicator bit, well yes, I actually With BTS exploring societal and Conference in – did you meet
listen while the animal talks to me and cultural elements, they have influenced anyone with a really special story
I communicate back to the human an older fandom group of more mature you can share?
guardian what their pet needs or wants Army with a demographic of women To be honest every single story from
to tell them. BTS’ concepts over time in their thirties to some being reported an Army is special, them achieving
have always incorporated healing and, into their nineties. There is a very large their goals of self empowerment
to most, the subtle nods to healing demographic of women in their fifties through tough times. I cannot pick one
elements might be missed. As an to sixties who have stated that BTS have out more than another. I am proud
interspecies healer, this intrigued me. allowed them to Love Themselves from of all Army, every single one of them.
rom the number of members seven, the UNICE campaign. It featured the Their support of each other, even in
which is an auspicious number to now-famous speech given by the band their own troubled times or when they
the use of butterflies and whales as member RM at the United Nations have come out the other end, it is all
symbolism within their lyrics and music General Assembly in New York in 2018, awe-inspiring. What is created with
videos and the adoption of the colour as well as to value their well-being and support and new friendships gives
purple in 2016, known as a healing deal with their own healing of traumas. community in times when society
colour. BTS inspire a huge amount of Through this diversity in the fandom sometimes feels disenfranchised.

" BTS HAV E GI V EN PEOPLE SELF-WORT H I N L I F E

W HEN I T 'S ALL TOO EAS Y TO FORGET T HAT
EV ERYONE COULD BE ST RUGGL I NG W I T H
SOMET HI NG AT AN Y ONE T I ME"
58
 FAN CHAT

Tell us about the BTS banner you

made and how it felt to see it up in
the V&A…
My BTS banner is called Proof Of
BTS Healing. It was on display at the
Victoria Albert Museum in London
as part of Hallyu The Korean Wave
exhibition but now it’s on permanent
display in the museum in its Korean
Room in the East Asia Collection. rom
a paper collage of decoupage images
specific to BTS healing to a digital print
on fabric, my creative healing project
became reality. To see the banner in
the V A was actually a bit of a surreal
experience. I am immensely proud I
can represent Army and BTS in this
way. I’ve seen many Army on social
media post photos of my banner from
the exhibition and this affirms my
proudness in representing Army in
such a way. BTS inspire a huge amount
of creativity within Army and can
reach those who’ve never considered
themselves arty. This creativity in itself
has a healing process mechanism.
In others it awakens their creative
spark and makes them feel valued as
Army support each other’s creative
endeavours. BTS really make Army feel
welcomed, loved, seen, remembered
and cared for and even give them their
" TO SEE T HE BANNER I N T HE V&A own sense of worthiness when life can
get you down.

WAS AC T UALLY A BI T OF A SURREAL BTS are clearly way more than

just another manufactured K-Pop
E X PER I ENCE. I AM I MMENSELY band – do you thin the boys
realise the positive impact they
have on their fans?
PROUD I CAN REPRESENT ARM Y AND The members’ retrospective analysis of
their work, especially in recent times
with them getting older and more
BTS I N T HIS WAY " mature, entering the military and
concentrating on solo musical projects,
definitely helps them see the positive
impacts they have created. They
WORDS BY NANCY BROWN; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES, UNSPLASH

themselves keep each other grounded

to see this positive outcome much more
than any other musical artists, probably
because they came from such humble
beginnings. The fact that they were
invited to the UN not once but three
times shows the impact they have and
they cannot deny the impact they have
made in the world. And, when they
team up with Army, well, we’ve never
seen anything like it before and I doubt
we will again.

To learn more about Charlotte, visit

her website at www.animal-health-
and-healing.co.uk.

59
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

LE SSERAFIM
WHO ARE THEY? THEIR HITS INCLUDE… I was completely blown away.”
Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha Fearless, Antifragile and Unforgiven THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
and Eunchae. - all of which were huge in Korea and Just this year’s Unforgiven so far,
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… also did well in the US World chart. with six tracks from the Fearless and
Sakura did some acting and was in Unforgiven featured none other than Antifragile EPs plus seven new songs.
the Japanese group HKT48. Chaewon disco legend Nile Rodgers on guitar, It was praised for its experimental pop
and Yinjin joined a girl group via a and the cowgirl-themed video for it sound, racked up more than 1.3 million
reality TV competition. Kazuha was a was inspired by the Western movie The pre-orders, topped the charts in both
professional ballerina and Eunchae was Good, The Bad And The Ugly, whose Korea and Japan, and was a number
a trained dancer. They were originally theme music was sampled on the song. six smash in the States.
launched as a six-piece, with Kim Of working with Rodgers, Sakura said: DID YOU KNOW..?
Ga-ram also in the mix, but she left “It was a really, really huge honour and The girls’ message is all about
shortly after the release of their EP I still cannot believe that it happened. confidence and inspiration, with
Fearless in 2022. When Nile first played the guitar for us, Chaewon saying about their album:

60
 PROFILE: LE SSERAFIM

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

“We wanted to talk about the way we FUN FACT people are listening to their music,
face and overcome our own hardships. The band’s name is an anagram of and while we are also promoting with
We also tried to embody this strong ‘I’m Fearless’ and their fandom handle other groups we’re getting a lot of
mindset that can overcome any and all is ‘FEARNOT’. motivation and positive influences.
hardships by harnessing what we have WHAT THEY SAY… I’m really satisfied and happy with
and what we do.” “Music is a universal language, that.” – Eunchae
When the album debuted at number and I think it’s very good and very “When I wear something I like
14 on the Billboard 200 in America, it honourable to have Western and or when I get to try on cool make-up
was the fastest debut by a K-Pop girl Eastern artists collaborating from or outfits for a show, I get really
band in the chart’s history. wherever they are. It’s just so that more hyped up. I haven’t had many
In the future they’re keen to explore people can enjoy good music.” – Yunjin chances to try out bold looks yet but
R&B and hip-hop sounds. “I think it is really nice to be active in I’m looking forward to trying out
Chaewon loves pineapple pizza but a time where so many great girl groups different looks and make-up without
Sakura hates it. are getting a lot of attention. A lot of hesitation.” – Kazuha

61
 BLACKPINK
SOLO
A GUI DE TO EACH
MEMB E R 'S I N D I V I D U A L HITS

D
espite their incredibly hectic schedules, all
four members of Blackpink have found time
to release music as solo artists. They have
even incorporated these solo offerings into
Blackpink’s live shows, giving fans a glimpse of
their individual tastes and performing styles.
So, here’s a comprehensive and chronological
guide to the music that Jennie, Ros , Lisa and
Jisoo have made as solo artists, together with
their thoughts on making strides outside of the group. or
them, going solo is a way of adding to Blackpink’s brand rather
than diminishing or diluting it. In a way, it’s very much a case of
divide and conquer, and it’s worked very well so far…

62
 FLYING SOLO

JENNIE
nlike her bandmates, Jennie enjoyed chart

U
success before Blackpink debuted as a group
in 2016. Three years earlier, she featured on
three different hits by South Korean artists
Special by Lee Hi, GG Be by Seungri, and
Black by G-Dragon. Black was the most successful of
Jennie’s features, becoming a million-selling hit in
South Korea.
In November 2018, she became the first Blackpink
member to strike out on her own. “Honestly, it
does feel a little lonely without my members beside
me, Jennie said at the time. “But they’ve been so
supportive. It’s been a huge encouragement. Her
super-catchy debut single Solo topped the charts
in South Korea, where it went platinum, and also
cracked the top 0 in Japan, Hungary and New
Zealand. It has now racked up an impressive 3
million Spotify streams.
Though Jennie did not write the song, which is
credited to frequent Blackpink collaborator Teddy
Park, she definitely put her own stamp on it. “I
loved the song as soon as I heard it, she told The
Hollywood Reporter at the time. “So, I’ve input
a lot of my ideas into the concept, the style and
everything. I’ve had a strong connection from the
beginning, I guess.
"I THI In the same interview, Jennie shared some
NK thoughts on why it is important
SO L O B Y H AV I NG for Blackpink’s four members to

IT ALL PRO record outside of the group. “I think

OWS U JEC TS, by having solo projects, it allows
us to expand our music range, she
OUR M S TO E
USIC R X PAN D explained. “There’s a type of
music and concept we can do as
ANGE" a group and do as a solo artist. I
think by working on both of these
projects, our audience can get a fuller sense
of us as artists, so I hope it benefits us both ways.
Solo’s stunning music video was filmed in London,
and has now racked up 2 million YouTube views,
making it the most-watched video by a female K-Pop
solo artist on the platform.

63
 E R Y T H I N G WE NEED
"EV
R E A D Y W I T HI N US"
IS AL

64
 FLYING SOLO

ROSÉ n March 2021, Ros became the second

I
Blackpink member to release a solo
single. She made her debut with On
The Ground, a reflective electropop
song about the emotional rollercoaster
of achieving the success she has worked
so hard for. “My life’s been magic, seems
fantastic, she sings over a melancholy
guitar line. “ unny when you want it,
suddenly you have it you find out that
your gold’s just plastic.
Ros , who co-wrote the song with Teddy
Park, said its lyrics are “about looking for
answers in life [and] for a purpose in life”.
And those answers, she suggested, can’t
be found in chart positions and platinum
discs. “Sometimes when you’re always kind
of on that roll, you kind of forget to take
care of what actually matters to you most,”
she added. “And this is a song that says
everything we need is already within us.
On The Ground peaked at an enviable
number four in South Korea. It also cracked
the top 40 in Australia and Canada, and
charted at number 3 in the UK, on the way to
amassing nearly 2 million Spotify streams.
A month after she released On The
Ground, Ros shared a second solo song
Gone, a stripped-back ballad that she also
wrote with Teddy Park. Once again, she
wasn’t afraid to get emotional in her lyrics.
“Now I’m all alone, cryin’ ugly, she sings on
the pre-chorus. “You broke my heart just for
fun took my love and just left me numb.
Ros wrote in her liner notes
accompanying On The Ground and Gone
that she wrote the latter nearly two years
before it came out. “This song is the most
poetic, heartbreaking, and honest song that
I have ever recorded and I am proud that
it’s finally in your hands, she
told fans.
Like On The Ground,
Gone really resonated with
Blackpink fans – it has now
achieved nearly 23 million
Spotify streams. In April of
this year, Ros performed
a slick medley of On The
Ground and Gone during
the group’s historic sets at
Coachella, which saw them
become the first K-Pop act
to headline the prestigious
California festival.

