Her English is definitely improving?

Could this be another set up? Or did Wonder Girls member, Yenny (as she is called in Engrish) really write up a post on Wondergirlsworld.com?

Yenny is the first among the members to share her thoughts on their trip to China recently. Check it out:

hi~ this is yenny!

hi guys how have u been?

i was writing on twitter, as you know there is a limit so i couldn’t write down everything i wanted to say at once, and soon i realized that i had my own blog here to talk to you guys !!

i just got back from china, had a great time there! we felt warm and comfortable since this was the 4th time we’ve visited beijing , regardless of the fact that we’ve forgotten lots of chinese words & expressions.. T.T

but surpringly, we could remember pretty lots of words involved in food, like “Xi gua zhe(watermelon juice)” , “kao ya(duck, the most famous dish in beijing)” etc. we considered that it’s because of human’s instinct to survive… haha

BTW, have you decided what to wear for halloween?! it will be awesome if you guys upload halloween pik for me who is going to miss it crying and being depressed the entire day.. haha.. i’m fine.. i will be fine… T.T

i thought i had a lot to say today but as i get sleepy, (it’s 2am here) all i’m thinking is to get in bed now.. but i promise that i’ll write again very soon, about more intriguing stories..!

have a good day! …..or night ! haha

lots of kisses & hugs

– yenny

Rising fast, but can they win the hearts of millions of Americans?

Maybe this article for People magazine will help them win their hearts.

Five fun facts about the Wondergirls are stated in People that you can easily find out with a little online research, but it sure will help the Wondergirls get more fans. The last one is a bit of a stretch and I think completely not noteworthy, but you got to scramble up five facts somehow I suppose.

Do you want to become Korea’s next beloved star?

JYP is always constantly on the look out for fresh young talent with a passion for the limelight. With his eyes set on the American market, it’s no surprise that JYP is announcing this extensive audition tour for the U.S. Sooner or later the Wondergirls aren’t going to be so fresh anymore, you have to train the next generation of pointers.

If you can hit a note, move your body, or strike a pose, then you might get lucky if you happen to be in any of these locales for the audition date~

10/25 Hawaii
10/31 Los Angeles
11/4 San Francisco
11/7 Seattle
11/11 Vancouver
11/13 Denver
11/15 Chicago
11/18 Washington D.C.
11/21 New York
11/24 Toronto

Check out the official website for details~

A condo, a co-op and an office.

That’s what JYP bought in New York city. While the rest of us can only dream of million dollar properties, the producer extraordinaire is laughing all the way to the bank.

Korean online site, SportsSeoul was able to get an exclusive on the real estate details.

First up is the JYP U.S. office. Purchased in January 2007 for approximately 3.5 million USD, the building is located on East 31^st Street in Manhattan. Next, six months later, JYP snapped up a condo worth 1.4 million USD on West 42^nd in Manhattan as well. And again in 2008, a co-op, estimated at 3.4 million USD rounded out his U.S. real estate portfolio.

With the U.S. going through a major slump at that time, JYP probably chose an opportune time to buy a piece of America.

Will netizens ever stop?The Wondergirls are being slammed after a picture of members at a fan signing were released. Check out the picture~

Can you guess why the picture is “pathetic?” Me neither. If anything, I see some So-hee side-boob.

This, my English-speaking friends, is what we call a cultural difference. Korean netizens are all in a frenzy at the picture displaying the Wondergirls signing a fan’s shoes. In Korea, the action can be seen as degrading: one bowing down to sign a shoe (similar to kissing one’s master’s feet perhaps?). In America, I see a punk-rock-ish fan (note: shoelaces, pants) asking the Wondergirls to sign his/her Converse sneakers.

Personally, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve draw on my own Converse back in the day. Having an autograph on a pair of converse sounds quite impressive if you ask me. What do you think? Are the netizens too uptight or are the Wondergirls acting like cash cow slaves?

Just kidding.

In fact, a writer for 2PM’s popular MNET show “Wild Bunny” has just posted a rather cute message to the unfortunately fallen leader of 2PM, Park Jae-bum, in hope of his return.

The message reads:

“Park Jae-beum [playing around with his name]!

If you don’t come back from Seattle right now…
The scene where you suffered in that hot bathroom just to scare the other members- I’m going to completely edit it out!!!

that’s how I want to threaten you but…
…I’m just a writer..ha..“

It’s somewhat refreshing to see, compared to the rather somber methods others are using regarding the scenario. In fact, a fan recently posted a fan-cam video of 2PM member Woo-young mouthing out “have strength, have strength” to Jae-bum during one of their latter performances.

