[Editor’s note: Below, is a recount of what the PD of ” Kim Jungeun’s Chocolate”, Lee Jiwon, decided for the episode which featured Girls’ Generation back on the 15th of August, 2009, as well as how he felt during the preparation for it.]
This is how it started.
I wanted to make a unique stage, starting with “Gee” and ending with “Tell Me Your Wish”, since it was a special episode. No one can ever get sick of these two songs, but I wanted to show a new side of the girls other than the ones that viewers can see in normal music programs. SM agreed with my idea and the girls started to practice in the midst of their killer schedules.
“Gee” was rearranged to a version that starts with a piano-jazz-like piece and continues on into a strong, rock-like version. We also prepared a six minute non-stop dance battle that shows the power only Girls’ Generation has. Apart from that, close attention was paid to the members who were hidden behind other members such as maknae Seohyun’s piano solo and the dancing queen Hyoyeon’s power stage. We were worried that all the effort would not be shown to their entirety and worked hard to correct and edit one move, or one facial expression, to make a perfect stage. Also, the musical part of the stages were prepared so that we wouldn’t be shamed anywhere in the music industry.
Even after all that work, I felt that it wasn’t enough. The girls’ appeals are not only in their songs, but in their personalities too. I didn’t want to waste time asking for their ideal types so that what people called, “Variety Talk”, could be discussed. That wasn’t the “Chocolate” I was thinking about. This is also because of the fact that all of these trivial things are known to people since Girls’ Generation is the nations’ sister group. I wanted to make it meaningful for the viewers and also help the girls at the same time.
This thought became more solid when I met them in the band practice room to practice the song. They were the same as other twenty year-olds who laugh freely, chatter, and pull pranks on one another. Even if I was only there for an hour or so, it was enough for me to see and confirm the fact that they each have their own personalities, how close they are to each other, and how much they care for each other. The thought that said “I want to show this” flashed across my mind like lightning.
As “Tell Me Your Wish” became more popular, Girls’ Generation got busier. To match the title of the song, many variety shows where Girls’ Generation had to grant someone’s wish were aired.
In various talk programs and shows, Girls’ Generation had to sing, dance and laugh for the viewers. It’s true that their popularity is something to thank for, but the girls could not stay at home with their families and had to always smile even though they are at the age where they should stay home and be spoiled.
I didn’t want to tell them to grant someone’s wish again. I wanted to know the wishes the girls’ themselves had in their minds, and I wanted to reverse the situation and grant their wish, even if it’s a small, trivial thing.
I thought of a program called “Change” in which I was in charge of last year. The participant who became another person with special make-up almost always named their families when they were asked who they wanted to meet first. The people who called their family are the people they always live with, fight with, and upset the most. Despite these facts, when the participants, such as Hyori, Hoyoung, Tablo and Ok Dongja [Editor’s note: Ok Dongja is a famous comedian] met their families, they always shed tears. It was a very difficult, yet meaningful program to me, who thought that “family”, as a subject, was boring.
We casted maknae Seohyun’s mother through the managers, while keeping it a secret from the girls. Her mother told us that she hasn’t seen her daughter in over a month and that she was sorry for not celebrating Seohyun’s birthday with her last month. She went on to say that she would do anything for her only daughter and eventually agreed to appear on the episode. Since this wasn’t a planned hidden camera, we held meetings after meetings on this until the very last night.
After the recording started, Seohyun’s mother, who was disguised as a regular audience with a mask, wished for Girls’ Generation to teach her daughter aegyo. She also asked for Girls’ Generation to read her letter to her daughter. Girls’ Generation, who only thought that they were granting another wish, started to talk amongst themselves. When Kim Jungeun, the MC, asked maknae Seohyun to hug her, the girls’ eyes were already red.
Seohyun’s mother hugged Seohyun and took her mask off to wish Seohyun a happy belated birthday before giving her the baby diary she had planned to give to Seohyun on her wedding day. The girls all started crying and the MC also turned around to hide her tears.
The recording scene became a silent sea of tears.
When the MC told the girls that they could say something to their mothers if they wanted to, Taeyeon, as expected of a leader, took the lead and said, “The word ‘mom’ is a forbidden word among the members of Girls’ Generation!”
At this time, Tiffany, who was crying the hardest, raised her hand and said, “I…want to talk.”
While we were preparing for the episode with Girls’ Generation, there was something that the managers sincerely requested, and it was to take note of what we say while talking about the girls’ families as it is a difficult topic for some of the girls.
The staff members who knew the basis of the stories were trying hard not to emphasize the word “mom” as they were also worried that the girls might get hurt.
