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This week on the Fan Forum Kevin Kim, Beatrice and Jacques talk about K-pop artists making Christmas albums, the best songs to listen to on your holidays, what K-Pop Idols do when they go away and an EXO controversy...
This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum talk about MAMA; who they think will win (and who should!) It's all done and dusted now but see how well they did with their predictions. Also, they chat about the controversial wins, and some award categories they're super confused about. Can you help them out?
This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum go deep into the history of K-pop, wayyyyy back to 1992. Hear about first and second gen Idols. It's an interesting blast from the past!
This week Kevin Kim tells us what it's like being an Idol backstage at an awards show. You wake up at 3 a.m and go to the venue. You wait for your turn to rehearse; there's usually a lot of groups (nearly 20!) waiting for their turn to rehearse. First they do a 'dry rehearsal' just to test mics and audio, then a dress rehearsal with the camera and finally a full run-through. In the waiting rooms there are so many groups waiting that you don't always get your own room. They put the names of the groups, in each room, on the door and sometimes they'll section the room off so each group has their own little area to rest and prepare for the performance. Sometimes there's no sections and just a bunch of chair in the room. If they're close to the other groups they'll hang out with them, chat, and eat together. Sounds fun!
This week the fan forum and Kevin Kim talk about the most underrated K-pop groups. After talking about who they think will win in the SBS PopAsia Awards this year, they delve into the groups that don't get the recognition they deserve. There's a long list...CLC, Stellar, Nine Muses, 100 %, Ladies' Code, F.Cuz and so the list goes on. Who would you add?
This week Kevin tells you what it's like to debut in a K-pop group. It's an amazing thing because you spend years training, competing against other trainees, and you never know when you'll get kicked out of the company. You sort of do auditions every weekend. Kevin was also the only trainee from overseas so he had to learn the Korean culture too. It's hard (but really rewarding when you debut). What makes a good rookie group? Always be polite to your seniors, greet them whenever you see them. Every group has their own signature greeting.
This week the Fan Forum are talking to Kevin about sub-units. The successful ones like Orange Caramel and GD and TOP, and the less successful ones like Rainbow Pixie. Z:EA had three sub-units and Kevin was in three sub-units. He spills on how companies choose who's in what sub-units and what was different about working with girls.
This week Kevin Kim talks to Sam Hammington about welcoming his second baby into the world. Sam says he couldn't be happier. His wife went into surgery at about 9:30 Korean time for a C-section. They now have a healthy new member in their family. He's two days old, everyone's happy and healthy. The couple are looking forward to the future with William and his new sibling. Happy times.
This week on the Fan Forum we chat about the MAMA's illegal voting controversy. Millions of votes have been removed, it's affected the top results and fans are not reacting well. Mnet hasn't clarified what an 'illegal vote' means yet. There is still plenty of time to get proper votes in though, so you can keep voting for you favourite artists! The fan forum are hoping for a Western and K-pop collab at the MAMAs....who would you want to see on stage together?
This week Kevin Kim talks about being in advertisements (CFs). The Fan Forum talk about how funny some idols, like Hyeri, are in CFs. They also say how if you're in a chicken or mobile phone CF then you know you've made it. Kevin's been in heaps of CFs, once he went to Thailand to do a jelly commercial. Beatrice loves the CF that ZE:A did for chocolate bars. Kevin says filming a CF is really different to an MV because all the members have different characters and you have to do different things. You get heaps of free food; so much that after you film the CF you don't want to eat the food for a while. You get quite a bit of money from them too. Kevin and the Fan Forum discuss their fave CFs...what's yours?
This week Sam Hammington chats to K-Andy about how he ended up in Korea, his fave TV experience and what he still finds challenging about living there. Sam says he 'fell' into what he does now. He started off being a reporter in Korea, then did a skit show (in front of an audience of 1500 people), then he hosted a radio show in English, did a show called Real Men and now he has a show (with his son) called The Return of Superman. His journey is an interesting one, that starts with him bombing out at school.