With the outpouring of support, do you think there’s a chance the controversial Jae-bum can return to the stage with his fellow 2PM brothers?

I hope so.

As we recently reported, the Wondergirls have each made brief “about me” videos in English to introduce themselves to their American fans.

However, keen netizens (English speaking?) have specifically noticed that Yoo-bin’s video contains statements that can perhaps be interpreted as sly messages in support of 2PM’s fallen member, Jae-bum.

When asked about 3 things that make her sad, two of her answers were “when I am completely misunderstood“ and “when someone wrongly blames the people I love, that makes me sad.” Yoo-bin also says, “I won a Korean company audition. But, ironically, I had to go back to Korea and the first few years were tough…” Sounds familiar?

Is this indeed a subliminal message in support of her fellow JYPE member Jae-bum? Well, while the interview was posted two days ago on the Wondergirls official youtube channel, some other members’ videos were posted before Jae-bum’s controversy began. Were all of the interviews filmed before the controversy?

With all of the editing done for these videos, I doubt Yoo-bin’s filming was done a mere two days before it was released. Unfortunately, I don’t think these are subliminal messages but…I bet she’s supporting him either way.

Yup, we get to properly hear So-hee speaking English…finally~Through their official youtube channel, the Wondergirls have been letting their fans get to know them a bit better through a casual English interview. I have to say these are a good set of questions. Nothing too probing, but you get some insight into their personal preferences.

Are their American personalities interesting enough to hold the attention of potential U.S. fanboys? Check out the video introductions for yourself here~

In order of release:

Sun-ye, for some reason, still has a very thick accent, which at times is kind of distracting, but it’s all right. 

I really surprised at how eloquent Sun-mi is. It’s a shame she doesn’t speak more during English interviews.

Ye-eun has picked up English like nothing. She just continues to improve.

Yoo-bin was the most easygoing character during her interview, which makes her the most enjoyable to watch.

So-hee also amazes me with her English skills. She must have the gift of gab behind the scenes because she is just damn quiet in public. Her interview was the shortest, but she answered her questions the quickest.

It was inevitable.The controversy has yet to die after the offending MySpace comments from 2PM’s former leader Jae-bum were discovered less than a week ago. From the man himself quitting, chaos at the airport to JYP releasing a harsh, but honest personal statement, there seems to be no end in sight. Now, on September 10th, a 2PM fan club, Underground, has officially boycotted JYP Entertainment.

Unsatisfied with JYP’s acceptance of Jae-bum instantly leaving the group, Underground has decided to boycott ticket sales to the 2009 Dream Concert a few months away. The group will also boycott all merchandise and 2PM products (including music) until the original seven members are united.

Underground claims this is for the good of the group, but I can’t help but wonder if this is making the tension and anguish worse. Who’s supposed to feel better with this boycott? Jae-bum? Is he going to be happy that fans aren’t supporting his 2PM brothers?

On September 10th, JYP posted a personal statement on the JYP Entertainment home page to address the current 2PM controversy.

Many unexpected events happened within a short span of time, and the man, himself, hadn’t released his own thoughts on the issues. Finally, here is what JYP Entertainment CEO and 2PM Jae-bum’s boss had to say regarding the former leader’s MySpace comments and his sudden decision to quit.

I have received much shock from what Jae-bum wrote four years ago to his friend. Could it have been another celebrity, I myself would have felt much anger, resentment, and abandonment at his words. But I have known Jae-bum for so long that his words did not surprise me. I already knew Jaebum was that kind of child.

When Jae-bum first came to Korea four years ago, he was very rebellious and out of line. He laughed at Korea and belittled his fellow trainees, even going so far as to see me as ‘easy.’ I believe he thought that being a Korean celebrity was something to laugh at. He was a boy that wanted to b-boy in the streets. He fought with company employees, his choreography instructors, and made threats.

At times, he even said that he did not like JYP Entertainment., and would name another rival company, wishing to be sent over there instead. But what surprised us even more was that when asked whether he had the guts to succeed, he replied, “We do better if we don’t get JYP’s music.”

At this point, employees wondered why we were keeping such a troublesome boy. This is why his words four years ago are not suprising.

Then why would we keep such a kid?

I love rebellious children. Rather than children that are nice up front but calculating and evil behind my back, I love children that are rebellious in my face. I loved the fact that he straightforwardly showed his feelings. It gave me hope. Who would have the guts to utter such words to my face? To say that his failure was caused by my bad music? I thought that was hilarious.