With a smile on her face, Tiffany started by saying, “This is the first time I’m talking about this..” and said a brief, but beautiful hello to her mother. Afterwards, she regained her strength and said this, “I’m very thankful that you gave me eight very special sisters instead,” and hugged every one of her members. The other members also hugged one another and said words of encouragement while wiping the tears off of each other’s face. Seohyun’s mother also hugged each of them and said that Seohyun learned a lot of aegyo because of the eight older sisters. Even me, who was watching in the sidelines and directing the cameras, became emotional and couldn’t stop my voice from shaking.
Honestly, even while writing this at this moment, my eyes are tearing up. One of my sunbaes clicked his teeth at me and said, “Tsk tsk, what are we going to do if the PD has such a soft heart…”
After the talk, during the break time, we made an emergency announcement. There were a lot of reporters in the audience, so we told them that this is a very private matter, hence it may not be aired and requested for them to not publish it in the news. After that, I ran to their waiting rooms because I was worried about them. I had been trying to give them a special gift in the beginning, but all I could think of was how sorry I was now.
With a worried face, I started looking for Tiffany. “Fany-ah!” Surprisingly, Tiffany ran up to me and hugged me at once. Tiffany, who was still teary-eyed, held both of my hands and said, “Thank you PD-nim~!” The girl smiled at me and said that she was really happy and thankful for a wonderful gift and that I may include this in the episode; to a person who was still sorry for what he did.
For this girl, I was very thankful, proud, sorry and my heart ached so much. Fany-ah..and kids.. thank you and I’m sorry…
Honestly, I don’t really know about these kids. I’ve never even met them properly until this time. Just like every other samchon fan, I was just pleased by the cuteness the name, “Girls’ Generation”, gives off. However, these girls became very dear to me because of this recording session. Not as a fan and not as a man, but as an older brother who wishes that the young and fragile sisters don’t ever get hurt.
I’m sure that I am delusional but it feels like I’ve really become one of their family members. As the group’s popularity increases, it is very natural that there will be different kinds of rumors. There is a lot of talk about loners, fights and curses about Girls’ Generation, but one thing I can say out of experience, is the fact that those words are garbage and not even worth a second thought.
To each other, the members of Girls’ Generation are like blood sisters, loving mothers and beautiful daughters. The group of girls was actually a family named “Girls’ Generation”. Through this recording session, I was introduced to a loving family.
It started with “Let’s grant Girls’ Generation’s wishes” in the beginning, but in the end, I received a big gift from Girls’ Generation.
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If you haven’t watched the show yet, Soshified has subbed it and you can check it out in the Soshi Subs Downloads section, but remember, you must have at least 50 non-spam posts to access the thread.
Source: Sosiz
Translated by: minigiglo@soshified
Edited by: letaengbutt@soshified, LetsGo@soshified
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Ahh that episode was so sad >__< T__T it makes me teary eyed when i watch it and i get sad when i think of it. i might be a little wierd lol
Thanks for sharing the backstory. When I think of Tiffany’s story, how she came alone to pursue her dream; how she struggled and how far she’s come, her mother would be so proud. She makes us so proud and happy for her and all her beautiful sisters. If the world could only see these 9 enchanted angels for who they really are, then they’d know why SONE’s love them so. If you aren’t moved by their story and special bond, you had better check your pulse.
I, too, remember watching this episode of the show and I remember crying after seeing the emotions shared among the 9 young ladies and Seohyun’s mum, and especially Tiffany’s on-air revelation about her deceased mother.
Good Job, indeed, PD-nim, Good Job :) ! Thank you so much for giving us this episode and making me a confirmed SONE forever :D !!!
Cheers !
Kenneth.
This is really touching and I felt like crying while reading this.
I love these 9 angels, and I will love them forever until I die !!
This is why I love Korean culture. This is a country with a big heart! I wish I’m born Korean. I love how Korean people respects their elders, relatives. SNSD is a group that has heart and this really shows how beautiful these girls are. This is why I’m a SONE. They make me realize how wonderful life can be if we respect other people. If we show love to everyone, your love will be returned. Look at how much love these girls have given us! I’m really glad there’s still parts of the world that still have a culture that treasure their family.
I can’t believe SNSD is teaching me how to love… Hwaiting!!!
I just SAW the picture and I immediately remembered how much I cried. Then I had to stop myself from tearing up because the interview was JUST. TOO. SAD.
Fany!!! ;~;
It just shows how close SONEs are to SoShi. SoNEs forever<3
Good article.
I remember watching this when it first aired without subs and cried just by picking out a few words and of course the context of what was going on. I was shocked that Tiffany did say what she said about her mom because she never had before and at the same time I felt happy for her that she had the strength to talk about such an emotional subject. And of course seeing all the girls cry and share such a touching moment on air is just a very memorable moment. I tear up every time I do watch that clip.
Damn it, and I had promised myself not to cry. This is so sad, I have to watch this again. PD-nim, thank you for giving our girls such a wonderful gift. Their bond is so strong!