65
 LISA apper Lisa launched her solo

R
career in September 2021 with
the self-referential hip-hop track
Lalisa. Co-written and produced
by Teddy Park, the single charted
all over the world, peaking at number 68
in the UK, number 6 in Australia and
number 8 in the US. It also went double-
platinum in South Korea.
Though Lisa didn’t write the song, she
made sure it contained a musical nod to
Thailand, her homeland, where she lived
until she was 1 . “I don’t write lyrics,
but Teddy always asks me Do you have
anything you want to deliver to the fans
What’s the vibe you want to do ’ she
explained. “I told him that in Lalisa, I
wanted to put some Thai vibes in it, and
he actually put some Thai traditional
music into the dance break.
Lalisa was a hit with critics as well
as Blackpink aficionados. When it
later won the Best K-Pop pri e at the
2022 MTV Video Music Awards, Lisa
became the first K-Pop solo artist ever
to win a VMA. She also thrilled fans by
performing this song on The Tonight
Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, one of the
most-watched talk shows in the US.
Lisa released a second solo song,
Money, which also had a strong hip-hop
flavour. It outperformed Lalisa on most
international charts, peaking at number
14 in Germany, number
30 in Australia and
number 6 in the UK.
Lyrically, the track is
a celebration of Lisa’s
earning power and her
pride in spending her
hard-earned dollars on
herself. “When the store
says, sign for it,’ I’ma leave
my autograph, she raps.
Also in late 2021, Lisa
teamed up with rench
producer DJ Snake for SG,
a Latin trap banger that also
features Puerto Rican singer
O una and American rapper
Megan Thee Stallion. Lisa
delivers the third verse and
also contributes to its final
chorus. It became her biggest
hit to date in the UK, where it
peaked at number 24, and also
cracked the top 0 in Belgium,
Hungary, Malaysia, Netherlands
and Singapore.

66
 FLYING SOLO

E T H E FI RST
CA M
L ISA BE L O A RTIST
S O
K- P O P I N A VMA
O W
EVER T

67
 C K P I NK'S
BL A G ON
WHEN E WO R K I N
B E R S A R
H E Y ARE
MEM C TS, T
L O P R O J E
C H A T EAM
SO E R Y MU
V
STILL

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 FLYING SOLO

JISOO
hen Jisoo dropped two

W
solo songs in March of
this year, she became
the final Blackpink Though Jisoo’s other solo song,
member to strike out on the club-ready All Eyes On Me, was
her own. ew fans would deny it was essentially presented as Flower’s
worth the wait. Jisoo’s debut single B-side, she emphasised that it was
Flower, a box-fresh blend of Korean, no afterthought. “All Eyes On Me
Caribbean and American trap sounds holds a special place in my heart as
with beautifully poetic lyrics, peaked it was also a contender for the title
at number 30 in Canada, number 33 track, she said. “It has an upbeat yet
in Australia and number 38 in the fatal vibe, and I believe many people
UK. It became the highest-charting will enjoy it as much as I do.
song by a Korean female solo artist In the same interview, Jisoo spoke
in each of these countries. touchingly about being supported by
Though she didn’t write Flower, her bandmates while she worked on
Jisoo has said “It is a song that her solo project. “Despite being busy,
expresses me the best, with a perfect they have always been by my side,
harmony in all aspects, from vocals observing the preparation process
to performance to visual elements,” and giving their opinions, she said.
she explained. She also revealed that Ros paid
The music video shows Jisoo her a surprise visit while she was
WORDS BY NICK LEVINE; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES,

“blooming into a red flower as a shooting Flower’s music video

metaphor for her spiritual growth. in LA. “Seeing a member in an
According to her, it’s designed to unexpected situation made it even
be a multi-layered affair where more delightful, she recalled. “It felt
you “discover something new a bit lonely after always being with the
every time you watch it”. When members, but as soon as I saw Ros ,
Jisoo performed Flower as a solo it was like my energy was recharged
number during Blackpink’s to 100 per cent. It’s a heartening
UNSPLASH, YOUTUBE

Coachella sets in April, she reminder that even when Blackpink’s

cemented the song’s status as members are working on solo projects,
an instant fan favourite. they are still very much a team.

69
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

ASTRO
WHO ARE THEY?
MJ, Jinjin, Cha Eun-woo and Yoon
San-ha.
the app they’d announce their official
debut. Once the target was hit, their
showcase in January 2016 sold out
THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
Lots of EPs such as Korean number
ones Dream Part.01, Gateway and
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… in under a minute. They remained Switch On. All three of their albums –
Astro came together through the a six-piece band until Rocky left in All Light, All Yours and Drive To The
Fantagio agency’s iTeen Boys rookie February this year and Moonbin (who Starry Road – also topped the Korean
programme, with their name and was also in a sub-unit with San-ha) chart.
line-up being announced in August was tragically found dead in April aged DID YOU KNOW…?
2015. The boys were introduced via just 25. The group’s fan club name is Ahora,
the To Be Continued web drama THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… which means ‘love’ in Maori but also
and did the promo rounds in Korea. US World chart hits Breathless, Crazy derives from the three words Astro,
They also set up a KakaoTalk Plus Sexy Cool and All Night as well as Heart and All.
Friends account with the promise Korean smashes After Midnight and In 2016 Billboard placed them
that once they had 10,000 ‘friends’ on Candy Sugar Pop. at number five on the list of best

70
 PROFILE ASTRO

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

new K-Pop acts and praised their Jinjin is the leader and main rapper to see our fans face-to-face. As
“bright, synthpop sound and upbeat and MJ is the main vocalist. MJ is performers, we gain a lot of energy
performances”. also the oldest at 29 and Sanha is the from seeing the faces of our fans in the
In 2021 they recorded Let’s Say youngest at 23. But at 6ft he’s the tallest, crowd.” – Eun-woo
Goodbye To My Favourite Person for while Jinjin is the shortest at 5ft 7ins. “I always look for images when I
a film with the rather dodgy title of My Cha Eun-woo has a nice sideline in write or compose songs because it
Erotic Boyfriend Fascinates Me. acting, having had lead roles in many allows me to visualise what I’m trying
Cha Eun-woo wrote a poem called Korean TV shows (or K-dramas, as to represent specifically. Jinjin
Purple Evening for the limited edition they’re known over there). He’s won “Candy Sugar Pop is kind of a
of the group’s Dream Part.02 EP. lots of awards and has also hosted sweet and refreshing song and the
MJ was the first to make a solo record TV programmes. title refers to our fans, who are like
with the 2021 release Happy Virus and WHAT THEY SAY… candy to us.” – San-ha
was the first K-Pop star to come first on “ During Covid There were definitely “I like girls who smile a lot and like
TV contest The Trot Show. a few difficult times, not being able to joke around.” – MJ

71
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

SEVENTEEN
WHO ARE THEY? days before the digital release of their Their collaborations include Q&A
S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, debut EP 17 Carat. with Ailee, Chocolate with Yoon Jong-
Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, THEIR HITS INCLUDE… shin and Betting with Shingo Katori.
The8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino. Mansae, Pretty U, Don’t Wanna Cry, THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… Clap, the appropriately named Hit, Left Love & Letter, Teen, Age, An Ode and
Through live streaming show & Right and Dream. Face The Sun, which was repackaged
Seventeen TV, which saw trainees Last year’s Darl+ing was their first as Sector 17 in what Hoshi said was a
being put through their paces English-language release, to open up “shredding [of our] former image and
before the winners got to star in their music to more of their fans. “All our becoming more mature”.
the Seventeen Project: Big Debut international fans, even though they may DID YOU KNOW…?
Plan reality TV programme. They not understand Korean, love us for who The band name Seventeen stands for
were launched as a band in a live TV we are and love our music so much so we “13 members + 3 units + 1 group”. The
showcase (the first K-Pop group to just wanted to make a song they can easily group perform together but in three
do so on a major channel) just three listen to and understand,” Joshua said. teams namely Hip-hop, Vocal and

72
 PROFILE: SEVENTEEN

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

Performance. Hailed as “Performance MTV Europe Music Awards. All 13 theories] and we share it among
Kings and “Theatre Kids of K-Pop band members wear the same pinky our members. We’re like: ‘Someone
by the press, they have a hand in the ring on their little fingers. It started thought of this, a fan thought of this.
songwriting and dance moves. Woozi when they recorded their first album Well, that’s cool. We never thought
writes and produces all the songs, with and they now get new ones whenever of that before.’ We really love those
input from the others, and Hoshi does they release a full-length album. interactions.” – Joshua
most of the choreography, with Woozi FUN FACT “What everyone has in common is
saying that the unit leaders all attend Fans are called Carats, in homage to our interest in the whole process. Even
album meetings “to make sure that we the group’s first single. if we’re not directly participating, we’re
can tell our own story”. WHAT THEY SAY… always curious about what the output
Seventeen were the first K-pop band “It’s become more important to us is like with Bum u and Woo i and their
to be featured on MTV Push’s global than ever to build and walk our own work and what they’re producing. In
campaign, and the first to win Best path.” – Hoshi that way, every single one doesn’t miss
Push Act and Best New Act at the 2022 “We have a lot of fun [with fan out on participating.” – Vernon

73
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

NCT
WHO ARE THEY?
Too many to mention! K-Pop’s so
called “most experimental boy band”
contests and TV talent shows as well as
auditions. And their name It stands
for Neo Culture Technology.
homeland with this year’s Perfume.
THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
DoJaeJung have yet to release a full-
consists of numerous members across THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… length album and WayV just have
five sub-groups NCT U, NCT 12 , NCT Such hits in the US World chart as 2020’s Awaken The World to their
Dream, WayV and NCT DoJaeJung. The 7th Sense, Boss and Baby Don’t credit, although they’ve put out four
And each group has a different style Stop as NCTU. NCT 12 also did well EPs. The 12 boys scored hits in the UK
with NCT 12 , for example, exploring with Fire Truck, Punch, Favourite and US with their albums Neo Zone,
hip-hop with a “neo music sound, and (V ampire) and Korean chart-topper Sticker and 2 Baddies. The Dream-ers
NCT DoJaeJung specialising in R B. Ay-Yo. NCT Dream have topped topped the Korean chart with both
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… the Korean charts with Hot Sauce Hot Sauce and Glitch Mode. And the
The multi-unit project was announced and Beatbox. WayV’s hits include main unit have sold millions of copies
in 2016. Members were drawn from Turn Back Time and Kick Back, and of NCT 2018 Empathy, NCT 2020
the fields of music, acting, singing DoJaeJung were number four in their Resonance and Universe.

