Special Interview
Gathering 200,000 SNSD fans as one
Nguyen (Soshified administrator) (Editor’s note: For whatever reason, they didn’t list a full name, but they’re referring to Soy here)
Soshified.com, meaning “Girls’ Generation together”, how did you come to make this fansite?
The fan sites I was active on, there was hardly any material for Girls’ Generation. So I decided to make a separate site, a place for many Girls’ Generation fans like myself to gather and talk about them.
Please introduce Soshified. It’s said there are quite a lot of members?
Yes, currently Soshified has 200,000 members and it’s a community for Girls’ Generation fans all over the world. Girls’ Generation members have even come on and left messages and it holds its place as the best fan site. We have international fan meetings, fundraisers by members, fan meetups, and lead various activities. We successfully arranged a large electronic billboard 30 second video promoting Girls’ Generation in the middle of downtown Los Angeles.
To run this site you would need quite a lot of energy. Is it challenging?
The fact that I created a page that people who like Girls’ Generation can express themselves as fans without any prejudice always makes me happy. I want to do more Girls’ Generation related projects. I think it’s Soshified’s duty to support them wherever they go.
In addition to Ms. Nguyen’s interview, Cosmo interviewed two other Americans regarding their thoughts on K-Pop and Girls’ Generation:
“Right now the hottest ethnic music in the U.S. is, of course, Latin Pop, but Hallyu has the power to rival it. If K-pop stars held a concert in downtown LA, I would totally think of going. Nowadays people almost never listen to the lyrics but prefer music they can feel the melody and rhythm to, so even though K-pop is in Korean, there’s no reason it can’t dominate in the U.S.”
–Kevin Garrett Hansel (28 years old, student)
“I really like Girls’ Generation, and among them I’m a fan of Taeyeon. Not long ago a friend who came back from Chile listened to my iPod and said he/she knew Girls’ Generation’s “Gee”. All over Chile Hallyu is spreading and when I hear a lot of people are going wild for it I think “Hallyu really has a far reach.” Korean music and the Korean drama style are contemporary but the feeling is Korean, so there’s two sides to it, and in that respect I think it makes a perfect balance.”
-Hannah Wade (20 years old, student)
The author of the article also analyzes some of the impact Hallyu has had in America and references Girls’ Generation’s “Hoot” as an example of a cultural craze:
Hallyu in America? It definitely exists!
“It feels like the most controversial topic regarding Hallyu in America is the argument that, “Hallyu is merely smoke and mirrors”, that it mainly appeals not to the American culture but merely to Asians within Korea, or that popularity was exaggerated by certain management companies, etc. Let’s say it is. Just based on the nation’s size or inclinations, America, unlike Asian countries such as Korea, isn’t a country where trends spread extremely quickly. It’s a place where a variety of culture and art take root in different regions centered around the current “craze”. In other words, even Lady Gaga couldn’t be able to get their entire population singing “Hoot Hoot Hoot”, and such things never happen. In that vein, Hallyu crazes within the U.S. definitely exist, and they are certainly among those who react and change behavior quickly in contrast to other cultural crazes. Quite interestingly, to those who have encountered Hallyu, there exists no concept of “enough”. They fall deeper and deeper in. Sometimes they watch even more Korean dramas, memorize even more of the complicated K-pop group names, and update themselves on the recent news of the Korean entertainment. There is a Hallyu in America. The expectation of a upward boom is significant. I am certain that if they finally abandon the idea of direct attack and devote effort into raising the mania-level, then the prestige of Hallyu will certainly overcome the ‘bubble theory’ and more.”
-America (LA) Communication Kim Jinyoung
As anyone who is a fan will tell you, there definitely is no concept of “enough” when it comes to Girls’ Generation. Fans all over the world love to hear about them, watch them perform, write fan fictions, learn their songs and dances, etc. They are sought after for performances and endorsements all over Asia. Soshified has played an increasingly important role in spreading Girls’ Generation outside of Korea since they are at the forefront of the Korean wave. When the girls come to Madison Square Garden on October 23rd to perform at SM Town Live in New York, Soshified will continue to be right there with them supporting their path to a Global Generation.
Source: Cosmopolitan Magazine scan by [email protected]
Translated by: [email protected], [email protected], 오이사랑싴@soshified.com
Written by: [email protected]
Edited by: [email protected]
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woohoo yeah!! the hallyu wave is really catching,with the girls leading it! i <3 the part "here definitely is no concept of “enough” when it comes to Girls’ Generation." thats so true!! will always be keeping my luv strong for them and supporting them! it really isa SO NYUH SHI DAE, now and always~~gogo girls!
O M G Soshified + SNSD + SM + Hallyu Wave + SONE = DAEBAK!!! They are the leaders in spreading the hallyu wave around the world. SONE supporting the girls through International Soshified, one of the best among many other awesome SNSD fan forum around the world. Let’s keep it up forever! I agree with what Kevin Garrett Hansel says about just the melody and rhythm. That’s what make me love SNSD songs the most and of course their beautiful personalities. Soshified definitely will continue to be where SNSD are in the world. Thanks ssf for sharing the news! :D <3
As always I love seeing Soshified being looked at as more than a place to spazz about our girls and this article is a great way to get the word out there about all that SSF does not only for SNSD and for SONE’s but also what they do on behalf of SNSD and SONE’s. I have – since hearing of SSF – thought that this was an amazing site and even more so the longer I am here. I am proud to be a member and proud to that Soy’s work is going so well.
And on a different note – When I saw “SSF in Cosmo” on Facebook I was almost screeching thinking that it was the American Cosmo which I subscribe to. I was already planning to buy a second one that I would like..frame or something.
This is so awesome! I’ve been introducing all my friend here in Hawaii to snsd! Thank you soshified for working so hard to bring all the greatest and lastest on the girls! Hallyu Fighting!!! Simply thankful :)
I think most of us fans know how hallyu is spreading around the world, as well as Soshi’s own popularity. But then again I don’t think we really grasp how crazy its going. I think its quite an honor for soshified to have an interview for an actual magazine and being recognize for its growth. We know its big, but maybe its bigger.