I believed that rebellious children in general had too much energy and just no place to express it, or they never met someone before that would trust them enough to show them the correct path. I wanted to support this kind of person to go on stage, and feel the energy and joy. As long as I could instill within him trust and love.

For Jae-bum, there are only two types of people: his family, and those that are not his family. He loves his family more than anything else. The reason he always talks about money during interviews is not to buy nice clothes, but it is to pay back his family, who always works hard for him. That’s why he pursued the path of becoming a singer.

He was rebellious, but he excelled in training. I saw this, and thought, ‘if only I could make him think of my company, his fellow trainees, this company as his family. If only.’

So one day, I told him, “Jae-bum, family isn’t just those who share your blood. Please open your heart to them first. Then others can be your family too.” Through these efforts, he began to change… He began to hug his fellow trainees, start conversations with company employees, and began enjoying his time on the stage. He finally began to express his energy on stage and began to shine through singing and dancing.

I chose him as the team’s leader. The rest of the six really believed in him and followed his lead. He always trained with them and always thought of his younger members before himself. After his debut, he experienced a change in his heart toward the news reporters and attention that showed him in a positive light and began showing more affection.

He was touched by the hearts of his fans. Good people, good friends, good fans… good music… through all this, he began to change. But as things began to go up, like a tragic movie scene, his entry from four years ago was released.

He was so sorry. To his 2PM brothers, to me, to his company employees, to his fans…and to nobody more than to his fellow Koreans. He thought to himself that if he stayed any longer, his brothers would only suffer more pain. He told me he did not have the confidence to get up on stage.

I knew what he was saying too well to hold him back. If I were him, I would have made the same decision. Thus, he left.

His last email to me said ‘I was really a little punk in the past, wasn’t I? I just want to let you know that this was truly a life changing experience. I’ve become a much better and stronger person because of you. I’m so thankful for everything that you have done for me. Real talk.’

My heart was ripping. It hurt. But knowing what Koreans would feel at his words, an immense sense of betrayal, I could not say anything. What I can do for him, however, is to reveal to everyone that his public persona on TV was not fake. He might have been rebellious but never fake. He never hid his true emotions. He was always upfront and sincere, and that is something that can never change.

I hear the public and the fans, and I am taking in your opinions, but the most important thing to realize is that Jae-bum is not 2PM’s Park Jae-bum but a child, a teenager Jae-bum.

I genuinely wish for you all to hold his decision true. I apologize once more.

JYP“

What do you think of JYP’s personal statement? Are you shocked to hear JYP’s strict, but empathetic judgement of the former 2PM leader? Does this make you change the way you feel regarding the situation?

]]> http://popseoul.com/2009/09/10/jyp-already-knew-jae-bum-was-that-kind-of-child/feed/ 187 steveinbay 20090714_1247553103 http://popseoul.com/2009/09/09/wondergirls-rock-the-baseball-stadium/ http://popseoul.com/2009/09/09/wondergirls-rock-the-baseball-stadium/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:12:23 +0000 steveinbay http://popseoul.com/?p=63938 ]]>

As we reported earlier, the Wondergirls were present for the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins Major League baseball game. They rooted for the Cleveland Indians to support Korea’s very own player Choo Shin-soo.

The girls were quite busy; singing the classic “take me out to the ballgame,” teaching the teams the infamous “Nobody” dance, and even performing after the game for the “Taste of Cleveland” event.

“Yenny” mainly singing the classic tune. Impressive but does it seem like Ye-eun is the American Wondergirls’ leader and getting too much spotlight?

Check out their performance here. It seems they’re truly growing quite a fanbase.

Though small, here’s true leader Sun-ye throwing the first pitch. Look at that form~

After his infamous MySpace comments, Jae-bum announced yesterday that he will be leaving 2PM. A JYPE representative has since confirmed. Today, August 2th, the leader of 2PM left to return home to Seattle, Washington in the United States. His fellow 2PM members were also there to send their leader off. The airport was quite chaotic with fangirls screeching, crying, sobbing “Don’t go!”

See for yourself~

Airport chaos

“Jae-bum, don’t go. What about Hottest?“

One fan cries

Fans try to stop him from leaving

Jae-bum’s final bow.

Honestly, the fans’ rabid reactions (sobbing, screaming, fighting) were a little excessive. I can understand their distress, but the world isn’t ending and Jae-bum is still alive and kicking.

Despite the fact that he was unfairly pushed out, it’s safe to say that at least he’ll be happier at home with his family and away from the harsh, invading jaws of the KPOP universe.

He’s still young and hot blooded. There will be a better and brighter future ahead of him.