Hello ! #27🫶 What's It Like to Work in K-POP After Being a Fan?

✨Interview Special✨ Only the real reviews gathered!

2023. 11. 20.

🫶 What's It Like to Work in K-POP After Being a Fan?

Hello !

#27🫶 What's It Like to Work in K-POP After Being a Fan?

Hello ! 🐹 Hamzzi is back~❗❗ Remember the promise I made last week? I said I'd bring even more exciting stories this week! To keep that promise, I've gathered topics that KforU will love and prepared a ✨Special Interview Edition✨😎 Let's dive into today's Ktown4u newsletter, where I've closely interviewed both die-hard KforU fans and current workers in the K-POP industry. Ready to start!?

💌 HOT News Topic of This Week

✨ K-POP of the Week❗: The Arrival of the K-POP Girl Group Avengers
💞'Falling Into Fandom' Interview: Hey everyone, Look at this! Look at my IDOL!
🎤 Public Broadcast Interview: Reverse Fan Gifts, What have you received?
💻 Job Interview: You wanna get a job, same with your hobby?
🎧 The latest Ktown4u news🎧
🎶Today's K-Playlist : Work songs that instantly boost your energy 🔥

👉 Summary of This Week's Newsletter

🫶What's It Like to Work in K-POP After Being a Fan?

✨ K-POP of the Week ❗: The Arrival of the K-POP Girl Group Avenger

On November 6th, the K-POP world buzzed with the news of a unit featuring (G)I-DLE, aespa, and IVE, right? It's not just a subgroup within a group, but a unit formed by representatives of 4th generation girl groups! Moreover, the producer lineup, including BIGHIT MUSIC's songwriter El Capitxn and renowned composers both domestically and internationally, made it an even hotter topic among fans.

*Source : M:USB Official YouTube

And finally! 'NOBODY' was released on the 16th last week 🥳🎉 How did KforU react when you first heard it? After watching the MV, I was so shocked that I immediately thought, "Could this be the K-POP Girl Group Avengers?" 🎵 Are there still some of you who haven't heard it yet? If so, check it out on M:USB and each artist's official SNS! You'll get a sense of what I meant by 'Avengers' 🫢 Personally, I think SOYEON's rap paired with LIZ & WINTER's vocals is... truly the best combination👍 Whoever planned this unit deserves an award, don't you think? 🤣

💞 'Falling Into Fandom' Interview : Hey everyone! Look at my IDOL!

Do you guys remember the exact moment you fell for your IDOL? Some of you might have had a sudden epiphany, while others slowly realized they were already deep in fandom without even noticing. So, let's have a 'Falling Into Fandom Interview' with our anonymous KforUs to share why they started loving their IDOL

Q. Hello Macaron! This is a baby photocard. Who is it?

🧁Macaron : Hello~! This is BTOB's LEE CHANGSUB. I got this from the [HOUR MOMENT] album. Isn't it so adorable? It's my favorite photocard!

Q. Haha, yes! It seems like he has been a naughty boy since he was a baby. Then, when did you start liking CHANGSUB?

🧁Macaron : It was sometime in 2016... I randomly came across a video, 'CHANGSUB's Fancam at the BTOB Shanghai Fan Meeting,' on YouTube. He was more handsome than anyone I've ever seen. From then on, I got hooked on watching his videos. His singing was just incredible! You absolutely must check out his 'Second Confession' adlib from his concerts. Nowadays, when people think of CHANGSUB, they probably think of 'Changing Majors' on YouTube, but I urge you to take a look at his 2016 and 2017 videos. His looks back then were... really... just extraordinary.

Q. Hello Frog~ You're a fan of MONSTA X's HYUNGWON ?!

🐸Frog : Yes, I am

Q. Ah~ Can we list three reasons why you like HYUNGWON~?

🐸Frog : 1. His face 2. His face 3. His face

Q. Hahaha, besides his face, is there anything else? Like especially beautiful eyes?!

🐸Frog : His face.

Q. Hello, Teddy Bear~! Oh, are you an ATINY? Is JONGHO your bias?!

🐻Teddy Bear : Yes, you got it(>_<。)! His fluffy cheeks are just too cute, don't you get the urge to squish them all day long?!

