Author: Lisa Truong

MINJUKIM – The Latest South Korean Fashion Brand

South Korea has become the leader of pop culture, such as entertainment, tourism, and of course, fashion. MINJUKIM is the newest South Korean fashion brand you should be on the lookout for in 2021.

Not only did she appear on the hit Netflix competition show, Next In Fashion, designer Kim Minju also designed the tour outfits for BTS. Aside from Kim’s personal clothing store, her collections are also stocked on Net-A-Porter. But before getting into her success, let’s talk more about the designer behind MINJUKIM.

Who is Kim Minju?

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Kim studied in New Zealand as a teenager. Her original passion was becoming a cartoonist. However, her parents encouraged her to study fashion design in South Korea. She first studied design at the Samsung Art & Design Institute and got her master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium.

In 2013, Kim won the grand prize at the H&M Design Award. The purpose of the award is to promote young designers and help them navigate the competitive fashion world as they establish their own brands. Kim launched her fashion brand MINJUKIM in 2015. Her sister helps her with internal operations. She works hard to release a new collection every year. On top of designing, Kim also teaches fashion design classes at Kookmin University, a private university in Seoul.

MINJUKIM Aesthetic

Net-A-Porter described MINJUKIM as a youthful playfulness mixed with haute couture fashion brand. Kim is best known for combining feminine physiques with bold and daring elements to help her clients feel fearless.

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In an interview with AnOther, Kim said, “I always wish for people to feel my happiness when they see my collection. Sharing my emotions through fashion is my dream.” It’s no wonder that there’s always a pop of color, fun patterns, and flattering silhouettes in her collections.

Asian culture is also a big inspiration for her designs. In another interview with CNA Luxury, Kim said, “It is really interesting how Asian designers can combine their culture and story into their collections – the color and traditional shape result in a beautiful aesthetic. When they show their roots, they express more unique concepts. This is how we offer a different point of view.” One of her goals in life is to help introduce the fashion industry to talented Asian designers that can’t get the necessary exposure.

Journey Across the Sea

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Kim made her TV debut in 2020 on Next In Fashion, a fashion competition series produced by Netflix. The show was hosted by tan France and Alex Chung, prominent figures in the fashion world. Kim was among 18 designers competing for the chance to win $250,000 USD to expand their brand and have their collection featured on Net-A-Porter. Kim stated in interviews during the show that she hoped to use the money for MINJUKIM and make her sister proud.

Each week, designers were tasked with creating a new outfit to match the theme of the week, like red carpet, swimwear, etc. At the end of the week, the two hosts picked a winner and eliminated two designers. During the first few weeks, Kim teamed with designer Angel Chen to form a duo, dubbed “Dragon Princesses.”

In the season finale, Kim and fellow contestant Daniel Fletcher had to create an entire collection in three days to present at the final runway. The judges were impressed with Kim’s creativity as well as her authenticity to stay true to her brand. The global buying director of Net-A-Porter as well as other celebrity judges named Kim the winner of Next In Fashion and awarded the $250,000 USD.

Her latest collections are still featured on Net-A-Porter, the largest online luxury goods retailer. It is home to some of the biggest designers in the business, such as Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Gucci, La Mer, and now, MINJUKIM.

Designing for Idols

Prior to winning Next In Fashion, Kim has worked with K-pop groups such as BTS and Red Velvet. In 2018, she designed the stage outfits for BTS’s “DNA” and “I NEED U” for their Love Yourself tour.

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Kim has worked with Red Velvet since their single “One of These Nights”. She is also the designer for their outfits for the “Rookie” music video and promotions. Her signature bold elements were big bows and ruffles. Fans feel that her unique style matches very well with Red Velvet’s quirky and mysterious concepts.

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MINJUKIM’s clothing also made a few appearances in the K-drama “It’s Okay to Not be Okay“. Actress Seo Ye Ji named Kim one of her favorite designers. It is no surprise that she wore a few pieces in the drama.

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The Future of MINJUKIM

Kim’s vision for the brand is to open it up to international consumers. In the same interview with CNA Luxury, she mused at the possibility of designing for the mass. This project could help her branch out of her usual runway and couture concept. It could also help her be more accessible to the public. MINJUKIM currently has over 500K followers on Instagram. There’s nothing stopping this South Korean fashion brand from being a household name.