74
 PROFILE: NCT

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

DID YOU KNOW…? WayV’s main rapper Yangyang had a “We were just really ambitious to
NCT fans are known as NCTZens dream about performing on stage and be part of the K-Pop wave in general,
(pronounced N-citi ens and the band was so hooked on the idea that he flew so we were all in the mindset that
sometimes call them Seasonies because from Germany to Taiwan to audition. the amount of time and effort each
“our fans are precious to us like the Lead singer Kun has a college degree and every one of us put into this
four seasons . in singing, plus he’s a skydiver, can fly would really pay off and allow us
NCT Dream was originally planned as a plane and is a skilled photographer. to grow. Mark
an all-teens unit, where members would WHAT THEY SAY… “We always go in with the goal
leave when they reached aged 20. The “If I were to give my pre-debut self any of how to have fun and make good
idea was scrapped in 2020 and the line- advice it would be that There will be memories together. It’s always one
up has since remained the same. some hard times and there will be hard of our goals and even for all of our
DoJaeYung are named after their line- moments but the ending results will be upcoming activities and albums as well
up of Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo, great so stay strong and just continue it’s something we’re going to continue
and WayV stands for We Are Your Vision. to push forward.’ Jaemin to pursue. Jeno

75
 EVERYONE WANTS TO
WORK WITH GLOBAL
K-POP SUPERSTARS - AND
IT'S NO MYSTERY WHY

COLL ABS:
K-POP T
HEN
W TS WEST! EA S
EE
M W ith K-Pop bands conquering the world, it
comes as little surprise that many western
stars are keen to jump on the bandwagon.
Here we take a look at a handful of the
major stars who have teamed up with
Pop legends to help raise their profiles…
DUA L I PA AND
BL ACK PI NK
Fair play to Dua, she
saw the appeal in K-Pop
way ahead of the rest
of the world when
she hooked up with
Blackpink to record the
track Kiss And Make Up
for her first album. “I
love those girls. It was
so much fun getting to
work with them, she
gushed at the time. “It
all happened because
I met them in Seoul,
when they came to my
show. I’d written this
song called Kiss And
Make Up, and I didn’t
put it out because I
felt like it needed the
perfect feature. After
meeting the girls, I
immediately sent it to
them to see if they liked
it. And they liked the
song, and they wanted
to jump on it. And I was
so happy to hear that.

76
 K-POP COLLABS

HALSE Y AND BTS

K-Pop megaband BTS gave Halsey one of her
biggest hits when they invited her to join them
on their catchy song Boy With Luv. The track,
which featured on their album Map Of The
Soul: Persona, became one of the group’s most
popular tracks and even broke three Guinness
World Records, including Most Viewed
YouTube Video In 2 Hours.

DUA LIPA AND HWASA

Clearly a fan of K-Pop,
Dua also teamed up with
Mamamoo singer Hwasa for
a remix version of her global
smash hit Physical. In 201 ,
the duo collaborated on stage
at the Mnet Asian Music
Awards (MAMA performing
each other’s songs. Bonded
by the experience, Dua
invited the singer to join
her on the remix, which saw
Hwasa open the song with
the verses sung in Korean.

CARDI B AND
BL ACK PI NK
An unlikely partnership, but the
L AD Y GAGA AND result – Bet You Wanna from
BL ACK PI NK Blackpink’s first album was
When Lady Gaga made her a sensation. When the girls
pop comeback with her 2020 heard that Cardi had agreed to
album Chromatica, she invited join them, they said they were
Blackpink to join her on the “screaming with joy. However,
track Sour Candy. She loved the potty-mouthed rapper
the experience so much that admitted that when it came to
she declared she wanted to be writing her verse, she found it
their fifth member. The collab hard to keep it family friendly.
was also a dream come true for “It was really hard for me to do
the girls, who had been fans a verse with no curse words and
of the singer for years. “I was PG, she tweeted when the album
really happy that our sounds the track featured on was released.
blended so well in the song, “I really wanted to say I bet if you
Jennie said. get me WET I’ll still be on fire.’

77
 COLDPL AY AND BTS
Arguably, both BTS and Coldplay are the biggest bands in the world
so when they came together for the track My Universe, it was like
a collision of two planets. A critical hit, the anthemic tune was even
nominated for a Grammy. Since then, both bands haven’t been shy
about how much they admire each other. So when Jin decided to
release solo material, he called upon his Coldplay mates to help him
write the track The Astronaut.

MEGAN T HEE S TALL ION

AND BTS
Megan was such a fan of the band and
no doubt their global success that she
begged her team to work out a collab
with them. Little did she know that the
K-Pop sensations were already making
their own plans to work with her.
“Around the same time, they wound up
reaching out to me and asking me to do
the Butter remix. So, I was like, oh my
God. After she recorded the track, the
boys invited her to perform with them
at their Permission To Dance show in
LA in 2021.

SELENA GOMEZ AND BL ACK PI NK

The soundtrack for the summer of 2021 was undoubtedly Ice Cream, the
super cool tune performed by Blackpink and Selena Gome . The girls had
reached out to the actress and singer to team up with them on a song and
she hastily said yes. Although due to the pandemic they weren’t able to meet
to record the track or shoot the video, Selena admitted that she felt so close
to them that she felt like she was their fifth official member. We wonder
what Lady Gaga has to say about that

78
 K-POP COLLABS

AVA MA X AND NC T 1 27
The campy US pop diva Ava Max
attempted to extend her reach
across the globe by calling upon
a couple of NCT 12 members
ED SHEER AN to add extra verses into her
AND SUNMI uplifting track So Am I. Gorgeous
AND JESSI Mark and Taeyong sing the life-
After his hit Shivers affirming verses in English and
topped the charts, the Korean, while Jaehyun duets
superstar turned to with Ava on the chorus. The
Wonder Girls sensations collab was a thrill for Ava, who
Sunmi and Jessi to lend revealed “Putting the song out
their vocal skills to a remix with them on it has created a
of the track to offer a different diversity for the song
female take on the lyrics that I am obsessed with and I
about infatuation. But the feel like that’s what the song is
girls didn’t just sing Ed all about. It’s about celebrating
asked them for their input. differences and being yourself.
Jessi performs a vibrant
rap in English, while
Sunmi wrote her own verse
in Korean.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES, UNSPLASH; INSTAGRAM; YOUTUBE

AKON AND
WONDER GI RLS
Back in 2012, K-Pop NAT T I NATASHA AND MOMOL AND
WORDS BY CHRISTIAN GUILTENANE;

super ueens Wonder Girls Latin singer Natti teamed up with Momoland for one
teamed up with Akon on of the perkiest of tunes, Yummy Yummy Love, back in
the track Like Money, after 2022. The south American hitmaker gushed “I feel like
the rap star had seen the it’s a positive vibe; it’s feisty, fire and feels sexy. I am
girls perform in Las Vegas very happy about this collaboration, especially since it’s
and recorded the track a new experience for me. It’s the first time of many, and
with them. I hope everyone enjoys it.

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 K-POP SUPERSTARS

NEWJEANS
WHO ARE THEY? Hanni and Minji, who had popped up THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and in BTS’s Permission To Dance video. None to date, just the self-titled EP
Hyein. The plan was to launch them in 2021 NewJeans, which topped the charts
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… but that was delayed because of the in Korea and gave them a number six
Big Hit Entertainment (of BTS Covid pandemic. placing on the US World chart. But an
fame, now called Big Hit Music) was THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… album is due out this summer and the
looking for a new girl group and Debut song Attention, which was plan is to give part of the profits from
began auditions in 201 . The final dropped in July 2022 without any each album to The Snail Of Love charity
line-up included some experienced promo activity or details about the for cochlear implants and speech
entertainers such as Danielle from the line-up. The ploy worked, giving the therapy for the hearing-impaired.
variety show Rainbow Kindergarten, girls a number one in Korea. They were DID YOU KNOW…?
Hyein, who’d been in kids’ music number one again with Ditto and their As well as donating money to the
group U.SSO Girl and the YouTube other singles (Hype Boy, Cookie and hearing-impaired charity, this year the
collective Play With Me Club, and OMG) all cracked the top ten. generous girls and their ADOR record

80
 PROFILE NEWJEANS

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

label donated more than £120,000 to Perfect All-Kill? It’s a song that stays think it’s something that, personally, I
the World Food Programme to help at the top of all major music streaming feel very strong about.” – Hanni
victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake. sites and charts in South Korea on an “I’m really happy to see that our
Their band name is both a reference hourly, daily and weekly basis. music transcends language and
to the clothing item as well as a play on The girls are ambassadors for cultural barriers. We’ll keep working
‘new genes’, what with them being new different high-end brands (such as on better and better music and
to the K-Pop industry. Hanni for Gucci and Armani Beauty, performances.” – Haerin
Their fandom name is BUNNIES and Haerin for Dior) and together “When we practise dancing, we
after they wore bunny hats in the video they’ve done campaigns for iPhones, practise over and over again to get the
for OMG. Nike and McDonald’s chicken burgers. best results. To be honest, there are
Their single Ditto scored the most WHAT THEY SAY… times when it’s tough.” – Hyein
Perfect All-Kills in K-Pop history, “We want to show the music industry “Ever since I was little I loved writing
beating both IU’s Celebrity and BTS’s that music doesn’t need to and down my thoughts and feelings in a
Dynamite. And what exactly is a shouldn’t be divided by language. I way that sounds good.” – Danielle