Q. Uh...yeah, I do...I suppose! Then his charming point that captured Teddy Bear's heart is his cheeks?

🐻Teddy Bear : No...? It's his singing…

Q. Oh~ ATEEZ's songs~?

🐻Teddy Bear : 아니요.

Q....Then JONGHO's solo songs~?

🐻Teddy Bear : It's not those either⊙﹏⊙∥

Q. Please….what was it then? 😫

🐻Teddy Bear : It was his cover song of 'One Late Night in 1994'! One day, I was listening to a recommended playlist, and as soon as I heard it, I was like, "Oh, this is the voice I've been looking for!!" And he's also covered 'If It Is You,' which is really good too, so I hope everyone in the world listens to it at least once... JONGHO singing is pure love...🫶

Phew~ Today, we had an enjoyable interview with MELODY, MONBEBE, and ATINY. While conducting the interviews, I learned new aspects about the artists even though I already knew them. 😃 Are you also interested? If you have any other artists you'd like to see in an interview, please let me know! I'll make sure to conduct the interview for you

🎤Public Broadcast Interview : Reverse Fan Gifts, What have you received?

🥯 Taking a bite of a Knotted donut 🍮Taking a bite of REI&LEESEO's photocards~!

*Source : KforU 🐶Puppy

Q. Hello 🐶Puppy~ When did you visit IVE's 'music show recording'?
🐶Puppy : I went to the 'M Countdown' pre-recording in April this year, which was the first of [I've IVE]~~~!

Q. Oh~ The challenging dawn pre-recording! Can you share your experience from that day~?
🐶Puppy : Well, my memory is a bit fuzzy, but on that day, we had two pre-recordings, 'I AM' for the first round and 'Kitsch' for the second round! IVE performed each song's stage about three times~ Thanks to that, we got to see them on stage a lot, and that was amazing 😆 But it was tough because there was about a 3-hour wait time between the two recordings, so it was almost 3 AM when everything was finished 😭 It was so cold, but the love for IVE kept me going…

*Source : KforU 🐶Puppy

Q. However, I heard you received some sweet treats as part of a fan support!
🐶Puppy: That's right!!! After the first pre-recording, 🍩Knotted donuts and 🧉Pepsi, which IVE was promoting, were waiting for us as soon as we came out! I had dessert with DIVEs, received photocards, and then went into the second pre-recording. At that time, WONYOUNG said the cutest thing to us, 'Did you enjoy the donuts~?'?! My heart really... 🫀😭

Q. Haha, how about shouting out a message to IVE while recalling that moment?
🐶Puppy : IVE, you're the best! You guys are just amazing!

📿 I got this bracelet as a gift, does it mean propose?

*Source : Left - KforU 🎥CGV / Right - V’s insgagram (@thv)

Q. Hey there, CGV! I heard you recently attended V's music show recording.
🎥CGV : Yes!! I went to V's Inkigayo recording on September 9th!!! It was a lottery system, and I guess I used up all my luck for the year to get selected~ Yay~!

Q. Ah, that's the show that's been a hot topic among K-POP fans! Can you share more details about your experience that day?
🎥CGV : It was a surprising day for us too. We had two pre-recordings. In between, we all moved together by bus🫢. First, at the location of the first pre-recording, we saw the performance of the title track 'Slow Dancing,' and then all the ARMYs hopped on a 🚌bus prepared by V to go to the second pre-recording site, where he performed 'Rainy Days'😃. In my many years as a fan, I've never experienced such a pre-recording🤣.Oh! And there were about eight buses, but he actually posted the bus I was on in his Instagram story!

*Source : KforU 🎥CGV

Q. I heard you received a very special gift that day, too~?
🎥CGV : I seriously thought I was getting proposed to by V that day. When we were checking in for the first pre-recording, the fan managers gave us a box with V's dog 'Yeontan’s picture on it. When I opened the box, there was a silver bracelet with 'V' handwritten by him! There were also CELINE candies, scrunchies, and a wooden sachet, as he is an ambassador for CELINE. Later, I even received two photocards from of music recording and a handwritten letter! Isn't he so sweet and adorable🫠...? If he's not going to marry me, he should at least stop being so kind.…

Q. Wow, a bracelet! So, do you wear the bracelet he gifted you often these days?
🎥CGV : What? No way, I can't bear to wear it. I'm going to keep it forever and pass it down to my granddaughter. I even want to encase it in resin.

