Hi, I'm UK Jung. I live in Seoul, Korea, and my full name is Hae Uk Jung. You can call me either UK or Jung. :)
I’m sure many fans are curious about k-pop stars' real life and what’s really happening in the k-pop world. As the stars are only shown on the stage or TV, ordinary people can't figure out how they’re like in real life. Who do you think is the good-natured k-pop star? Well, there's more than meets the eye.
I've been working as an entertainment journalist in Korea since 2010, and I've worked for major Korean media outlets such as SportsChosun and Newstomato. And working as a k-pop journalist for years, I could meet many of Korean stars. Yeah, unlike what some of you might think, I don't just translate Korean articles into English, and I personally interview k-pop stars and cover stories regarding them. So, on KpopBehind, I want to share all the stories behind k-pop stars with fans all over the world.
The most common way for me to get deep information about famous stars and the entertainment industry is to have an interview with stars. Most of people think the press can ask for an interview with famous stars at any time, but it’s not true. As an interview could be an effective method for them to promote their albums and dramas, they usually like to be interviewed by the press before or after releasing their new albums or dramas. Usually, movie stars are available for an interview just before the premier of their movies, while singers and drama stars like to be interviewed right after their new albums are released or their dramas come to an end.
Actually, most of k-pop stars look good-natured as long as they are with influential people in show business such as TV producers or journalists. During years of trainee period, they take not only vocal lessons but also etiquette lessons. With a loud voice, idol stars usually make a deep bow in front of people in the industry. However, of course, not all the k-pop stars are good-natured. There are some arrogant stars too. Years ago, I went to the back stage to have an interview with a popular girl group. Most of the members, except for the leader of the group, treated people with an arrogant manner. They listened to people in an absent sort of way. The leader struggled by herself to smooth things over. But, on the stage, the rest members made a fake smile. I've never met anyone so two-faced.
The second way for me to get deep information about famous stars and the entertainment industry is to meet with people around stars including managers, stylists and more. They watch stars’ every move, and they exactly know how famous stars are like in real life. I talk to them on the phone, and I sometimes meet up with them for dinner and drinks too. The most reliable sources of information for me are ex-managers of famous stars. As they don’t need to protect their stars any more, they speak about stars’ private life and the industry’s secret without hesitation. They tell me about whom stars have dated, how stars are like in real life, and how dirty the industry is.
So, welcome to the real world of k-pop. I hope you’ll understand better about the k-pop world and learn new facts about Korean stars. Enjoy your time!