Check out her latest collection on Net-A-Porter and follow MINJUKIM Instagram for the latest update.

Find out more about Korean Fashion by reading the blog or watching the video below

Seoul Fashion Week 2021: Fall/Winter Season

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtnOM0d_td4[/embedyt]

April 8, 2021
8 Biggest K-Pop Fandoms You Should Know About

Behind every K-pop group or artist is a dedicated K-pop fandom that will support the group or artist through thick and thin. Perhaps the most well-known fandom is the ARMY, dedicated fans of the worldwide phenomenon, BTS. But sorry ARMY, this article isn’t going to be about you. We already know quite a lot about the Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth. Let’s give other K-pop fandoms a chance to shine.

What are K-pop fandoms?

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K-pop fandoms are essentially fan clubs for K-pop groups or artists. The name of the fandom is what K-pop groups and artists refer to their fans as, and what fans refer to themselves as. The process of creating a fandom begins with the debut of a K-pop act. After the group debuts, their management will slowly release information on the fandom. This includes the name, meaning of the name, and potentially lightsticks (though some K-pop fandoms have waited years before getting an official lightstick).

K-pop fandoms distinguish themselves at award shows or any events where multiple K-pop acts perform with lightsticks or the group’s official color. As a fan club, they often engage in online community building and even have charity events in the name of their group.

BLINK – BLACKPINK

BLINK is a contraction of BLACK and PINK, fitting with BLACKPINK’s motto of mixing girl crush with bubblegum pop concepts. The 4 members of the girl group reportedly came up with the fandom name and announced it in November of 2016 in an Instagram post.

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In May of 2018, YG Entertainment revealed the official BLACKPINK lightstick, dubbed ‘Bbyongbong’ to mimic the sound it makes. The lightstick is a heart-shaped hammer that resembles a squeaky hammer toy.

Once – TWICE

A clever play-on word, the meaning behind “Once” is if fans can show love to the group once, the girls will repay their support with “twice” the love and dedication. The group announced their fandom name via Instagram in November of 2015. Korean and international fans have different variations to their fandom name, Once Candy and Once Jelly respectively.

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TWICE’s lightstick is just as sweet as the group; a colorful lollipop! The Candy Bong made its debut in 2016. It received an upgrade in 2019 and the name changed to Candybong Z. It still resembles the candy fans adore, but it includes the group’s official colors: apricot and neon magenta.

ReVeluv – Red Velvet

This K-pop fandom name combines the first two letters of Red and Velvet. The “luv” of course stands for love. Reveluv coincidentally also means dream in French, further emphasizing that fans make Red Velvet’s dreams come true every day. Fans eagerly waited 1,000 days after the girls debuted for the fandom name, which took place on April 27, 2017.

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Similar to the fandom name, fans waited 4 years for an official lightstick. The simple and cute lightstick contains the group’s initials in pastel coral. The lightstick’s name is “kimmanbong” with “kimman” short for “kimchi mandu” meaning kimchi dumpling. This is because it looks like a dumpling sitting on top of a stick.

Neverlands – (G)I-DLE

Going along with (G)-IDLE unique and versatile concept, Neverlands is the perfect name for their fandom. Deriving from the fairytale Peter Pan, Neverland is a place where children never grow up. The group hopes to travel to Neverland with their fans and stay happy together forever. The company announced the fandom name on October 29, 2018. The official logo for Neverlands is a castle.

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The group announced their official lightstick in October of 2019 and it is also called Neverland. It features a purple castle with glitter surrounding the dome. The enchanting design captures quite well the dreamlike theme of the fandom.

EXO-L – EXO

EXO has a very creative naming process. EXO-K is the Korean subunit while EXO-M is the Chinese subunit. The group considers their fans as an extension of their identity, so they named their fandom EXO-L, which stands for love. The fandom officially began in August of 2014.

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The lightstick for EXO, called “Pharynx”, gives off a slick and sophisticated vibe. It features the group’s logo and has 12 different lights, representing the 12 original members. During concerts, fans can create a rainbow ocean.

NCTzen – NCT

During a live stream in 2017, all of the members of NCT (including all the subunits) gathered to announce their fandom name. NCTzen essentially means a citizen of NCT, which stands for Neo Culture Technology. The concept of the group revolves around having an unlimited number of members to form subunits based in different locations. So their fans are citizens of the music they produce.