This week Kevin Kim talks about what it's like going to the MAMAs! He went in 2009 and the funniest thing to happen was all nine members from his group, and a manager, were squished in to a small van getting to the red carpet. When they arrived the reporter announcing them thought it was hilarious, how many boys fitted in the vehicle. Prepping for the MAMAs takes a while because usually the managers want something news so they prep remixes or collabs. There's lots of funny stories from behind the scenes too, and Kevin explains what it's like being in front of so many cameras.
This week Kevin Kim spills on how a K-pop album is made. It starts with thinking about what song they want. They have huge meetings with producers and staff where they think about the concept and music genre. They listen to a bunch of demo songs and decide which one they want to use. Sometimes, after the pre-recording, it won't sound right so they'll change their mind on the song. It can sound really different after the recording.Once they decide on the songs they want to promote, they choose a concept and try on a lot of clothes. The stylist brings out all different outfits for them to try; sometimes they pick and choose, and other times the stylist will show them photos of what's on trend. Once they've chosen clothes they go straight to a photoshoot for the album. Then the members write thank you notes, and sign them, to put in the special albums. Kevin thinks he's signed more than 50-100 thousand times.
This week Prince Mak talks about his HSC (year 12 exam) experience. He says it was a nightmare. He was always a last minute person so he'd leave his studying until the last minute; he'd study in the few days before an exam, which was quite stressful. He did pretty well considering. Not so well in his English and Physics exam, but nailed his Chinese and Music exam, and did pretty well in Math. His advice for students studying their final year 12 exams now is: don't stress, study study study, stay focused, sleep early, sleep well and good luck to you all.
This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum are talking Girls' Generation. You get to hear the time ZE:A covered Girls' Generation in karaoke (Kevin is slightly embarrassed). You'll also find out which member of Girl's Gen Kevin would be, and what he said when asked which member was his idol type...
This week Kevin Kim tells us how he got in to his company, which led him to become a K-pop star. He sent a resume with all his details and profiles and things he'd done. He filmed on a video and cassette tape, which makes him feel old because people don't use those anymore. He sent everything in a package to Star Empire; they liked him so he went in and did a little 'audition' where he sang 'Bright Midnight', and they wanted him to stay in Korea and do training with the other trainees, and that's how he got in to the industry.
This week Prince Mak tells us all about his trip to Thailand; he got culture shock but had an amazing time. The food was great, he LOVES coconut juice. Prince Mak had two fresh coconuts everyday. He loved the food too. He got a massage everyday because they were so cheap; it cost about $10 (AUD) for an hour. The star also did a lot of water sports like snorkelling, jet-skiing and parasailing - you can check out his trip on this week's Prince Mak Diaries! He stayed at some amazing hotels including one with its own pool and one on top of a mountain. Yeah, listen and live vicariously through him guys (we are)!
This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum talk about which survival show will be better - 'The Unit' or 'Mix 9'? They're slightly different, and the forum think a boy band will ultimately win because fan girls are powerful! The idol line-up is really interesting, they discuss who the most interesting contestants are and who they're most looking forward to seeing. They also explain why having an EXP Edition member on the show is extra interesting....
This week Kevin Kim says Happy Chuseok to you all and spills on how he celebrates the holiday. He spends time with family, eating a lot of delicious food like rice cakes, with red bean paste, Chinese pancakes and beef ribs. He plays a lot of games too; a Korean version of Monopoly and a kicking shuttle-cock game (but he's not very good). At this time of the year he always gets asked when he's going to get married. Cue: nervous laugh...
This week the fan forum talk about how far is too far when it comes to an idol's weight. They understand that people need to look good when in the spotlight, but it shouldn't come at a cost to their health and wellbeing. Kevin talks about his time as a K-pop idol.
This week Prince Mak talks about his school days. He says he got into a lot of fights, which often had to do with racism. He was a victim of racism a lot. There weren't a lot of Asian kids at his school. But he was a good kid, even though he got into fights. He doesn't have the best memories from his school days...his favourite memory? Prince Mak's dad would bring him McDonalds for lunch three out of five days and the kids looked up to him because they were jealous. The famous star also reveals a day in the life of an idol.
