Few performers exude the kind of natural star presence exhibited by 30-year-old South Korean singer and actress Son Dam Bi.

Perhaps best known for her role as Yoo Chae Young on the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation television drama "Lights and Shadows," Son has also had a successful music career under the guidance of K-pop super producer Brave Brothers and dance instruction of former After School singer, Kahi.

In a recent email correspondence, Son opened up about the help she received from her two A-list colleagues, her most recent single "Red Candle," her television career and her plans for 2014.

KpopStarz: Your series "Lights And Shadows" was a crowd favorite, extended by 14 episodes thanks to high ratings. What was the experience like?

Son Dam Bi: "Light and Shadows" helped me gain recognition from a lot of people. Even before the show was extended, there was a lot of pressure because it was already scheduled for 50 episodes. As the episodes progressed, a lot people encouraged me and praised me for my acting, so I worked really hard. Since it was such a long project, I felt like my acting improved and it helped me think seriously about [becoming an actor].

KpopStarz: What was the most challenging thing about the role of Yoo Chae Young in "Lights And Shadows"? What was the hardest thing about being on that show?

Son Dam Bi: More than the role of Yoo Chae Young being difficult, I was really nervous starting "Light and Shadows." Especially in the beginning, I felt like I was awkward to the point of being stiff. But as I grew closer to the other actors, my own acting became more natural. My co-star Ahn Jae Wook helped me a lot with my acting. As a result, my performance became more balanced, and I was able to immerse myself in the role of Yoo Chae Young.

KpopStarz: Do you feel more comfortable singing or acting? Which do you think you are better at?

Son Dam Bi: It's too difficult to determine which one I'm better at doing. Both acting and singing are attractive to me. For a singer, the time of working on an album up until the time of its release is quite difficult. But when you stand on stage, all the hard times are forgotten when the audience cheers and you receive the energy from the stage itself. As for acting, rather than the preparation time, it's difficult throughout, until the very last shoot of the final episode. But the joy of being able to go through different experiences as another person, as well as the energy exchanged on set with different people makes you forget about all those difficulties. It's really too difficult to just choose one.

KpopStarz: What was is like receiving dance training from Kahi?

Son Dam Bi: I first met Kahi during my trainee days. Even at that time, there was not a single person in the dance industry that didn't know Kahi. When I first saw her, she was unlike anyone I had seen, so I thought she must be a really scary person. Even still, I'm usually the type of person to approach a person I like and be the first to act friendly, so I went up to her and showed interest in her dance. She then opened up to me. From then on she became my dance teacher. She gave me some pointers on some difficult choreography and complicated dance moves. We would even share our worries with one another. I was able to lean on her, more like an older sister than a teacher.

KpopStarz: You've had an ongoing creative collaboration with one of K-pop's most revered hit makers, Brave Brothers (Big Bang, Sistar, 4Minute). What is your interaction like in the recording studio?

Son Dam Bi: I first met Brave Brothers during the recording of [my first album] "Bad Boy." Since then I've worked with him on different songs from "Crazy" to "Dripping Tears." I've heard other artists say that Brave Brothers is scary. Maybe it's because we get along so well, but I've never been scared of him.

KpopStarz: What is it that sets him apart from other producers?

Son Dam Bi: The reason I work with Brave Brothers is because we get along. He's familiar with my personal style, so when we work together it leads to a great outcome.

KpopStarz: Looking back over your career, which projects are you most proud of being involved in?

Son Dam Bi: That's a really difficult question, isn't it? Each song means something different to me. But if I had to choose just one song, it would have to be "Crazy," which made me the person that I am today. It's the song that helped me get my name out there, even overseas. It's also a song that fans still like to this day.

KpopStarz: How do you feel your last album "Dripping Tears," released in November of 2012, compares to your first EP "Bad Boy" from four years earlier? How have you developed as an artist over the years?

Son Dam Bi: Many things have changed from my first album's release. I was young back then. I was more ambitious, and even my performances were more powerful than they are now. Unlike before, now I have perspective. Especially starting with "Dripping Tears," I learned to let go of things like popularity and the burdens [of being consumed with my career]. I tried to reveal the true image of myself as a singer. Perhaps it's because those things have changed, but now I'm able to work more comfortably. Even when I go up on the stage, I feel more excited than burdened from the pressure.

KpopStarz: How were the six songs on the "Dripping Tears" EP selected?

Son Dam Bi: The songs on "Dripping Tears" were chosen to reflect the different sides of Son Dam Bi. When I let go of the burdens of fame, I was able to choose songs that I wanted to share and songs that I wanted to pursue in the future.

KpopStarz: It has been over a year since "Dripping Tears" was released. When is your next album coming out?

Son Dam Bi: A year after "Dripping Tears," I released my third digital single, "Red Candle," in December. I don't know about my next album. It hasn't even been a month since my last song was released. The next step is to start preparing for the next album.

KpopStarz: Are there any artists you've been collaborating with recently? Any that you would like to collaborate with?

Son Dam Bi: More than choosing a musician or artist and saying 'I want to work with this person!' I would have to start preparing my new album and see who fits the feel of the album. "Red Candle" was just released and I haven't yet started preparing for my next album, so I guess right now is the time to think about who I'd like to work with next.

KpopStarz: What has the experience of filming the reality show "Son Dam Bi's Beautiful Days" been like?

Son Dam Bi: I really enjoyed being able to work as the host of a show that has my name, especially because I had the opportunity to further expand my skills and learn a great many things. I often pondered as to what I needed to be able to deliver helpful information but keep it fun for the audience. It sure wasn't an easy task keeping both things in mind as I hosted the show.

KpopStarz: What do you think about K-pop continuing do draw more international fans?

Son Dam Bi: I think it's a really good thing that the number of K-pop lovers is growing. It means that me and other Korean artists now have many more places where we can perform. I also believe that the exposure of K-pop artists to more international audiences has a great impact on K-pop itself. The K-pop genre is becoming more diverse, not limited to dance music or idol groups.

KpopStarz: Do you have anything being released in the near future, as a singer or an actress, that you are excited about?

Son Dam Bi: Although I haven't been performing "Red Candle" onstage, it hasn't been very long since I've released a new song. So I can't say for sure, I'll be doing this or that around this or that time. I can, however, tell you that I'll be trying harder to meet with more fans in 2014 than I did in 2013.