Something that all fans of K-Pop have to come to terms with is that K-Pop is, in fact, an industry; there are those who compare it to a factory, manufacturing idol after idol to expressly cater to the public. Because at the very core, it’s just business — and that makes it very hard to […]

Jessica has always been independent. As a member of Girls’ Generation, she’s someone with the resolve of an ice princess — or maybe a sergeant — and the will to scream like a dolphin even in the face of immediate danger. She’s belted out bridges and ad-libs on stage after stage without a single waver, […]

From the beginning, Taeyeon probably never wanted to be the leader. It’s a lot of weight to put on a single teenager’s shoulders, especially since fame and fortune weren’t falling into their laps the moment Girls’ Generation finally debuted. She smiled more, worried more, withdrew more into herself just to try and be the confident […]

Since debut, Sooyoung has always been the sharp one. Quick-witted, but knowing exactly when to take a step back and let others shine, too. Ever ready to tease her members for the sake of the camera, but always careful to never cross over into truly mean-spirited waters. In short: she can fill a stage as […]

A decade is a long time; and the years of training just to prepare for that decade (and beyond), even more so. It can’t be done by everyone, and even those at the top often falter — because it requires more than just strength and talent, or perseverance and even desperation. Fate and fortune are […]

An acronym that describes what Kim Hyoyeon is to SONE. G.E.T. U.P. Genuine. In a business that’s built on manufactured images and hiding behind layers upon layers, it’s common knowledge that most of the time, we’re only shown whatever has been chosen for us to see. And yet, Hyoyeon seems to pay little attention to […]