Q. Ahahaha~ I see, I see. So, is there anything you'd like to say to V about that day, something you didn't get the chance to tell him then?
🎥CGV : I love you. Just, I love you.

💻 Job Interview : You wanna get a job, same with your hobby?

Have you ever thought, 'If someone paid me to be a fan, I'd already be a millionaire,' or 'If I'm going to be a fan for life, maybe I should just make it my job?' We've all had these thoughts while loving our IDOL, haven't we? So, for today's special feature~ I've prepared interviews with Ktown4u employees who are working in the K-POP industry, especially for all KforU who dream of making K-POP their job!

Interview with Forky, in charge of the Ktown4u Pop-Up Store 👀

*The ZEROBASEONE Pop-Up Store, held at Ktown4u coex

Q. Hello Forky, I heard you successfully completed the recent ZB1 Pop-Up Store. Many KforU are interested in the 'Pop-Up Store Planning & Operation' task. Can you tell us more about this job?

🍴Forky : Hi KforU. To put it simply, our job involves 'coordinating with entertainment agencies in advance and running the pop-up store in line with the artist's new releases.' We design the pop-up space to align with the 💿album art and concept, making it more enjoyable for 💞fans who visit to experience the artist's new release. We also run a cafe, so we develop 'special menus for the pop-up store.' Additionally, for fans who can't make it to the store, we share the pop-up experience through social media. Besides these on-site tasks, after the pop-up store ends, we handle administrative tasks like accounting and performance reporting

Q. Wow~ So, is there a unique charm point of the ✨Ktown4u Pop-Up Store?
🍴Forky : Unlike other companies' pop-up stores that are integrated into buildings, the Ktown4u coex pop-up store operates the entire Ktown4u coex space exclusively for pop-ups. This setup allows us to use an entire floor for various pop-up stores, and we can even host up to three artists' pop-up stores simultaneously. When multiple artists' pop-up stores are running, fans of different artists often come together. They explore each other's pop-up stores, sometimes purchase each other's MD & special menu drink. It truly becomes a 'meeting place for K-POP fans.’

Q. So, what happens to the banners, posters signed by artists during their visit, and panels displayed at the pop-up store once it's over? I often think, '🙋‍♀️If you're going to throw them away, just give them to me!

🍴Forky : Sometimes, after an artist's visit, they might take a panel with their hand-drawn art if they liked it. The ✍️signed items are often re-displayed at the permanent Ktown4u store. Since the Ktown4u pop-up store space is quite large, the banners are usually huge, covering an entire wall, so it's difficult to give those large banners to fans. However, items that are of a manageable size for fans to take home might be offered to them through events after discussing with the agencies😀!

*Ktown4u Insa Pop-Up Store opened to celebrate the release of JISOO's [ME]

Q. Finally, if KforUs dreams of becoming a 'K-POP Pop-Up Store Planner' like you, what should they prepare?

🍴Forky : First of all, you should love something sincerely, regardless of the genre. Of course, it's great if it's K-POP, but even if it's not, having an interest in cultural contents like stationery & fancy goods, celebrities, exhibitions, food, movies, animations, etc., is crucial. This helps in coming up with fun and engaging ideas for visitors when planning a pop-up store.

Interview with Dinosaur, in charge of the Ktown4u Promotion Events 👀

Q. Hello~ Could you explain what your team does?

🐲Dinosaur : Hi there~ Our team gets busy when an artist's comeback or other new updates are decided. We plan various events, including fan signing events, showcases, one-day cafes, photo sessions, and more, aiming to successfully promote the album and delight the fans. Once the event schedules are confirmed, we're responsible for venue reservations, SNS promotions, distributing signed albums, and other logistical tasks. Recently, we've even started organizing international fan signing events, making us one of the busiest teams at Ktown4u – a true multi-player role!😎

Q. Can you share the pros and cons of this job for KforU dreaming of working in this field?
🐲Dinosaur : Let's start with the cons. If you take up this job, maintaining work-life balance can be challenging😂. Events are often scheduled during weekday evenings and weekends, so our working hours differ significantly from those of regular office workers. And with frequent international fan signing events, deciding on vacation times isn't easy... But! Despite that! I continue to do it because I find it exciting to meet various fans on-site and communicate with K-POP industry professionals 😃 I think proactive and outgoing KforU will do well in this role!