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NCT showed off their lightstick for the first time in 2018. It has bold neon letterings of the group’s name. It also has a space inside the dome for fans to decorate as they wish.

MOA – TOMORROW X TOGETHER

TXT had some trouble coming up with a fandom name. Their first choice was “YOUNG ONE” which coincidentally was the fandom name for SNSD member Tiffany Young. After a lot of considerations, they came up with MOA. It stands for “Moments of Alwaysness” and represents how fans come together in a fragment of time to complete TXT’s dream.

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The group teased at their official lightstick in multiple tweets on Twitter. On the handle of the lightstick, fans can spot the TXT logo: + x +. There hasn’t been any official information as to what the name of the lightstick is, but it shouldn’t be long until someone comes up with something as ethereal as TXT.

Stay – Stray Kids

Stray Kids’ fans give them a reason to stay, taking the “r” out of “Stray” and leaving them with “Stay”. The name of this K-pop fandom is special because both fans and artists feel at home with each other. Stray Kids announced the name on a Youtube video a week prior to their comeback in 2018.

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Continuing the Stray Kids’ theme of lost and found, their lightstick features a red compass. No matter where the group is, fans will always be able to find them using the “Nachimbong”. The name directly translates to “compass rod”.

With so many K-pop acts out there, it’s impossible to name all of the fandoms. But let us know if you want a part 2 to some of the biggest fandoms you should know about.

To learn more on Kpop, check out the video below!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwkbMdSkm7Q[/embedyt]

March 30, 2021
Upcoming & Completed Webtoon to K-drama Adaptations in 2021

Webtoon adaptations have gained massive global success in the last couple of years. From a vibrant romance like “True Beauty” to ambitious dreams like “Itaewon Class,” Korean dramas based on Webtoons are truly captivating. Here are some upcoming, current, and completed Webtoon to K-drama adaptations in 2021 to put on your watch list.

Upcoming Webtoon Adaptations

“Annarasumanara” or “The Sound of Magic”

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This Webtoon to K-drama adaptation is about a diligent high schooler, Yoon Ah Yi, who works part-time jobs in order to provide for her and her younger sister, while receiving a decent academic ranking at school. Although she tries her best to reach the top ranking, her classmate Na Il Deung competes against her, which eventually leads to them falling for each other. However, her life takes a turn when she meets a magician, Lee Eul. This drama stars Choi Sung Eun, known for her work in “Beyond Evil” (2021), Hwang In Youp from “True Beauty” (2020-21) and “18 Again” (2020), and Ji Chang Wook from “Lovestruck in the City” (2020-21) and “Melting Me Softly” (2019). The airdate is still unknown, but it is expected to be available on Netflix.

You can read this completed Webtoon in both Korean and English.

“Yumi’s Cells”

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The story of “Yumi’s Cells” is about the life of an office worker, Yu Mi, through the perspectives of the 200 cells in her brain. Kim Go Eun is confirmed to play Yu Mi, and has previously starred in another Webtoon to Korean drama adaptation called “Cheese in the Trap” (2016). She is also well-known for her role in “Goblin” (2016) and “The King: Eternal Monarch” (2020). Ahn Bo Hyun from “Itaewon Class” (2020), Park Ji Hyun from “Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung” (2019), and Lee Yu Bi in “Pinocchio” (2014-15) have also been confirmed to join Kim Go Eun.

The Korean webtoon has over 3 billion views with more than 500 episodes, so it’s no surprise that it will soon become a Korean drama. Studio Dragon and Studio N are in charge of producing the drama. Filming is expected to begin in early 2021 and will air in the second half of the year.

“All of Us Are Dead”

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“All Of Us Are Dead” is based on a Webtoon titled “Now At Our School” that was published in 2009. The lead actors are Yoon Chan Young and Park Ji Hoo. The story follows the two leads as they fight through a zombie virus that is spreading around their school. Chang San is an ordinary boy who has a crush on On Jo, the most popular girl at school.

Yoon Chan Young has previously worked on Korean dramas, such as “Still 17” (2018) and “Dr. Romantic” (2016-17). Park Ji Hoo is a rookie actress that has starred in “House of Hummingbird” (2019), “Beautiful World” (2019) and “Sweet Revenge 2” (2018). This Korean drama will air on Netflix as one of their original series sometime during the first half of 2021. This will be another addition to Netflix’s zombie Korean dramas, following “Kingdom.” There is no confirmation of how many episodes this Webtoon adaptation will have.