81
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

ITZY
WHO ARE THEY?
Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong
and Yuna.
JYP’s YouTube channel in 2019 ahead
of their EP It’z Different.
THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE…
DID YOU KNOW…?
The band name was inspired by the
Korean phrase Itji’ meaning I have it’.
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… Dalla Dalla (a number two in the US Their fandom is called Midzy after the
They were put together by JYP World chart), Icy, Not Shy, In The Korean word for ‘trust’.
entertainment. Chaeryeong competed Morning and Sneakers. They are an example of K-Pop’s girl
on the Sixteen TV show (to find the THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… crush genre, which is all about female
members of Twice) but didn’t make Six EPs, with four of them – It’z Me, empowerment and being role models
the line-up. She trained at JYP for Not Shy, Checkmate and Cheshire – all for other women. They also don’t live
five years and was joined after a year reaching number one in Korea and their lives according to what guys
by Ryulin, after she was spotted at a Checkmate seeing them conquer the US expect, with Lia saying of their single
concert by boy band Got7. Yuna, Yeli top ten. Their first long-player, 2021’s Boys Like You: “The song is about a
and Lia eventually completed the five- Crazy In Love, also did well in the boy who cheated on us and it’s basically
strong band, making their debut on States as well as in Korea and Japan. about us warning him that we are never

82
 PROFILE: ITZY

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

going to fall for a boy like you again.” and, erm, a limited release gourmet “I think distance is really an
The video for their song Dalla Dalla chicken dish. important thing in a relationship.
received a record-breaking 1 .1 million Ryujin and Yuna both appeared in When it’s too close it’s not good for
views within 2 hours of its debut the video for BTS’s 201 single Love relationships. And too far is also not
on YouTube. Yourself: Highlight Reel. good so we always try to keep a fine
Yeji is the group leader and lead WHAT THEY SAY… distance from each other.” – Ryujin
vocalist, Ryujin is lead dancer and “Other girl groups have been loved “If I just listen to our songs with only
Yuna is lead rapper. in the past for their charms and I my part it doesn’t sound that Itzy. But
Ryujin is apparently so strong that think it’s an honour that we get to be when all of our five members add on to
she can carry Yuna and Lia on her back. mentioned along with them. But just the song it becomes Itzy’s style.” – Lia
The girls’ endorsements range as they all have their own colours, “Now that we’ve spent so much time
from Kia Motors to Maybelline New we would like to create our own together, we know each other so well.
York alongside Pokémon cards and ‘teen crush’ genre and show our fans We know that no one else understands
games, MAC Cosmetics, contact lenses something that’s like no other.” – Yeji us the most.” – Yuna

83
 "I HAD PTSD
AFTER AN ABUSIVE
PARTNER TRIED
TO KILL ME -
BTS HELPED ME
TO LIVE AGAIN"
JUL I E ANNE W ENT T HROUGH A HORR I F IC ORDEAL
AT T HE HANDS OF SOMEONE W HO WAS SUPPOSED TO
CHER ISH HER , BUT SHE'S MOV I NG ON T HANKS TO
SEV EN V ERY SPECI AL BO YS F ROM SOUT H KOREA

84
 FAN CHAT

TS fan Julie Anne is I sensed there was something special

B
perhaps the bravest about them. After watching more
woman we’ve ever had of their performances, interviews
the pleasure of speaking and Run BTS episodes I became a
to. She found the boys in member of the BTS fandom Army.
March 2020, at the start Despite their worldwide success, they
of the pandemic, when have not taken this for granted and
she was recovering from remain hardworking, humble and
numerous attempts to genuine people. They are not just work
take her own life after leaving an abusive colleagues, but seven friends.
relationship. Julie Anne, who lives in the
UK, told us she decided to share her story The saying goes that BTS find you
to help others going through the same when you need them the most,
realise they’re not alone. And she bravely and you had been through an
agreed to share a picture of herself too, unbelievably tough time – how did
something she hasn’t done until very BTS make you feel?
recently. She told us: “I have kept myself BTS brought me comfort while I was
anonymous until recently as I decided shielding during the Covid-19 pandemic
my ex was still having control over my in 2020 because I have severe asthma and
life. But I realise it’s best to talk about was extremely unwell. In addition to being
it and let others know there is life after unwell with Covid, I was suffering with
domestic abuse and suicide attempts.” post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
So where do BTS come into Julie as a result of having left an abusive
Anne’s story, you may ask, well she credits relationship some time earlier. BTS’
them with helping her to live again. “They music and shows brought me comfort and
brought joy and happiness to my life,” she happiness and helped me realise that I
told us. “BTS helped me to live again.” had a future and life was worth living.
Here, Julie Anne shares her story…
How bad did things get in your
Tell us what BTS mean to you and darkest hour?
why you’re such a fan of the boys… I experienced economical, emotional and
I became a fan of BTS in March 2020 physical abuse during the relationship.
after seeing Boy With Luv on YouTube. My self-esteem was at an all-time low
From that one song and performance and I became very dependent on my

85
 then-partner. I survived several suicide for KOCIS until April 30 2024. This
attempts as I could not see a way out position promotes Korea overseas, by
of the dark black hole. When I left my sharing their articles, videos, pictures
abuser, I became technically homeless about Korean culture, society and
and slept on the sofa at my parents’ history. I can reapply for the position
home and stayed at my sister’s. I was every year.
apart from my cats and dogs, who gave
me emotional support. It broke my You’re also working with a
heart to be apart from them as my ex domestic abuse charity – what
used them to emotionally hurt me by advice would you have for
threatening to let them all out of the someone who is going through
home (cats were indoor pets). Anything something similar?
could have happened to them. He also I would urge domestic abuse victims
wouldn’t allow me into our home, of to contact their local domestic abuse
which we were both legal tenants, other charity for support. Your abuser may
than once a month for two hours. I say you will not be believed, but please
eventually found foster homes for the be assured the charities will believe and
cats and was reunited with them once help you. Your local domestic abuse
I found a home after ten months of charity will run the 12-week Freedom
searching. Unfortunately, I didn’t get Programme, which is free for women to
the happy ending I so often envisioned attend. It is good to meet both victims
with my dogs, Marti and Ava. To this and survivors of domestic abuse on
day I have no idea where they are, if the programme. It helps you to know
they’re together or even alive. Not a day you’re not alone. I am doing better than
goes by when I don’t think about them. I I was. I realise it’s best to talk about it
last saw them on May 13 2019. My heart and let others know there is life after
is broken losing them. domestic abuse and suicide attempts.
It hits me hard when I hear of someone
How did BTS’ music comfort you taking their life. I wish they could
during this time? have seen that while they couldn’t
Their music has helped me to learn see another way out then, that things
to like and love myself. To enjoy the would get better.
simple things in life. I feel blessed each
morning I wake up knowing I have Being an older member of Army,
freedom from the abuse. have the fans been welcoming?
Have you become friends
How are you feeling about the with anyone?
future now? Have BTS made you Yes, the fans have been welcoming. I
feel more positive and optimistic? thought I was the eldest Army, until I
I feel positive about the future. Through joined some Facebook BTS groups run
BTS I have made new friends and by other fans. It is good to know that happiness, new friendships, interests
interests. I sponsor a Korean child with at 51 years of age there are many other and sponsorship of a Korean child
health issues. Life isn’t perfect, but my older fans out there, including many (who I hope to one day meet). I realise
goodness the future is so much brighter older than me. The fandom is incredibly things are tough being in a high-profile
for me and I am grateful to be alive. I supportive of each other. band and you must feel your life isn’t
have two other rescue dogs now, Megan your own. Please remember to take
and Tilly. They have not replaced my What do your family think about time in your personal lives to do the
previous dogs, but they came into my your love of BTS? things you love and with your loved
life at the right time. I also have my They thought it was strange at first that ones. I wish you all good health and
two rescue cats. I liked a band who are much younger happiness in both your personal and
than myself and do not speak the same professional lives. Thank you for your
Tell us about the Korean Culture language. They have now seen that music, in particular the song Answer:
and Information Service – what BTS have brought joy to my life, new Love Myself. It’s meaningful to me as
will you be doing? friendships and interests so they finally I stopped loving myself while in an
Through becoming a BTS fan and a understand why I am a fan. abusive relationship and attempted
friend who is also Army, I applied to suicide. In particular these lyrics: “I no
become an honorary reporter with If you could send the boys a longer have fear-ridden eyes. Winter
the Korean Culture and Information message about what you’ve been has passed and spring has come. I don’t
Service. Recently I found out that I through and how they’ve helped, want to die any more. I’m on the path to
have been accepted. BTS are opening what would you say? loving myself.” BTS’ music and shows
doors for me. KOCIS is an affiliated Thank you very much for not giving up helped me through such a tough time.
organisation of the Ministry of Culture, during the difficult times to bring your They brought joy and happiness to my
Sports and Tourism of the South music to millions around the world. life – then and now. I felt there was
Korean government. I am blessed to I found you during a dark time in my no way out of this black hole, but BTS
be chosen as an honorary reporter life. Your music has given me much joy, helped me to live again.

86
 FAN CHAT

How to get help if

you are a victim of
domestic abuse
Go online and visit www.
" BTS' MUSIC AND SHOWS freedomprogramme.co.uk
for details of your local

BROUGHT ME COMFORT AND group. You can also make a

silent call to 999 on mobile
phones and landlines if
HAPPI NESS AND HELPED you’re in danger. On a
WORDS BY NANCY BROWN; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

mobile phone, when the

emergency services answer
ME REAL ISE T HAT I HAD the phone, press 55 on your
keypad and you will be

A F UT URE AND L I F E WAS transferred to the police.

On a landline, if you don’t
speak or answer questions
WORT H L I V I NG" and the operator can only
hear background noise, they
will transfer your call to the
police. You can also get help
and advice on the government
website here: www.gov.uk/
guidance/domestic-abuse-
how-to-get-help.

87
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

AESPA
WHO ARE THEY?
Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning.
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER…
number 49 in Korea but peaked at
number five on the US World chart.
Next Level, Savage, Dreams Come
Their name is a combination of
the ‘a’ from ‘avatar’, the ‘e’ from
‘experience’ and bits of ‘aspect’. It
The band was put together by SM True and Spicy were all big hits for apparently represents the concept of
Entertainment, with Ningning having them back home. “meeting another self and experiencing
been in SM Rookies and Karina having THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… the new world”. It also has something
performed with singer Taemin in music The three Korean chart-topping EPs to do with ‘Avatar X Experience’.
videos and shows. Giselle and Winter Savage, Girls and My World. Fans are still Their avatars exist in somewhere
were unknowns, at least until SM waiting for a full-length album, though. called Kwangya and their fandom name
unveiled the band name and line-up DID YOU KNOW…? is MY, which means ‘the most precious
in October 2020 ahead of their debut Each of the four girls has a digital friend’ in that fictitious land. They were
single Black Mamba the next month. avatar of themselves and Aespa have criticised, however, for announcing
THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… been promoted as the first half-human/ their fandom handle before they’d even
Black Mamba, which only reached half-virtual girl band. been launched.