This week Prince Mak gives advice on how you can learn a new language. He says you can begin by learning new phrases and remembering those. His biggest tip is to become friends with someone who speaks the language you are learning, and only that language. It will force you to speak that language (instead of reverting back to English). It's the best way, Prince Mak believes, to learn a new language. The pop star also has some tips for getting more YouTube views...
Kevin Kim admits he wanted to be a scientist once; a love scientist. Kevin thinks that's a really good idea for a song; call it 'Chemistry' or 'The Science of Love.' He and Andy start singing, to figure out what the song would sound like. Kevin's dream of being a scientist changed to become a performer, so that's what he did. Krunk (the GD Bear) debuted with an song , and Andy says that if he had to choose an object to debut he'd choose his iPhone and call it 'Phoney.' What would you choose?
This week Prince Mak tells us about his busy schedule, and what it takes to succeed as an actor. Prince Mak goes to a class at 9 am every day; he's not really part of the class but he learns from listening and watching other actors who are part of a drama. The drama is kind of like China's version of Game of Thrones, so he watches the actors learn horse-riding, fighting, acting and script reading. He then goes to his own classes, learning martial arts. He's out until about 9 pm, and gets to bed at about 10 - 11 pm to start his day all over again. Sometimes he drives 2 hours to get to his classes. He works hard, he says you have to work hard.
This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum are live with a bunch of fans! They're talking about what the K-pop stars, coming to KCON, should do when in Australia, what they'd do if they got to Hi Touch their bias, and what it's like to be a K-pop star at one of these events. Find out what SBS PopAsia will be up to at KCON too; think beauty, stage shows and quizzes!
This week Prince Mak treats you to some rapping. He shows off his rapping, hip-hop skillz. It's pretty funny, but the boy's got skill and can rhyme like a champion. Get your ears ready for a treat.
This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum are talking comebacks. They go in-depth about EXO and B.A.P's comebacks. There's different opinions about which one is better. There's strong arguments for EXO and for B.A.P. Do you have a fave? We've asked Twitter and Facebook too.
This week Prince Mak tells us how to prep for KCON 2017 AUSTRALIA!! He says to get there early; it's open for a long time and you want to try everything. Wear comfortable clothes; you're barely sitting down so you want to make sure you're comfy. Stay hydrated. Expect long lines, especially for panels featuring celebrities - get there early so you're first in line. Go to the toilet before the concert starts because you don't want to miss anything! Stay safe and enjoy your time.
This week Kevin explains that he had to take Korean classes when he first became an idol, even though he could speak Korean. He said his pronunciation wasn't right at the beginning and he needed to speak more fluently. He had to practice and take Korean classes to get the Korean accent and right pronunciation.
This week Kevin Kim let's us know when he wants to have kids; well he tries to answer the question as best he can. After a fan asks him the question he hesitates, laughs and then says by the time her's 40 he'll have two kids. He doesn't really know, he just wants to be a good dad. He says he'll probably still sing, not sure if he'll still be dancing, but he'll sing to his kids; sing them lullabies. He's then asked if he's a cat or dog person. What do you think his answer is?
This week Prince Mak gives himself some advice about being a single man, especially on Valentine's Day in China. China has multiple Valentine's Days and Prince Mak hates them. He'd say to himself, "Fighting" and "go for it." He wants to know, what do you do for the day of love?
This week, we're getting hyped for KCON 2017 AUSTRALIA by talking about the highlights from KCON LA and New York. Highlights include Wanna One's takeover of the convention floor to meet-and-greet fans. GOT7 - they're antics on the red carpet, when Jackson and BamBam did the running man dance off stage, when the group closed out KCON LA bringing the whole arena to their feet. Heize's performance of 'Star' with an audience of stars, Girl's Day making their KCON debut and VIXX reminding us why they're KCON regulars all deserve a special mention too!
This week KANDY went to SMASH! and it was Kevin's first convention. He was so impressed by all the cosplay. He let's us know if K-pop concepts can feel like cosplay, and tells us about a make-up trend where female idols put freckles on their face. What would he do if the new ZE:A concept was ‘freckles’? Kevin and Andy tell us their favourite animes and Kevin talks about a Korean anime, he also does Transformers impersonations. A-mazing!