You can read this Webtoon in Korean, but it is currently unavailable in English.

“Island”

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“Island” is a Webtoon to K-drama adaptation about an arrogant and pitiful daughter, who causes trouble. When her father sends her to Jeju Island, she beings working as a high school teacher. However, she becomes a target to ghosts, who desire to eliminate the human world. Kim Nam Gil is confirmed to star; meanwhile, Lee Da Hee and Astro‘s Cha Eun Woo are still considering their respective roles. Kim Nam Gil is known for starring in the film “The Closet” (2020). Cha Eun Woo is more recently known for his role in “True Beauty” (2020-21) and Lee Da Hee is known for her roles in “Search: WWW” (2019) and “L.U.C.A.: The Beginning” (2021). “Island” is expected to have 20 episodes and will air on OCN during the second half of 2021.

You can read the fully completed Webtoon in Korean, but it is currently unavailable in English.

Current/Completed Webtoon Adaptations

“She Would Never Know” or “Sunbae, Don’t Put On That Lipstick” (Aired January-March 2021)

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Y96itOyXw[/embedyt]

This office romance Webtoon adaptation stars SF9’s RoWoon and Won Jin Ah. Yoon Song Ah daydreams about having her own cosmetic line while working as a marketer for a cosmetic brand. She is work-oriented and has her sights on her future. Chae Hyeon Seung is a junior marketer, working together with Song Ah. Hyeon Seung harbors a one-sided love for Song Ah, who is rejected by her because of their age gap.

SF9’s RoWoon is known for his roles “Extraordinary You” (2019) and “School 2017” (2017). Won Jin Ah starred in “Melting Me Softly” with Ji Chang Wook in 2019. “She Would Never Know” or “Sunbae, Don’t Put On That Lipstick” is based on the web novel of the same name that was published in 2017. The first episode aired on January 18 and ran for 16 episodes on JTBC.

You can read this on-going Webtoon in both Korean and English.

“Love Alarm Season 2″ (Aired March 2021)

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With the success of “Love Alarm,” Netflix has greenlighted a second season of the webcomic adaptation. Originally, it was supposed to be released in August of 2020; however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was pushed back to 2021. Netflix ranked the first season as the number eight most beloved Korean drama in 2019.

Kim So Hyun, Song Kang, and Jung Ga Ram will continue their roles in this second season, which comprises 6 episodes. The premise of the Webtoon follows a society where an app can tell you who likes you when they are nearby. Jojo tries her best to live her life while fighting past personal struggles. Along the way, she finds herself trapped in a love triangle with Lee Hye Yeong and his best friend Hwang Sun Oh.

You can watch both seasons here with a subscription to Netflix.

“Navillera” (Aired March-April 2021)

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx8g18qi2TY[/embedyt]

“Navillera” is a 12 episode Netflix melodrama based on a Webtoon of the same name. Although Sim Deok Chool is 70 years old, his life-long dream to become a ballet dancer grows even stronger despite his family’s opposition. When Deok Chool finally joins a ballet company, he meets 23 year-old Lee Chae Rok, whose deceased mother was also a ballerina. With financial burdens weighing Chae Rok down, his ambition for ballet slowly vanishes, until Sim Deok Chool walks into his life. Sim Deok Chool is portrayed by Park In Hwan and is known for his roles in the drama “Brilliant Heritage” (2020) and the film “King Maker” (2020). Lee Chae Rok is portrayed by Song Kang, who is more recently known for his roles in “Love Alarm” (2019/2021) and “Sweet Home” (2020).

You can watch Park In Hwan and Song Kang on Netflix here.

“I Know But” or “Nevertheless,” (Aired June-July 2021)

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhNGs38kSa8[/embedyt]

This 10 episode adaptation of the Webtoon of the same name is about Yoo Na Bi and Park Jae Eon. Na Bi doesn’t believe in love or have any trust in it after past trauma, but she still wants to date. On the other hand, Jae Eon isn’t interested in dating, but he likes the period before dating when two people have the leisure of flirting. They are both art majors at the same university and Na Bi does her best to hide her feelings for him. “Nevertheless,” stars Song Kang and Han So Hee. Song Kang gained popularity through “Love Alarm” (2019/2021) and Han So Hee rose to fame through her role in “The World of the Married” (2020).