88
 PROFILE: AESPA

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

They walked the red carpet at WHAT THEY SAY… I have lots going on in my mind, I
this year’s Cannes Film Festival as “Deep down I’ve always known that I gravitate towards comfortable, boxy
brand ambassadors for the Chopard wanted to pursue music but I didn’t clothes – all black.” – Ningning.
jewellery brand. They were the K-Pop have the courage to put it into action. “Savage gave us the confidence that
act to work with French fashion brand Then there was a point in my life where we were on the right track. While we
Givenchy and have also endorsed I got to fully experience and understand have so much to learn and grow, we’re
Korean cosmetics brand Clio, skincare the power of music, which made me blessed to receive so much love and
brand Mediheal and Italian fragrance realise that music is the one and only support from many people around the
Acqua di Parma, to name but a few. thing that I truly wanted.” – Giselle world.” – Winter
As well as speaking Korean, the “Fashion is one of the most “I was grateful that so many people
girls are fluent in several languages. important things in my life. I express loved our choreography. This motivates
Ningning speaks Chinese, Giselle my emotions through fashion. For us to work harder to bring better
speaks Japanese and English, and example, when I’m in a good mood I performances and choreography for
Winter and Karina speak Japanese. tend to wear bright colours and when our future releases.” – Karina

89
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

MAMAMOO
WHO ARE THEY? THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… DID YOU KNOW…
Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein and Hwasa. Such Korean hits as Peppermint It seems Mamamoo is the sound a
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… Chocolate, Um Oh Ah Yeh, I Miss You baby makes when it first cries
Managed by Rainbow Bridge World, and Dingga, plus US World top ten the idea being to make music that
the girls collaborated with a few smashes You’re The Best, Starry Night, everyone around the world can relate
different artists such as Bumkey, Hip and Illella. to, just as they can to variations on the
K Will and Geeks before making THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… word mamma’.
their official debut in June 201 with Twelve EPs, including the Four Their fans are known as Moomoos or
the single Mr Ambiguous from their Seasons, Four Colors series. Their Moos for short.
Hello EP. They have gone on to be studio albums to date are Melting, Their lightstick is shaped like a
hailed for their live vocals, stage 4colors and Reality In Black, plus the radish because moo’ means radish
craft and wide-ranging musical compilation I Say Mamamoo: The in Korean.
styles, from ja and R B to hip-hop Best, with remixed versions of hits and As well as their vocal talents, the
and ballads. B-sides as well as two new songs. girls have been praised for breaking

90
 PROFILE: MAMAMOO

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

gender stereotypes and challenging WHAT THEY SAY… “I’ve received a lot of strong
ideas about conventional beauty. “Considering that I debuted at a comments about my appearance. At
Their singles Angel and Dab Dab relatively older age for a K-Pop idol first I wasn’t fa ed but after seeing
were performed by subgroups formed I did have thoughts like, can I do well them constantly I started to get hurt.
by singers Solar and Wheein and Or, can I continue this job later And I got shocked by the comments like
rappers Moonbyul and Hwasa. Solar because the future was so uncertain, I If it weren’t for Hwasa they would be
and Moonbyul last year also formed did have a lot of worries. Solar a pretty group,’ and comments that
the official subunit Mamamoo . “When we are working as soloists asked me to leave the team. Hwasa
In 201 they competed on the we create our own ideas, and there’s “Generally speaking, I tend to do a
Queendom TV show against five other no other perspective to contrast or lot of mind control and image training
teams, and after ten episodes were compare, while as a group we all before hitting the stage. Other than
crowned the winners. work together and there’s a company that, I naturally gain a lot of energy and
Solar is the leader and the maknae, behind what route Mamamoo should motivation just from being with our
while Moonbyul is the main rapper. take. Moonbyul members. Wheein

91
 POWER
O P
PPILATES -P O P A RE
HOW TH E B OY S OF K
U N IN G TH EIR BO D IES
FINE-T O RM AN C E
FOR PE AK P ER F

92
 POWER OF PILATES

RM - BTS
When BTS debuted, lead rapper

I
t’s no secret that female K-Pop
RM was on the lean side. But as idols love a Pilates studio mirror
the group grew, stans noticed selfie, perched on some pretty
him build his body up and it hardcore reformer equipment.
was partly thanks to his love But it’s not just the female idols
of Pilates as well as HIIT and that are flocking to picture
other workouts. They not only perfect Pilates studios to get their
helped him tone up but also fix and we’re not just talking
gave him a better posture. And about selfies. Recently, BTS’
fans loved his transformation Jungkook spoke candidly about how a
so much that their hashtag regular Pilates practice has been helping
ThankYouPilates started him with imbalances in his body, and the
trending. “I want to be able to benefits span way beyond looking good
dance more powerfully, he for the ’Gram.
said. “That’s why I started. The Pilates practice has become
dominated by women, creating a very
unnecessary stigma around men finding
power in Pilates. The practice was
invented by a man called Joseph Pilates,
who used it as a way of rehabilitating
soldiers in World War I, but over the
years it’s been heavily marketed towards
women, leading to a shift in perception.
So what is Pilates exactly In short,
Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise
that draws inspiration from gymnastics,
martial arts, en meditation and ballet.
Pilates works on deep core strength
which helps reduce muscular imbalances
and the associated aches and pains,
because it works to bring muscles
into balance.
This is critical for men like the
BTS boys, who like to weight train as
well as dance. Why Because Pilates,
unlike most forms of exercise,
emphasises moving from the
centre of the body, stabilising

O U R B O D Y TO the trunk and protecting the

A T E S T E ACHES Y MEMOR Y AS lower back, key factors

PIL USCLE in aiding the Grammy

V E L O P G O O D M
H I S E S S ENTIAL winners in maintaining
DE A D, W HIC
physical stamina on stage,

D T O B E BTS. as well as lifting weights.

OPPOSE ORME R S L I K Even if dance routines aren’t

FOR PERF vigorous, the BTS boys for example

will be faced with constant imbalances
in the body unless they set a solid
groundwork of muscle connection and
co-ordination. Dancing and moving on
stage alone is not enough recreate the

93
demands of performance, which is where
Pilates trumps any other form of exercise.
The slow, precise movement and breath
control in Pilates in where the magic happens.
There are eight core principles to
Pilates, all of which are needed to
endure life in the limelight. Relaxation,
concentration, co-ordination, alignment,
breathing, flowing movement,
empowering the centre and stamina.
You’re getting strength training, resistance JENNI E - BL ACK PI NK
and stretching all done in one session. In an IG post, Jennie pictured
Something else the guys tend to avoid herself doing a Pilates workout,
in workouts is focusing on flexibility, skillfully striking an inverted
which is exactly why Jungkook has been pose and showing excellent
experiencing imbalances in his body, posture. She also played a
which in his case has manifested in the clip of herself walking along a
form of shoulder pain. Poor flexibility is specialist piece of equipment
typically a major cause of muscular pain called a Cadillac, which enables
and injuries, and him and the rest of boys users to work out every muscle
re uire certain levels of agility in order to in their body through a variety
perform well. of poses.
On top of that, everyone in the public
eye to that degree needs good posture.
Repeatedly contouring your body for the
camera for award shows, red carpets,
press junkets and music videos can have
long-term effects. The more you do a

YOU' RE GET T I NG ST RENGT H TAE Y EON - GI RLS'

T R A I NI NG, RESISTANCE AND GENER AT ION
Taeyeon often shares her
ST RETCHI NG ALL DONE Pilates poses on Insta,
such as using the ladder
I N ONE SESSION barrel, which is a piece
of Pilates apparatus that
helps to strengthen the
certain pose, especially for the camera, body’s abdominal muscles
the more you create muscle memory and the spine extensors,
that doesn’t always do your body any and improve the body’s
favours. When you do something enough flexibility as well.
times, like a go-to pose for the camera,
or a dance move repeatedly, your body
starts subconsciously arranging your
muscles a certain way onto your bones,
without you even thinking about it. Pilates
teaches your body to develop good muscle
memory as opposed to bad, which is
essential for performers like BTS.
Above all, Pilates improves people’s
confidence, which is fundamental for
being in the public eye. It creates long,
strong muscles, while the breathing
patterns and the steady structured pace
reduce stress and improve mental clarity,
which releases a shed load of endorphins
into the system. Moves are intense but not
prolonged, and the physical results speak
for themselves. But mostly you can expect
to feel empowered, strong, focused and
aligned. It gently eases your muscles into a
workout, stimulating the body, but gently.
Where do we sign

94
 POWER OF PILATES

UMJI - GF R I END
When G riend first debuted,
Umji’s very lean figure came
under fire from fans and
critics. This was supposedly
the result of the pre-debut
extreme diets she and her
bandmates had endured
during training. But once
the band had crashed into
the world she gained weight,
which knocked her confidence.
Once again she lost weight, but
this time in a much healthier
way, eating healthy foods,
exercising a lot (including
Pilates and keeping a check
on bread, rice and pasta.