This week Prince Mak explains why he goes by the name 'Prince.' His middle name is Prince, and when he asked his Dad why, he explained it's because his Dad is the King. Prince Mak's not sure if that's true or not, but his actual name is Henry, so Henry Prince Mak. He couldn't use the name Henry when he started in the industry because there was already Super Junior's Henry. Also, Prince Mak hurt his neck this week - it's in a brace. Don't worry, he's ok but the story sounds a bit scary!
This week Prince Mak hung out with his mate, GOT7's Jackson (no, we're totally not jealous...), they ate Two Minute Noodles and packets of chips (still not jealous...) and spoke about what projects they had coming up, and took some funny photos - Prince Mak's going to upload one on his social media soon. Prince Mak says Jackson is doing really well in China! Plus, Prince Mak shares his tips on staying up late to study and what he'd do if he was a girl for one day...
This week Prince Mak gives us fun facts about our favourite K-pop idols. Some may surprise you! BTS' Jin has a funny story from his debut stage, Suzy and Rain have interesting audition stories, Girls' Generation's Sunny has a crazy birthday fact and Girl's Day's insured her legs for a huge amount of money. And, that's only just the beginning...
Your K-Drama recommendations for the week, Men Who Die To Live, Criminal Minds and Save Me. Plus a Chinese remake of Show Me The Money? The HallyuBack Channel has you covered for K-Drama.
This week, Prince Mak spills all the deets about the life of a K-pop trainee. Each company's trainee regime is different, but every trainee will have to stick through some kind of rigorous program in order to become K-pop idols.For Prince Mak, he had to get up at 5:30AM every day and train for the whole day until 1AM. Various lessons will be packed into each day, such as vocal, dancing, acting (which is essential since this is where most money is made), and language lessons. Trainees will have to work hard at these lessons because there will be regular tests, which will gauge the progress of each trainee. For younger trainees, they will have to juggle both school and lessons.Sadly, despite all the work put in by trainees, not everyone will be able to debut as a K-pop idol. Some will quit partway through training, but on average, only 1 in 3 trainees will ultimately debut as an idol.
On this week's Fan Forum, the team kick things off by talking about some of the week's big comebacks (LABOUM, NU'EST W, MONSTA X, and DREAMCATCHER) before getting a little "too" excited for the most anticipated return of the year - Girls' Generation's 10th anniversary comeback!However, things get a bit juicy when Kevin Kim reveals that he was once on a "We Got Married" type of dating show! Who was he paired with, what was some of the behind-the-scenes secrets that goes on with a dating show?
Kevin Kim chats to rookie K-pop boy group TopSecret about various interesting topics this week! The boys spill on which fictional character they want to date (it's a weird one), and their ideal types (hint it's someone from Apink)! As an extra bonus, Kevin talks about unusual things one ZE:A member put into a blender!
Fans should check out the new drama "Criminal Minds" because not only is it based off the hit American show, lead star Lee Joon-gi said he'll start vlogging if the ratings are great!The new MBC drama "Man Who Dies to Live" is surrounded in scandal! Due to instances of cultural appropriation, many netizens aren't too happy with MBC.Also, be sure to check out the new competition show "Idol School," the new show where trainees test their idol skills and you get to vote them out!
On this week's Fan Forum; why is there a a K-pop hallyu boom happening in Australia currently? There's been quite a few big K-pop concerts and events that's happened in Australia in 2017 so far (GOT7, BTS, Rap Beat) and with more to come; is this the start of another hallyu wave?It's not just Australia that's experiencing this hallyu boom; Black Pink and TWICE have just debuted in Japan and the 2 groups are already massive in the country. Kevin and the team talks about promoting in multiple countries at once, and the difference between how fans from different countries react. Oh, EXO have made their comeback, and KARD have finally made their official debut!
Korean dramas are breaking into the global market. They're being played on Netflix at the same time as they're going to air in Korea. The companies are making a lot of money off streaming these shows. 'Man To Man,' recently played on the streaming service, and now there's 'Stranger' and 'Sense8,' and soon to air is 'Black,' just to name a few. Also, why do we love watching idols eat online?