You can read the completed Webtoon in both Korean and English. You can also watch it on Netflix here.

“Are You Leaving” (Aired February-March 2021)

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“Are you Leaving?” is a fantastical music romance about young people from different time periods following their musical dreams. SF9 ‘s Chani portrays Park Yeon, a musical genius of the past. Park JungYeon plays Min YooJung, a young girl living in the present working endless hours to survive. N.Flying ‘s Lee SeungHyub is Lee Won, a current idol who was also a musician in his past life.

The webcomic of the same name was published in 2017. The 8 episode drama aired on Seezn, the channel SKY, and streams on Viki.

“Imitation” (Aired May-July 2021)

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This star-studded Webtoon to K-drama adaptation reveals the stories of idols in the Korean entertainment industry. It is adapted from the Webtoon of the same name that has over 22 million views. Many K-pop idols will be starring in this drama, including: ATEEZ’s Yun Ho, Seong Hwa, JongHo, and San, SF9’s Chani and Hwi Young, U-KISS’s Jun, T-ARA’s Ji Yeon, ex-PRISTIN’s Lim Na Young, Min Seo, Boys’ Republic’s Su Woong, g.o.d’s Danny Ahn and Shim Eun Jin. Jung Ji So will also be in the drama and she is most known for her performance in “Parasite” (2019).

This 12 episode adaptation is currently streaming on Viki.

“My Roommate is a Gumiho” or “Raw” (Aired May-July 2021)

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This Webtoon adaptation stars Kang Ki Yong as Shin Woo Yeo and Girl’s Day’s Hyeri as Lee Dam. Woo Yeo is a handsome male gumiho who has roamed the earth for hundreds of years in the hopes of becoming human. When a college girl, Lee Dam, accidentally swallows his fox bead, the two decide to live together until they can figure out how to safely remove Woo Yeo’s bead from Lee Dam’s body. This 16 episode drama emphasizes Koreans’ love for gumiho mythology. “My Roommate is a Gumiho” is available on iQIYI and Viki.

Read the completed Webtoon in Korean and the on-going version in English.

Which upcoming and completed Webtoon to K-drama adaptations in 2021 are you adding to your watch list?

To learn more on Korean webtoons, check out the video below!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1547SXBFY8[/embedyt]

March 27, 2021
Get to Know BLACKPINK Rosé and Her Debut Album

Attention BLINKs, it’s here! Rosé, the angelic main vocalist of BLACKPINK has finally released her debut album.

Rosé Debut Album

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Titled “R,” the album dropped worldwide on March 12th. It consists of 4 all-English tracks, two of which are instrumental versions of the prior ones. The first teaser for “On the Ground” hit 12 million views on the first day. YG released the teaser for “Gone” a few days prior to BLACKPINK’s The Show, an online concert that the girls put on for their fans. They performed songs off of their debut album along with other hits like “Kill This Love,” “Ddu Du Ddu Du,” and their Lady Gaga collaboration, “Sour Candy.” Rosé took the opportunity to debut “Gone,” as a treat for BLINKS.

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Rosé took part in co-writing both songs for her debut album, along with YG’s producer, Teddy. In the album release press conference, Rosé said “I’m a person who heals through music and learns a lot through music.” “On the Ground” portrayed her struggles since debut. Lines like “I worked my whole life/Just to get high, just to realize/Everything I need is on the/Everything I need is on the ground,” revealed the hardship of an idol. “Gone” is a strip-back ballad about lost love. Both songs illustrated her ability to tell stories and evoke strong emotions. Rosé revealed that she recorded “Gone” two years ago and felt that it was necessary to include it in this album.

“Many people call me by many names, so ‘R’ comes from the first letter of my names, and it represents my start of going solo,” she said when discussing the title of the album. In a symbolic way, this is her debut as a singer, rather than a K-pop idol.

“R” exceeded 400,000 pre-order sales just 4 days after the pre-order link went live, surpassing the previous record of 180,000 held by IU.