Y ER I - RED V ELV ET
The Red Velvet maknae says that exercising before a photo
shoot has become a habit for her. Not only does it make her feel
refreshed and organised, she feels as if it wakes up her mind
and body. In an interview with Vogue, Yeri said that Pilates has
helped to stabilise her mind and body, and has found working
out more refreshing than tiring.
WORDS BY ROSIE UNDERWOOD; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES, INSTAGRAM

95
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

96
 PROFILE: (G)I-DLE

(G)I-DLE
WHO ARE THEY?
Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi and Shuhua.
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER…
Cube Entertainment put them together in
2018. Soyeon had done survival shows before
releasing two solo digital singles, Miyeon
was a YG Entertainment trainee and session
singer, Minnie featured on a Dance Party
album and Shuhua was in a 10cm music
video. Original sixth member Soojin was a
trainee; she left the group in 2021.
THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE…
Latata, Hann (Alone), Oh My God and
Hwaa. Tomboy from their first album I
Never Die was at the top of the Korean Circle
Chart for more than two months in 2022.
Follow-up Nxde was also number one on the
Circle Chart.
THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE…
Six EPs including Korean chart-toppers I
Trust, I Love and I Feel. Their single album
Dumdi Dumdi was the second best-selling
by a girl group ever when released in 2020.
I Never Die is their only full album so far,
peaking at number two in their homeland and
number 13 on the US World chart.
DID YOU KNOW…
Soyeon came up with the Idle bit of their
name when writing Idle Song. They
then added the (G) for ‘girl’, the ‘I’ for
‘individuality and ‘dle’ because it’s the plural
of ‘I’ in Korean. The (G) bit is also silent.
Their fandom name is Neverland, after
the imaginary place where eternal boy Peter
Pan lives. As the band says: “People who live
in Neverland never change and remain as a
child forever.”
Their 2020 EP I Trust topped the iTunes
Top Albums chart in 62 countries.
They have endorsed Sephora beauty
products, contact lens brand LensMe and
fashion label LipHop.
WHAT THEY SAY…
“The most important thing is not to care
WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

about other people’s judgment and not to let

that affect me. I can focus and love myself
more in my world because I do not get any
negative influence. Yu i
“We came from a mind set that we do not
want to conform to any kind of social boundary
or prejudice. We don’t want to be stuck in any
boundaries, regardless of gender. Soyeon
“I think the biggest strength of our group
is that we have various tones. Even if it is
not a dance song, I think an R&B or ballad
song would go well for us. I want to sing a
song that can show off our vocals and voices
more. Miyeon

97
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

WANNA ONE
WHO WERE THEY? entertainment industry. They did (Power Of Destiny), which addressed
Until their split in 2019: Yoon Ji-sung, their first showcase that summer how they felt about their forthcoming
Ha Sung-woon, Hwang Min-hyun, before releasing their debut EP 1x1=1 split and saw them bow out with
Ong Seong-wu, Kim Jae-hwan, Kang (To Be One) to eventual sales of more another Korean chart-topper.
Daniel, Park Ji-hoon, Park Woo-jin, than a million. DID YOU KNOW…?
Bae Jin-young, Lee Dae-hwi and THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… The group’s fans are called Wannables
Lai Kuan-lin. Korean chart-topper and US World and they’ve remained faithful since the
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… number six smash Energetic, Burn It split, with the band still having more
The group was formed via the second Up, Beautiful (another Korean number than 2.7 million followers on Twitter.
season of TV survival show Produce one), I Promise You (IPU), Boomerang Their contract was always only for
101 in 2017, in which 101 trainees and Light. two years, hence the group coming to
were put through their paces before THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… an end.
the audience chose the final 11 many Three number one EPs plus their first Ji-sung was the leader, Daniel was lead
of whom were already working in the and only long-player, 2018’s 1¹¹=1 rapper and Kuan-lin was the maknae.

98
 PROFILE: WANNA ONE

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

They advertised everything from Since the split, the likes of Ji-sung Now I wake up and go to the living
school uniform brand Ivy Club, and Jae-hwan have pursued solo room which is now empty. Jin-young
K-Swiss footwear and Reebok to careers. Some have joined other bands, “There are many things that I should
chicken, chocolate and water. such as Sung-woon (Hotshot), Min- work on to become a better a K-Pop
Although they officially split when hyun (Nu’Est), Jin-young (CIX), and star and I feel I have not yet achieved a
their contract ended in December Ji-hoon and Dae-hwi (both in AB61X). lot of things. I still have a thirst for new
2018, they continued to attend award Seong-wu and Kuan-lin are now actors. challenges. Ji-sung
shows as a band and did a final concert WHAT THEY SAY… “When Wanna One was promoting,
in Seoul in early 2019 at the same “I like to pursue happiness because in there were members who shed blood,
venue where they’d put on their the end time is not eternal. We have to sweat and tears together and stayed
first showcase. maximise our happiness. Daniel together longer than family members.
With the exception of Lai Kuan-lin, “I feel lonely and bored [since the Since I parted ways with them and
the boys were reunited for a couple of split]. When I go to the living room, started working as a soloist, I have to
awards shows in 2022. it was always bustling with members. solve problems by myself. Ji-hoon

99
 "I STARTED TO
FEEL BURNT OUT
WITH EVERYTHING
IN MY LIFE -
BTS WERE
MY SAVIOUR
IN THAT VERY
DARK TIME"
GI NA M C DONALD, F ROM SOUT H KOREA ,
CREDI TS T HE BO YS W I T H T URNI NG HER
C Y NICAL MI DDLE-AGED L I F E AROUND

100
 FAN CHAT

S
outh Korean-born I nearly refused to leave the house
Gina McDonald, 55, and see people but I had to go to
says BTS found her work, which is very intense. It was
during a particularly a very dark time.
challenging phase
in her life. After How did they help you
working as a TV through that time?
producer in London, They made me smile, laugh, cry
Gina found herself and scream and adore them. As
facing burnout. She told us: “I felt soon as I got back from work I
lost. I was going through a dark would head home and watch their
depression. Until BTS came to endless videos and listen to their
my life I was just a typical cynical music and share my thoughts
middle-aged person. It was a very with other BTS fans online. Now
dark time. BTS were my saviour.” and friends. I put on a brave face but I’m Bangtan Girl. I will be always there
Gina, who was born in Suga’s withdrew from everything. Then, in 2017 for my boys, seven of them, and I even
hometown Daegu and doesn’t care by accident I saw BTS on YouTube at went to Seoul a few times to remember
that she’s decades older than the the American Music Awards and I was their footsteps and journey. It was
boys, added: “Since my love for BTS just curious. Trust me, even though I quite emotional.
I became more child-like and it’s such am a native South Korean I was never
fun to do fan-girling.” into K-Pop before BTS came along, and How did it feel seeing them on
Here, she tells us about her love for I guess it was one of those things. First, stage for the first time?
BTS, how they saved her from a “deep I was curious about who the hell these It was in 2018 when BTS came to the
depression” and regales us with tales pretty boys were and started getting into UK for the first time at the O2. It was
from her TV producer pals who have researching them online, and the rest is also when Jungkook had an unfortunate
worked with the “ever polite and history. I respected their journey, their incident with his foot just before the
humble boys”… friendships and absolutely loved their concert started and he wept on the
music. Some of the songs and lyrics stage. The whole experience was insane
Tell us about how you found BTS really did make me burst into tears as and unreal in a good way and our
and what you were going through I could relate to them so much. It fandom is quite unique and I felt we
at the time… really didn’t matter that they were were a big bunch of families! It felt just
It was in 2017 when I started to feel young 20-something boys and I was unreal and I got so emotional, but I
burnt out with everything in my life in a 50-something mum. went there on my own and it was quite
general. I felt lost. I was going through frustrating when none of my family and
a dark depression, which I never told In your darkest moments, how bad friends understood my love for BTS.
anyone about, including my own family did things get? Since then I have been to their iconic

101
 concert in Wembley in 2019 and in LA all seven of them. My recent stories all
in 2021. I felt very lucky. come from my colleagues and friends
who met and worked with BTS saying
You told us some of your friends they were simply “genuine as hell”.
have worked with BTS over the And they wouldn’t say anything they
years – what special stories can don’t mean with their heart.
you tell us about them?
I work in TV production for both South Being an older member of Army,
Korean and international shows, so I have the younger fans been
have a few South Korean friends and welcoming to you?
colleagues who have worked with BTS Absolutely! Age was never the issue and,
over the years with fond memories in fact, some of them even approached
about them. Some of the stories are that me first and started to ask a lot of
they are genuine, they are real and they questions about Korean culture and
bloody worked hard and went through language, with me being a native South
a lot of hardships, as all of you already Korean. They even practised Korean
know about. One of the most adorable with me! Bless.
stories they told me was when they were
waiting in the green room in one of the Have you made any good friends
TV stations for their turn to go on stage. through BTS?
My colleague heard them laughing like Yes, I think so. I am quite reserved
innocent kids and they were very close when it comes to opening up to people.
to each other, looking after each other. I may look outgoing, but in secret I am
Yes, they are like brothers in real life quite careful about speaking to people
too, and it was a very warm story to first. But we all have BTS in common,
share. Ever polite and humble boys, yes, and it has been super easy to make new
these are all true. friends and talk to them and share our
Another story was from the Korean stories. I went to a few social meet-ups
lady (known as The Auntie) who fed with them, which were great fun.
the boys when they were trainees. I
met her a couple of times when I went What do your friends and family
back to Seoul. I am sure all the Army think of your love for the boys?
knows of this special lady who owns “Oh my God, what has happened to
BTS’ favourite restaurant from their you?!” said with a sigh! That’s what
early years. She told me how hard they they said to me, just like that. years I learnt to see things with my own
worked and they all were special boys Hilarious! At work, I get called twisted views, which I couldn’t help.
who deserved every success they have. Jungkook’s UK Auntie – JK being my Always the half empty person rather
She told me how RM was smart, V was bias. Somehow, I feel very protective of than the half full. But since my love for
cheeky, Jungkook was shy and Jimin JK, and perhaps he is the youngest and BTS I became more child-like and it is
was so thoughtful and after all, she loved in Korea we tend to have a soft spot for such fun to do fan-girling.
the youngest always.
How are you feeling about the
What is it you like so much about future now, following your battle
the boys and their message? with your mental health?
Being humble, genuine friendships with Do you know what? Nobody really
themselves, work ethics, lyrics…I broke knows what would happen, and nothing
down when I listened to Love Myself. will be the same. I feel very sad that I
The lyrics are annoyingly genius to steal can’t see them together right now, but I
my heart. Their whole journey resonates do understand things will never be the
with me. same even if they return in a few years.
My love for them will be unconditional
You told us before that the boys and I would accept whatever the
came into your life when you were decisions they make. Somehow, I feel
a “typical cynical middle-aged relieved that they are all joining military
person” – in what way? service, which is the most sensitive
I would say I was never like that until agenda for any South Korean young
I started to work in the TV industry, men. Maybe it will be the time they
where I often felt burnt out. Over the needed to recharge their batteries and
grow within themselves. They worked
non-stop with lots of pressure and this
break in the military will give them time
"I F ELT LOST. I WAS GOI NG to have a form of normality, which is
an irony, really. I miss them so much,

T HROUGH A DARK DEPRESSION" though. Spring Day always makes me

cry, missing them terribly.