G-Dragon is about to come down under and perform in Australia, but we can't wait until he's here to know what the concert's like. So, we got an American fan, Linda, who's just been to his show to tell us all about it. There were SO many people, more than she imagined, so many people that it took an extra 40 minutes just to get inside the venue. The concert started after 9pm. During the show the K-pop star explained his whole album concept, about how he felt about always performing as G-Dragon and how - this time - he wanted to perform as himself; Kwon Ji-yong. His attire became more casual as the night progressed. He gave every performance 100 per cent of his energy. There was fire, flames and incredible lights, which were amazing and unexpected. While on stage he spoke about his two different personalities, between G-Dragon and Kwon Ji-yong, about how it can feel burdensome at times having to always perform as G-Dragon. He said sometimes it means he feels lonely. Linda said it was a teary moment for her; very emotional. After her experience Linda's got a message for his Aussie fans about the concert...
This week K-pop star Kevin Kim shares his fitness tips with Andy Trieu. Kevin says the easiest way to have a scheduled plan that works for your body is to get a personal trainer. The ZE:A boys start their workout on treadmills and do a lot of stretching. He says you shouldn't go straight into heavy weights; you need to warm up first. The trick to fast abs? Ab bicycles, and planks. They always finish their workout with a plank. Also squats. Do a lot of squats. Many girl groups do pilates and yoga, which is great for the mind too. Have you got what it takes? Find out...
This week Prince Mak let's us know how to deal with failure, and gives his best audition tips. Rejection happens to everyone. Everyone fails, and that's where success grows from. Prince Mak tells us what he's failed at and how he's overcome that.
On this week's Friday Fan Forum, we're talking about EXO's comeback! The boys haven't comeback since August last year, so the fans reveal what they're most excited about. The teasers have been trending worldwide online, and it looks like it will be a different concept for EXO. Could it be the best EXO album ever? Kevin chats about getting fit for a comeback. We want to get in the know!
This week on SBS PopAsia Live, Kevin Kim talks about whether foreigners can be K-pop stars. He says anyone can be a pop star if they're passionate enough and work hard. Our handsome K-pop star also let's us in on what type of girl he's attracted to...
This week Prince Mak talks about the differences between the South Korean pop music industry and the Western pop music industry (mainly in America). In Korea singers are known as 'idols' and they don't always have to be really good singers; they have to have a range of skills. Korea's 'trainee' system doesn't exist in America, because the Western pop industry chooses artists' on their talents, whereas in Korea they believe hard work and training is just as (if not more) important than natural skill. Talent shows are different between the two countries, K-pop groups have 'visual' members who are based on looks, and K-pop groups always have a rapper, and rapping parts, whereas Western pop groups don't always have rap in their pop music. Prince Mak has more examples...
On this week's Friday Fan Forum, we're talking about idols living together. AOA are moving out of their dorm, so we ask Kevin what it was like living with the ZE:A boys. He talks about everything, including their toilet logistics.
This week on SBS PopAsia Live with Kevin Kim, we find out how ZE:A got its name. Kevin also explains why so many band names have numbers in them and how band names are chosen. Plus we discuss weird band names (because a new one just came out).
The life of a foreign K-pop fan: The songs are in Korean so you can’t understand them, except for the English parts. If you use an iPhone to translate words from Korean to English, words come out wrong, like 'oppa' become 'oops.' Your non K-pop fan friends think you must be a fan of 'Gangnam Style' because they assume it's the only song that’s ever been released in Korea. The struggle when you're waiting for subtitles; you watch a video without knowing what they're talking about until someone subs it. K-pop fans know about idols' blood types, so you have to learn them too. There's not heaps of concerts outside of Korea, especially if you're not in a big city. The time difference is difficult sometimes. K-pop changes your life.
On this week's Friday Fan Forum, the team ask Kevin about what happens backstage at a concert, and he shares some interesting info. He also lets the team know what he finds most nerve-racking about comebacks and the crew let us in on who their fave rookies are.
On this week's Friday Fan Forum, the team chat about the top 15 K-pop karaoke songs, their thoughts on G-Dragon releasing a USB and how they celebrated BTS' 4th anniversary.