“On the Ground” MV

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The MV for “On the Ground” premiered on BLACKPINK’s Youtube channel on March 12th at 2 pm Kst and 0 am Est. The powerful anthem was paired with an equally passionate and beautiful music video with the glamorous Rosé as the star. Flames and explosions surrounded her as she worked sings about her perception of herself as an idol. The MV gained an impressive 39 million views after 24 hours.

We haven’t heard anything about the music video release of “Gone” but knowing YG, it will definitely come when you least expect it.

The Importance of Rosé Debut Album

This debut album beautifully shows off Rosé’s ability to write soulful music as well as distinguish herself as a prominent vocalist of our generation. BLINKS are able to witness her raw talent and range outside of BLACKPINK’s activities. Rosé said that the songs are in English because she felt more comfortable in the language and it better helps her tell her story.

After Jennie’s “SOLO” in 2019, BLINKs were eager for new music from the rest of the group. YG Entertainment had previously announced that other members’ solo projects would follow one after another but after years of waiting, BLINKS were feeling discouraged. The company has notably been criticized for poor management of their groups, primarily, not giving them enough promotions and projects. However, the release of “R” signaled positive progress for YG Entertainment and BLACKPINK.

Rosé’s Early Life

Born Roseanne Park (Park Chaeyoung) in New Zealand on February 11, 1997, Rosé grew up in Australia with her parents and sister. Music has always been a big part of her life. Rosé started learning to sing and play the guitar and piano during secondary schooling. She also performed regularly as part of her church’s choir.

When YG Entertainment held its auditions in Melbourne in 2012, her family encouraged her to audition for it. She often jokes that her father was getting tired of hearing her sing at odd hours of the night, so the audition was his chance to ship her back to South Korea. Rosé ranked first out of 700 participants and signed with the company shortly after. She dropped out of school and got a one-way ticket to Seoul to start her training.

Pre-debut/Trainee days

Rosé joined YG Entertainment in 2012. She trained alongside the other members of BLACKPINK (Jisoo, Jennie, and Lisa) for four years. In their Netflix documentary, Light Up The Sky, Rosé discussed their trainee days and the group’s close friendship. When the girls first met, including Miyeon who later debuted in (G)I-DLE, they instantly clicked and formed their little group. YG held monthly evaluations and the girls all worked together efficiently. As a group, they came up with choreography, distributed routines, and determined who would be the “center.” Other trainees would have fights about line distributions, but Rosé noted that the four girls never had a disagreement.

In her first year at the company, G-Dragon of Big Bang featured Rosé in his song “Without You” for his EP One of a Kind.

After Debut

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BLACKPINK made their official debut in June of 2016. Rosé made her first solo venture when she appeared on King of Masked Singer in 2017. King of Masked Singer is a South Korean singing competition where contestants wear elaborate masks and costumes to hide their identity and compete against each other. Later that year, she also made an appearance on Fantastic Duo, a show where fans can duet along with their favorite artists. Rosé performed in front of Gummy, the South Korean singer known for her soundtrack for K-dramas.

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Aside from music, Rosé is also the global brand ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent and Yves Saint Laurent Beauté. She was the first global YSL ambassador in 59 years. She is also an endorsement model with the Korean cosmetic brand, Kiss Me, along with bandmate Jisoo. Currently, she has 37 followers on Instagram, making her the third most followed K-pop idol on the platform, tying with Jisoo.

What’s Next for BLACKPINK?

BLINKs are anticipating the release of Lisa and Jisoo’s solo project. Earlier this year, YG Entertainment announced that Lisa’s solo is in the work and will be released towards the end of the year. Jisoo is currently filming her K-drama “Snowdrop” which will premiere in the latter half of this year.

Rosé will perform “On the Ground” on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on March 16th. Check out the music video for “On the Ground” below. And listen to “R” on any streaming platform.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKZvWhCqx1s[/embedyt]

To learn more on Blackpink’s solo projects, watch the video below!

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9FtHca-DYE[/embedyt]

March 16, 2021
BTS Made History With “Dynamite” at the Grammy’s

The worldwide phenomenon, BTS, continues to break barriers, and this time, at the 63rd annual Grammy’s. Not only were they nominated with “Dynamite,” the boys also had their own special stage at the prestigious award show.

