NAME: Emily Nguyen
AGE: 15
HOME: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
CURRENTLY: Attending Our Lady Of Mercy College
INTRO TO K-POP: "My cousins got me into K-pop. I was in year two [of high school] when I first discovered K-pop on my cousin's phone, but [I] didn't really pay attention to it until two years later. I was at his house when he said, 'hey, come listen to this song.' I walked over to his computer and he played 'Lollipop' by 2NE1 and Big Bang. I was getting into it and soon discovered more bands, like Girls' Generation, SHINee, Super Junior, TVXQ, JYJ, SS501, 2PM, Beast, and heaps more.
My earliest K-pop memory was when I was at my other cousin's house. My cousin, she was a really big fan of K-pop and BEAST at the time, [so] I would probably say both sides of the family got me into my K-pop. And everyone else had listened to the genre before me so I would say both sides got me into it."
THE DIFFERENCE: "K-pop is like one big community. Every community has people that come and go and people that stay for a long time. What makes K-pop so unique is that anyone can listen, whether you are Korean or not. It is suitable for anyone at any age, and also any nationality.
And also the dances. [K-pop artists] even dance on stage and that rarely happens in many styles of music. They can also sing and dance at the same time. [I like that] there are no limits on how many people there are in a band. [And] the artist themselves try and interact with their fans when possible, like hold fan signing events, meet and greets, etc.
I would suggest [new fans] to listen to the music first. I also would [like to] say [that] they are amazing people, they look good, they sing and dance, even on stage. K-pop can be one of the best experiences you can have in your lifetime, whether it is seeing a concert or personally meeting your favorite idol."
CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS: "People in Australia think that K-pop is just another type of music but in a different language that is not English, and therefore they don't want to listen to it. But they are wrong. K-pop is more than that. K-pop is like a lifestyle. You can have new experiences, go on adventures like finding out about new bands, tell the latest K-pop gossip to all your friends, become friends with other people around the globe and in your country, and also spread the good news of K-pop. I also can't forget, playing 'hunt for a bias' in a K-pop band. It's not bad to try something new and listen to music that is out of your comfort zone."
FAVORITE GROUP: EXO
WHY EXO: "My favorite groups is EXO. I am a very big fan of them and have been for three or so years. They are hardworking and will stop at nothing to make their fans happy. EXO are extremely handsome, and each of them has unique personality. But that is what makes them who they are and that is also what we love about them. At this point, I feel as if they are my older brothers, always telling fans that studying comes first and then they come second. Like Jong In [EXO's Kai] once said, 'If you don't get good grades, don't think about liking me. Even if EXO seems like the most important thing in the world right now, after a while you'll regret it. Rather than us, focus on your studies and we can meet again after you become someone you and I are both proud of.' This quote is what keeps me going."
FAVORITE SONG: "Love Me Right"
FAVORITE SOLO ARTIST: Eric Nam
WHY ERIC NAM: "I like Eric because he is a very down-to-earth person, [and he] gets along with almost everyone. His singing and dancing are just on point; he looks like a comfortable person to talk with. I also like his singing and his vocals are just wow amazing. I think that Eric is an awesome person over all."
FAVORITE SONG: "Ooh Ooh" feat. INFINITE's Hoya
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