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 FAN CHAT

" T HE Y MADE ME
SMI LE, L AUGH,
CRY AND SCREAM
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES;

AND ADORE T HEM"

WORDS BY NANCY BROWN;

UNSPLASH

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 K-POP SUPERSTARS

RED VELVET
WHO ARE THEY? Cream Cake, Dumb Dumb, Russian bold ones like Happiness and Ice Cream
Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy and Yeri. Roulette, Red Flavor, Bad Boy, Power Cake, and Velvet’ for maturer ones like
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… Up and Psycho. Be Natural and One Of These Nights.
our of the five members were in the THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… Although Yeri officially joined Red
SM Rookies training programme, Twelve EPs and three studio albums. Velvet seven months after its release,
with Joy being the exception, and The Red and Perfect Velvet were she appeared as an extra in the first few
they came together through auditions. number one and two in Korea seconds of the Happiness video.
SM Entertainment launched them in respectively and topped the US World Like all K-Pop acts, the girls have
August 201 as a foursome with digital tally, while the Japanese release Bloom competed for many music show trophies
single Happiness, then Yeri joined the debuted at number two on the Billboard and currently rank at number six among
following March. Japan Hot Albums countdown. the most-awarded artists with 8 .
THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE… DID YOU KNOW…? Their official fandom is called
Such high-placers on the Korean and The girls present two sides to their ReVeluvs, inspired by the rench word
US World charts as Happiness, Ice songs and videos Red’ for bright and reve’ which means dream’.

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 PROFILE: RED VELVET

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

In 201 tickets for their concert sold Red Velvet are the only girl band so hometown itself and everything/
out in a mere 0.81 seconds, a record for far to have three albums hit number everyone there had a part in creating the
a K-Pop girl band. one of the US iTunes album chart. foundation of who I am right now, so I
Irene is a multi-tasker who is group WHAT THEY SAY… think it’s the core that gives me strength
leader, lead dancer and main rapper, “ ueendom contains a message about and comfort at the same time. Yeri
Seulgi is lead vocalist and Yeri is the how we are all ueens’ of our own lives “Other than pursuing a career
maknae. Wendy is a skilled piano, flute, and that we shine more beautifully in music, I considered becoming a
guitar and saxophone player. Joy’s when we are all together. Wendy kindergarten teacher because I love
talents include imitating Mr Krabs from “Usually we release bright and children. Being around them gives me
SpongeBob SquarePants and singing in energetic dance songs in the summer so much energy and joy. Joy
the popular Korean trot’style. and more sophisticated and R B style “We hope ReVeluvs can feel how much
They have appeared as themselves in songs in fall/winter representing Red’ they mean to us. Always remember
the film Descendants Of The Sun and and Velvet’ respectively. Seulgi that ReVeluv and Red Velvet are more
the animated Trolls World Tour movie. “Even if I noticed or not, my beautiful and precious together. Irene

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 THE K-POP DIET
HOW TO EAT AND COOK LIKE YOUR FAVOURITE IDOL

T HE Y ' V E ENV IOUS F IGURES AND BOUNDLESS

ENERG Y, AND T HERE'S A REASON FOR T HAT!

K
-Pop has taken the and energy levels high. Former
world by storm in MBLAQ star Lee Joon eats lots of
recent years, and fresh fish, and is said to eat four
now K-Food is or five small meals a day while
enjoying its day. exercising with a focus on muscle
Idols are insanely strength. Bae Suzy, meanwhile,
busy, preparing for is a fan of chicken breast, sweet
comebacks, touring and shooting potato, brown rice and salad.
high-energy music videos. They Blackpink’s Jennie avoids salt
expel a lot of energy, which in her diet, opting instead for
explains their toned figures, porridge when her bandmates
but in order to keep up with the are eating something much more
demands placed on their bodies, interesting. She experiences
the superstars need to carefully bloating when she eats lots of
manage what they put into it. salty foods, and her daily diet is
As a result, the K-Pop Diet has said to include avocado salad for
evolved, and it’s said to be what lunch, and porridge and a detox
many of our favourite idols juice for dinner.
stick to, not to lose weight, but
to ensure they remain fit and WHAT IS THE K-POP DIET?
healthy and ready for all that the Must-have items on an idol’s
industry demands of them. shopping list will most likely
include whole foods such as
W HAT DO M Y fruits, vegetables, lean proteins
FAVOUR I T E I DOLS EAT ? and complex carbohydrates.
The stars usually follow a strict, Many K-Pop idols stay away from
healthy diet plan in order to processed foods and fried snacks,
stay fit, healthy and stage-ready. due to the high fat content.
Unlike those in the Western Additionally, eating foods that
world, K-Pop stars eat little are high in fibre is important as
and often. You won’t see their they help to fill their stomachs
plates piled high with food. and control cravings. Foods like
Instead, they’ll snack on healthy, oatmeal, broccoli, beans and
wholesome food, and make the vegetable soups are rich in fibre
focus of their meals whole foods and help to aid digestion. This
– leaning away from salty and way of eating has spawned the
highly processed foods. hugely-popular K-Pop Diet.
Some of K-Pop’s hottest stars It’s based on some traditional
have previously revealed their staples of the Korean diet with
diet secrets. 2NE1’s Park Bom a focus on fruit, soy, steamed
reportedly eats three meals a vegetables, rice, fish and
day containing lean protein, fermented foods such as kimchi
vegetables and salads. BTS’ RM – a cabbage-based dish that’s
eats salads, boiled eggs, soups and easy to make and very popular
chia seeds to keep his body lean among the stars.

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 THE K-POP DIET

K-POP DI ET - SEV EN TOP T I PS

LOWER YOUR FAT INTAKE – Korean cuisine avoids
fried and fatty meals. That means steaming food is essential in
preparation of vegetables and meats.
AVOID PROCESSED FOODS – step away from those ready
meals, this is all about fresh home cooking (or
getting your chef to do it for you in the
case of the idols!).
CUT OUT SUGAR – a traditional
Korean diet doesn’t include
sweetened beverages, sweets
and sugary snacks. Therefore,
elimination of sugar is a key
component to the diet. For
many people, this is the most
challenging part.
STOCK UP ON FRUIT AND
VEG – colour and variety is HOW TO MAKE K IMCHI
very important and it helps to
ensure you’re getting a broad YOU WILL NEED:
spectrum of nutrients. ■ one large Napa cabbage
EAT FERMENTED ■ ginger
FOODS DAILY – these ■ garlic
have been found to help ■ sea salt
boost gut health and can ■ spring onions
include kimchi, tempeh, miso ■ diakon (Korean radish)
and pickled vegetables. ■ shrimp paste or miso paste
CUT DOWN ON RED MEAT – (if you’re making it vegan)
although a Korean diet has some ■ gochugara orean chilli a es
red meat, focusing more on
chicken and fish as your animal STEP ONE: Save one or two outer leaves
proteins may help to further of cabbage and place in the fridge (you will
improve health. use these later). Cut the cabbage into 1in
EMBRACE SOY-RICH FOODS cubes. Put in a bowl and toss with 1/4 cup
– whole soy sources such as tofu sea salt. Fill the bowl with water and stir.
and edamame may be beneficial Place a plate over the cabbage to keep it
when incorporated into meals. submerged. Soak for 6-8 hours. After 6-8
hours, drain (save the brine) and rinse,
pressing the liquid out.

STEP TWO: To make the kimchi paste,

AV ER AGE in a food processor, make a paste with the
garlic, ginger, spring onion, chilli flakes
DA I LY DI ET (less is more unless you like it spicy) and
the shrimp paste/miso.
BREAKFAST – steamed
vegetables with tofu or tempeh. STEP THREE: Combine the cabbage
LUNCH – soup with vegetables, with the kimchi paste and massage in
fish, chicken or lean meat. using your hands. Then, pack tightly into
DINNER – steamed vegetables, jars. Pour a little of the reserved brine on
WORDS BY NANCY BROWN; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES

rice and fish with kimchi. top to just cover the cabbage. Make sure
SNACKS – rice crackers, fruit, you leave 2in at the top of the jar as the
seaweed snacks and green tea. liquid will rise out of the cabbage as it
ferments. Cover with the cabbage leaf you
saved and press down, adding a weight to
keep the cabbage submerged. Cover with
a loose-fitting lid and place in a dark, cool
place for 3-5 days to ferment.

STEP FOUR: Enjoy your kimchi! It’ll

keep in the fridge for months, just make
sure you’re pressing the remaining cabbage
back down into the brine each time.

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 K-POP SUPERSTARS

EXO
WHO ARE THEY?
Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen,
Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun.
THEIR HITS INCLUDE…
Growl, Overdose, Miracles In
December, Call Me Baby, Monster, Ko
So far they’ve had more than 23
million downloads and more than 11
million physical albums. They hold the
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… Ko Bop and Obsession, plus loads more distinction of having six albums sell
They were launched in 2011 as two sub- released through the various sub-units more than a million copies each and
groups named EXO-K and EXO-M, they’ve added over the years (such as have won nearly 200 awards.
releasing the same songs in South the poppy EXO-CBX and the funkier, DID YOU KNOW…?
Korea and China at the same time, hip-hop EXO-SC). Their first two concert dates sold out
in Korean and Mandarin. Their first THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… in two seconds so they quickly added
single Mama came out in 2012 and Lots of EPs plus their million-selling a third.
two years later – having promoted debut XOXO, followed by the equally- Most of the band have completed
themselves through their reality show huge likes of Exodus, Ex’Act, The their compulsory military service.
Exo’s Showtime – they were Japan’s War (their last to be released in both The video for Growl on YouTube has
biggest-selling K-Pop group. Korean and Mandarin) and Obsession. received more than 290 million views.