Journey to the Grammy’s

It’s not an exaggeration to say every artist in the world dreams of getting a Grammy, or even just nominated. BTS is no exception. During their “Love Yourself: Tear” era, BTS did an interview with Billboard. The interviewer asked them what’s next and member Suga shyly responded with “Grammy.” At the time, the boys chuckled to themselves, thinking how impossible that dream was. The group also did an intimate interview with the Recording Academy later in 2018 where the interviewer mused that a BTS appearance at the Grammy’s could be in the near future.

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As fate would have it, in 2019, the academy asked them to present the award for Best R&B artist. They became the first Korean act to present at the Grammy’s. In his speech, leader RM famously said “We’ll be back.” And indeed they were back. In 2020, Lil Nas x released a remix with RM of his hit “Old Town Road.” Since Lil Nas X was a nominee for the Grammy’s that year, he asked RM to perform a mash-up of all the remixes. Of course, RM couldn’t leave the rest of his team so the group became the first Korean act to perform at the award show. They performed alongside Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, and Mason Ramsey.

Historical “Dynamite” Nomination

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On November 24, 2020, the Recording Academy released its official list of nominees for the 63rd annual award. BTS snagged a spot as a nominee for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their smash hit, “Dynamite.” They became the first-ever Korean act to be nominated for a Grammy. BTS posted a video of their reaction to the nomination on their official Twitter page. Fans could see how nervous the four members ( RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook) present during the video were. They each held their breath as the nomination list dropped. It was a sweet moment as the boys waited with their loyal fanbase, ARMY.

And of course, ARMY were ecstatic about the news. They had been manifesting this ever since member Suga brought it up in that Billboard interview back in 2018. ARMY congratulated the boys through Twitter, causing BTS and Grammy’s trend globally. They’ve tweeted out how proud they are of the boys’ hard work.

It was only a matter of time for BTS to receive their Grammy nomination since their success is undeniable. When BTS released their latest album, BE, “Life Goes On” was the first non-English track to debut on the Billboard Hot 100. “Dynamite” topped global charts and was played on major radio stations in the U.S. The group was also the fastest group to earn five No. 1 albums, surpassing The Beatles. They were also the first group to have two albums at the top of the chart in the U.S, with Map of the Soul: 7.

Before their much-anticipated Grammy appearance, BTS did an interview with USAToday. “Whether we get the Grammys or not, we already got what we wanted, and we got you [ARMY], so that means we got everything,” RM said.

BTS at the Grammy’s

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Despite being on a different continent, the 7 members still blessed the red carpet in a sophisticated all Louis Vuitton look from South Korea. RM adorned a stylist sweatshirt while the rest of the boys opted for more formal wear. Sadly, BTS did not win their first Grammy. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s “Rain On Me” won the category. While ARMY were evidently upset on Twitter, they were still proud of the boys’ achievement. One fan wrote, “It’s Grammy’s who lost BTS.” And you know nothing can get in the way of the group putting on a stellar performance.

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And boy, what a show they put on. Dressed in their usual colorful suits for “Dynamite,” the boys took their performance through multiple sets in South Korea. There was a chandelier made of flowers, a recreation of the Grammy’s set, and they even performed on the rooftop of a building. Despite the tiring choreography, BTS’s energy never dwindled and their dedication to their craft prevailed. This is what a Grammy performance should be.

ARMY took Twitter to voice praises about the performance, reaffirming that BTS has made history.

What Does This Mean for K-pop?

Over the years, many have praised BTS for breaking barriers to allow K-pop and Hallyu to broaden their market across the sea. The members hope that to continue diversifying the global music industry. “There are so many artists in Korea besides us who put out great music,” member Suga said in an interview with Grammy’s. “And I’m sure there are even more on a global scale.” Despite their loss, this just means the sky is the limit for them and K-pop alike.

As a longtime ARMY, I am incredibly proud to see the group finally getting the recognition they deserve. Amidst their success, they never once lost sight of their core values of spreading kindness and self-love. They continue to be humble while combatting hardships in the industry, which makes me admire them even more. While I felt upset that they didn’t win, especially for a performance category, it doesn’t make me any less proud of the group. They have come so far since their debut in 2013 and I’m ecstatic to have been with them since the beginning.

Let’s see what happens next year, but regardless, BTS will continue to do their own thing. With or without a Grammy, they are still 7 boys who are loved by billions.

To learn more on BTS, watch the video below! Enjoy~

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RQV1E81vHM[/embedyt]

March 16, 2021