This week on SBS PopAsia Live with Kevin Kim, Kevin sings a short cover of Bruno Mars' "Just the way you are." Super Junior-M's Henry also popped by to chat to Kevin, and told him about how heartbreak influenced a new song (something he's never told anyone before).
It’s the first week of Kevin’s Friday Fan Forum. He’s joined by Jacques, Alex and Beatrice who are talking about what’s happened this week in Asian pop; the BTS concert (last Friday) and what it was like for Kevin being in the audience, instead of on stage. They’re talking about the biggest comebacks and SISTAR’s final track *tears* plus everything else that’s been happening! They want you to join the convo too #SBSPopAsiaLive
Its the first week of SBS PopAsia Live with Kevin Kim. He's joined by fellow Aussie K-pop star Hanbyul to talk music, Blair from Abnormal Summit steps in to the studio to tell us how he got on to Korean reality TV, and Ladybeard has the latest news from Tokyo. We’ve got your fill of K-drama and heaps more.
One Way's Peter and Sky talk about how Psy became such an iconic figure. He became something unique. He got famous from his energy on stage; he's a great performer and sells out his live shows. Before singing, he was a producer; he knows what people want. He was successful because he didn't try to look 'cool,' he didn't try to be super stylish. He went for the dorky/geek look instead and owned it. He knew how to appeal with his strong points and his character. He went everywhere, worldwide, without speaking English. He just showed the world who he was and became the first video on YouTube to hit 1 billion views. Are you excited for his comeback?
Peter Hyun and Sky have a special guest this week: Lesley Chiang (Peter Chun's daughter). She gives advice to new artsists, telling them to never stop practicing. You have to be the best because there's so much competition. You have to love what you do. Enjoy it. Find gratitude in every opportunity you get. Never stop growing as an artist. There's no short-cut. Talent doesn't lie. You have to be the best and know you're the best and find your passion. To be creative; it doesn't work if you don't love what you do. Take a break when you really need it. But, ultimately, never stop practicing.
One Way's Sky and Peter Hyun talk about plastic surgery as part of Korea's pop culture. Nowadays people are very open about getting plastic surgery and it's just as common among male stars as female. It's become part of Korea's culture because everyone wants to be beautiful, they want to enhance their looks, everyone has a complex about themselves. The duo think Koreans worry too much about what other people think; they're very self-conscious. So many tourists come to Korea for cosmetics too. Celebrities get surgery because they want to look better on TV. So many people get surgery now, the boys worry one day everyone will look the same. The culture around beauty has changed. What are your thoughts on plastic surgery?
This week is the 'best of' from One Way's Peter Hyun and Sky. Giving you the best tips about being a trainee, revealing what happens after you debut, what it's like to prepare for an album and what it's like to be backstage at a TV show. All you need to know if you want to be a K-Pop star, or have ever wondered what it's like to be a famous idol. Have you got what it takes?
This week Peter and Sky talk about the new way K-Pop companies promote their artist's music. It's less about being discreet and a lot more to do with previews, teasers and pre-promotion. Everything used to be very secretive and a lot of the time music was 'leaked'. Are you a fan of video teasers?
This week Peter and Sky tell us what happens backstage on the day of a music show. They get up before sunrise, get their hair and makeup done, have a dry practice, then a camera rehearsal and finally perform on the TV. It’s a very tiring day. The duo also admit they don’t really like K-Dramas or TWICE’s ‘Knock Knock.’ But why?
This week Peter and Sky tell us what it's like (and how to) prepare an album. The artists decide on a concept, the company collects songs from producers (SM sometimes collects 1000 songs to choose from), getting everyone in a studio at the same time, album covers and choreography. They reveal what it was like producing music for Super Junior and why they were stuck in a recording studio with the boy band for 12 hours! And insight in to the diet regime for pop stars; it's strict, especially for the girls. But why?
- K-Con coming to Australia - Trial run, what type of artists will come- Travelling as an idol isn't that glamorous- Idols can't go anywhere or do anything when travelling- Only rest they get is on the plane- Two break ups in K-Pop this week - How do idols find the time to meet (and date) people?- What happens after you debut- Can change direction if debut isn't a success- If success, no celebration, just how can you maintain that- A lot of pressure being an artist