108
 PROFILE: EXO

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY WEAREONE.EXO/INSTAGRAM; UNSPLASH

Xiumin’s solo projects have included solar system. Fans of the band are it’s those differences on stage and off
musical theatre and screen acting. D.O. officially known as Stars under the stage, and being honest with who I am
has also done some acting, as have collective fanbase name of EXO-L. and kind of showing that to fans, that
Chen and Lay, and most of the band WHAT THEY SAY… people really like.” – Kai
have released solo music. Baekhyun “In our early years we just played “I don’t think I’m very cute. I don’t
has his own streetwear brand called together, whereas now we’ve grown like to be called cute, I want to be called
Privé and Kai has done campaigns for up and matured. We share a lot about handsome.” – Sehun
Gucci and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. where we’re headed in life, what we “Since the year EXO debuted, we’ve
Baekhyun is nicknamed ‘Bacon’ want to do for the upcoming album released an album every year. We’ve
because, well, that’s how you and discuss how we can come together never skipped a single year. Even though
pronounce his name. closer as a team to improve our it wasn’t a formal promise we made, it’s
Chanyeol designed the band’s logo teamwork.” – Baekhyun been a tradition to release an album each
and the name comes from Exoplanet, “I am who I am, I’m just normal. year, even if that means we have to make
which is a planet that’s outside the I’m just a human being, but I think the promotion period short.” – Suho

109
 K-POP SUPERSTARS

GOT7
WHO ARE THEY?
Mark, Jay B, Jackson, Jinyoung,
Youngjae, BamBam and Yugyeom.
THEIR SINGLES INCLUDE…
Girls Girls Girls, Just Right,
Confession Song, Never Ever, One
studio albums so far are Identify,
Moriagatteyo (it’s a made-up word,
apparently), Flight Log: Turbulence,
HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER… And Only You, Encore and Nanana. Present: You and Breath Of Love:
Jay B and Jinyoung auditioned for JYP They’ve yet to top the singles chart in Last Piece.
Entertainment, Mark and BamBam were Korea, although Lullaby was number DID YOU KNOW…?
spotted by talent scouts, Yugyeom was one on the country’s Hot countdown Before Got7, Jay B and Jinyoung acted
recruited through a dance school, Jackson and My Swagger and THE New Era on TV show Dream High 2 and made
auditioned in Hong Kong and Youngjae topped the Hot chart in Japan. records under the name JJ Project.
was the last trainee to sign on. JYP’s first THEIR ALBUMS INCLUDE… They called themselves Got7 because…
boy band since 2PM, they released their Lots of EPs, of course, most of which well, there are seven of them! Plus seven
first EP Got It? in January 2014 and went peaked at number one in Korea and is thought to be a lucky number, with the
to number two in Korea and number one two of which – Got It? and Mad – also band describing themselves as “seven
on the Billboard World album chart. topped the US World chart. And their lucky people come together”.

110
 PROFILE: GOT7

WORDS BY SIMON BUTTON; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH

Their music is hip-hop served up The video for Just Right has notched “When I die I want to be cremated
with martial arts moves and b-boying up more than 300 million views and become the wind.” – Jay B
(aka breakdancing) choreography. on YouTube. “We fight like kids over small things
They’ve been ambassadors for Korea’s Got7’s contract came to an end in – ‘You did it! No, you did it!’ – but
National Fire Agency, Adidas Originals, January 2021 but you can’t keep a we never hold grudges. It’s because
BAUSCH+LOMB contact lenses and good K-Pop band down for long. After of all the things that we were able to
The Face Shop beauty products. focussing on solo projects, in May that overcome that we’re able to be so close.
They have raised funds for year they were back with a new logo, We’re entangled forever.” – Jinyoung
disadvantaged teenagers, the Make- label and Got7 EP. “Other people are just finishing
A-Wish Foundation and people hit by WHAT THEY SAY… college and stuff but, for us, we’ve
forest fires in Gangwon-do. “I never think that this is work because this already set up our skills and experience
They were the first K-Pop group is what I love, and I appreciate it. Once you and lifestyle. Yes, we sacrificed our
to perform at the Barclays Center in think it’s work, you’re done. It becomes a childhood but we got the things we
Brooklyn, New York. mission, homework.” – Jackson wanted.” – BamBam

111
 W I T H T HE
RECENT DEAT HS
OF HAESOO AND
MOONBI N, W HAT IS
HAPPENI NG TO
OUR BELOV ED
K-POP I DOLS?

112
 THE DARKER SIDE OF K-POP

INSIDE THE

DEADLY
WORLD OF
K-POP
Trigger warning – this article contains
references to suicide throughout

L
ooking at our favourite idols up
on stage, you’d never know the
desperate, dark feelings lurking
beneath the surface. This spring
alone, two idols are believed
to have taken their own lives.
Singer Moonbin was aged just Amber Liu told CBS that the pressure
25 at the time of his death. While Haesoo, to have perfect looks, performance and
thought to have taken her own life in May, discipline was overwhelming. “You’re told
was four years older, aged just 29. But this what to do, what to say, what to think. When
is sadly nothing new. A combination of their [people] hear you’re getting help they’re like:
gruelling schedule, isolation from family ‘What? Why are you getting help? That’s
and friends and online trolling appear to be weird.’ That stigma against mental health
taking their toll. And something really does is just so strong.” F(x) singer Amber has
need to change. also spoken out following the death of her
In South Korea, mental health is something former bandmate Sulli. Speaking to People,
of a taboo subject, so the mental health crisis she revealed “It was fun at first, but later the
among K-Pop’s young stars, and society at loneliness and all that stuff settles in.
large, goes mostly unchecked. The country K-Pop fans are growing increasingly
has one of the highest rates of suicide in concerned about their idols. Posting
the world and a huge 95 per cent of South on Twitter, one said: “The Korean
Koreans report being stressed. Mental illness entertainment industry, toxic netizens
was identified as the leading cause of suicide, and toxic stans really need to stop and re-
so why isn’t more being done by the country evaluate their behaviours fgs! This toxicity
to combat this devastation? is destroying so many people and leading
The high pressures of South Korean society them to untimely deaths.” They’re not
and taboo around discussing mental health wrong, with Moonbin and Haesoo sadly just
issues isn’t lost on many K-Pop stars. Singer the tip of the iceberg…

I N SOUT H KOREA , MENTAL HEALT H IS SOMET HI NG

OF A TABOO SUBJEC T, SO T HE MENTAL HEALT H
CR ISIS AMONG K-POP'S YOUNG STARS, AND SOCI ET Y
AT L ARGE, GOES MOS T LY UNCHECK ED

113
 K-POP STARS WE'VE LOVED AND
LOST SO TRAGICALLY YOUNG
■ Trot singer HAESOO was found dead in her hotel room on May
15 this year. She was aged just 29, and police discovered a note
which is suspected to have been written by the singer before her
tragic death. The contents of the letter, which have not been made
public, led the police to rule out foul play.
■ Astro singer MOONBIN died on April 19 at the age of just 25.
He is believed to have been found in his apartment in Gangnam-
gu by his manager after he failed to turn up for rehearsals. In a
live chat just days before his death, he spoke of the pressures of
the industry. Moonbin said: “I’ve chosen this job, so I need to
handle it.”
■ F(x) singer SULLI was just 25 when she reportedly ended
her own life in October 2019. The star, born Choi Jin-ri, had
received online abuse from trolls throughout her career, and
announced in 2014 that she would be taking a break from her
band due to “stress-related pain”.
■ Just weeks later, Sulli’s friend GOO HARA was found
dead at the age of 28. She found fame as part of K-Pop group
Kara. Her death came six months after a previous attempt
to take her own life. The star had been through a
difficult time in the year before her death, having
taken her ex-boyfriend to court after he threatened
to release a sex tape of them that he had filmed
without her knowledge.
B E E N T O O HARD.
■ KIM JONG-HYUN, lead singer of Shinee, was
"IT 'S
D M E O F F.
PLEASE SEN YONE
found dead aged 27 in 2017. His last message to his
sister is said to have read: “It’s been too hard. Please
send me off. Tell everyone I’ve had a hard time. This is
T ELL EV ER T I ME"
ARD
I 'V E H A D A H
my last goodbye.” After he passed away, a note written
by the idol was released to the public. It read: “I am
broken from inside. The depression that gnawed on
me slowly has finally engulfed me entirely.

WORDS OF ADV ICE I F YOU' RE F EEL I NG SUICI DAL

If you are suffering feelings of despair, the phone on one of the confidential make you feel unwell, and endeavour to
help is at hand. Helplines run 24 helplines. There’s no right or wrong way stay away from them.
hours a day, no matter where in the to talk about these feelings – starting You could also try and exercise
world you live some can even offer the conversation is what’s important. to ground yourself, another way to
advice via SMS or web chat. In the It’s also important to know that distract the mind. It can be a helpful
UK, Samaritans (www.samaritans. the feelings you’re having will pass. way to calm your nervous system,
org; or call 116 123), CALM (www. Hard as it sounds, try and focus on especially if you are feeling panicked,
thecalmzone.net; or call 0800 585858) the here and now and not the future. worried, or overwhelmed by your
and Papyrus (www.papyrus-uk.org; You may have felt like this before and thoughts and feelings.
call 0800 0684141; or text 07860 it may have passed – try to remember You can do some grounding exercises
039967) are all available to help. this feeling is temporary. You can that use all your senses. This can help
In the US, contact Samaritans USA also try to change your immediate you to be in the moment and to not
(www.samaritansusa.org), Crisis mindset and distract yourself from focus too much on your thoughts. Say
Text Line (crisistextline.org; or text what is troubling you. Read a book out loud or think of five things you can
WORDS BY NANCY BROWN; PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES

HOME to 741-741), or The Trevor or a magazine, listen to some music, see, four things you can hear, three
Project for LGBTQ+ young people do some gardening, sit outside in the things you can touch, two things you
(www.thetrevorproject.org; call the sunshine or spend time with your pet. can smell and one thing you can taste.
TrevorLifeline at 1-866-7386; or text These are all things that can help reset Although you might feel like you
START to 678-678). You can also the mind and steer you away from the want to be alone, this is probably the
contact your GP in a non-emergency, or thoughts you’re having. worst thing you can do. Meet friends
go straight to A&E if you are concerned It’s also good to be aware of your or family, go to the shopping centre,
your life is in imminent danger. triggers. These are things that make visit a coffee shop for a cappuccino and
The most important thing to do if you feel worse. You may find certain a slice of cake, work out at the gym.
you’re feeling like this is tell someone. music, photos or films make you sink Even if people don’t know how you’re
This can be someone you trust, like a deeper into your feelings – stay away feeling, their very presence can help
friend or family member, or a medical from these. Identify your triggers, write to keep you safe until your suicidal
professional, or someone at the end of down things, people or instances that feelings pass.

114
 SLUG HERE

let’s do a

K-POP WORDSE ARCH

BTS Enhypen Wanna One

BLACKPINK NCT GOT7
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES

Seventeen ITZY EXO

Fifty Fifty G(IDLE) MAMAMOo
Le Sserafim Tomorrow x Together AESPA
Monsta X Red Velvet NEW JEANS
Twice Astro OH MY GIRL

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 WE

K-PO
SUPE
P
RSTARS