Great job, had a feeling why it still aired while I was watching it, good to know about the behind the scenes
PD nim, you’re wonderful
thanks for sharing
Great article! I was very happy to read this behind-the-scenes recount of what to me was one of the most difficult and yet touching televised moments of SNSD. (I always feel so bad for Fany all through that interview, but am simultaneously so proud of her for finally being able to talk about it on camera.) Learning as I have now that Fany’s revelation was not planned beforehand, and that Fany came up to the PD afterwards and was grateful for it and okay with it being aired, just makes it mean all the more. Now I think I should watch it again in the light of that new knowledge.
one of my favorite SoShi moments and of course, my favorite KJE Chocolate episode to date!
it’s interesting to know the story from the PD’s point of view…
somehow the realizations are the same but the way to achieve such is different…
i’m happy about what was said about the girls, this just proves how tight SNSD is as a group
i would really like to thank this PD for bringing out the best in SNSD during this episode…
they were able to showcase their talent, to prove that they were not just pretty faces!
also, they were able to talk about something which is a very important part of their lives and personalities, they haven’t done that before in any other show that they’ve guested in…
this KJE Chocolate episode is just too important to be missed by a SONE, it’s a must watch! :)
Lee Jiwon is a very good man. I’ve never cried of my all life but this show make me teary eyed…
This is why i respect Girls Generation so much Support them forever i hope i can meet them one day Sones Forever !
i watched this video twice and i still shed tears when watching it :’)
sooo touching, by far the most touching moment in TVshow for me, it showed that the girls are just normal people that need families, especially “mom” , which is forbidden to be spoken in their dorm
i remembered correctly when Fany said that “God gives me 8 sisters” and Hyoyeon started crying heavily, mee too, i could not help not crying, it was so touching. it doesn’t matter wheter you are male or female, i think most SONEs watching this will cry, because we can feel their struggle, and we keep supporting them with LOVE till the end :)
p.s : i downloaded 2 files, .tp file which has no subtitle and the 720p file which has the pink subtitle (thank you Soshified for translating this remarkable show), and i keep them both :)
omg i cried just by reading this esp when he talked about Fany.. T_T
i watched this short clip last time, it’s really touching n make me cried…even though I reading this article now…
I love Girls’ Generation!
Girls’ Generation fighting!!!
i remember that when i watched that video, i almost cried. they do everything to pursue their dream but they also have to sacrifice the most important thing in their lives. they can’t spend a lot of time with their family and they just have each other while they are away from their family.
the girls shows to us that even though they aren’t blood-related but they are more than family. they make a family called Girls’ Generation and treat each other like their own sisters. they spend time together and going through bad and good times together. i really envy them for this.
they give everyone the best gift ever. thanks for them. and PD-nim, this episode of the show will remain forever in everyone’s hearts. you’re really great ^^
honestly, i cried the first time i watched this show. and it was also the turning point for me to be a sone because back then, it was one of the video i used to spazz over soshi. after i watched it, i told myself that these girls are special (especially Tiffany) and how much i envied their special bond. i was so touched because of tiffany’s speech and how they just naturally hugged each other after that. now, they are on top of the world and i promise to love and support them as much as i can. SOSHI BOND FTW! ^^
Shit, I cried :/
We cry and laugh …
This is why we love them ! ♥
Thanks for the great article!
I went to search for the video immediately on Youtube and it did made me cry. TT
On hindsight, I am more impressed than ever by the strength and determination shown by Girls’ Generation for all the hard work they have put in so far. Especially Tiffany who must have suffered a lot being not able to say all those words in her heart all these years.
I am sure Tiffany’s mum in heaven will be proud of what Tiffany has achieved so far. Girls Generation Hwaiting! =)
This is one of the appearances of SNSD where I absolutely fell in love with them. They got such big and caring hearts for one another and for the people around them. I cried a lot of times watching this episode of Chocolate and I also got teary-eyed reading this account.
…and also one of those moments that I feel jealous of them. At least through all of their hardships they still have each other. I don’t. Most of my days I face my hardships alone. They are really so blessed and so lucky to have each other for support and comfort. And that in turn serves as a huge inspiration for all SONEs.
i cried when i watched this.. now i’m teary-eyed just reading this? one of the my favorite moments from soshi.. though it’s filled with tears.. i knew facts that i never would have known.. and that soshibond is strong & unbreakable.. :D i love you girls.. :D
This Episode really enhanced my love for SNSD
You Rock PD-Nim :D
I was so lucky to have watched that wish part. It was a very emotional scene and I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling of being so touched with Tiffany’s speech. It made me envy them for having a bond like that but made me appreciate my mother and my own family more.
Thanks PD~nim. Forever thanks to SNSD.
when I watch this video I just want to cry TT
so sad = =