*This week's ongoing promotion events at Ktown4u (ATEEZ & ROSÉ & (G)I-DLE)

Q. Then, if KforU become the person in charge of fan signing events at Ktown4u, do they get the chance to organize events for their favorite artists?
🐲Dinosaur : Unfortunately, at Ktown4u, even if we're in charge of events, there's an unspoken rule that we don't handle events for artists we're a fan of🤫. Additionally, to ensure fairness with other fans, Ktown4u workers are prohibited from applying to any events organized by Ktown4u

Q. Now for the last question! Are the people working in this job all hardcore fans?
🐲Dinosaur : That's an interesting question😆😆😆. Indeed, there are 'hardcore fans' among us who still manage to attend dawn music show recordings despite thier jobs. However, most are well-versed in K-POP but are currently taking a 'fan break.' As for me, due to the heavy workload, I've naturally entered a hiatus from being a fan. I aimed for a 'work and fan life balance,' but it turned out to be all work and no fan...🫠

KforU! Were today's job interviews helpful~? Today, we met with the Pop-Up Store Manager and the Promotion Events Manager. If you're curious about other K-POP related jobs, just let me know! I will cover anything you're interested in! (🤫Shhh - even interviewing the CEO of Ktown4u is possible~!)

🎧 The latest Ktown4u news🎧

This week, Ktown4u is working super hard preparing various events for KforU and K-POP artists😎. Today, I'll introduce you to two of the hottest events you absolutely shouldn't miss out on.

'Donating Love in briquette' EVENT, where 'my love for IDOL' turns into 'warm briquettes'!

The weather in Korea has suddenly turned cold, leaving everyone freezing🥺. So, for every album you purchase, one briquette will be donated to our neighbors🫶. As the colder days of December approach, we ask for your participation and support to help Ktown4u bring warm briquettes to those in need🙏

Donate Briquettes🔥

💿Album unboxing? I'm the best at that in the world🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️!!

For K-POP fans, album unboxing is a basic skill. If there were to be a competition for the best unboxers in the world, it would surely you, KforU, right🤣? That's why Ktown4u has organized a special unboxing event tailored for KforU!

To celebrate ZB1's comeback, we are running an album unboxing review event for [MELTING POINT] until the 29th. 'If you've never been defeated in album unboxing', or 'if you want to share the moment you melted for ZB1', then purchase [MELTING POINT] at Ktown4u and leave your review video!

The review video clips selected through a raffle will be ✨permanently✨ showcased on Ktown4u's official YouTube and SNS😎 Because it's always better to share the good stuff with others!

Show off Your Unboxing Skills💿

📢 Known as Korea's Black Friday, 'Korea sale FESTA'!

In celebration of Black Friday, Ktown4u is joining the 'Korea Sale FESTA' for the first time ever. Are you curious what exactly is 'Korea Sale FESTA' 🤔? It can be seen as the 'Real K-POP Black Friday Market' where you can get all K-POP related products—albums, merchandise, magazines, light sticks, cosmetics, stationery, character goods, and more—at discounted prices 😎 Remember, the event ends on November 30th, so hurry over to check if your favorite artist's products are available and don't miss out🖐️!

Take a look at FESTA👀

🎶Today's K-Playlist : Work songs that instantly boost your energy🔥

That's all for today's newsletter from 🐹Hamzzi! Hope you had fun, right? Ever since I fell for my favorite idol, I've been a fan, and now I'm working in the K-Pop industry. Preparing this week's newsletter was a blast for me too🎵

Well, it's time to say goodbye again🖐️~ I'll leave you with a K-Playlist recommendation for KforU, 'Work songs that instantly boost your energy 🔥'. To all the KforU students studying hard, and those of you working somewhere at this hour just like me, I hope you all keep up the good work till the end of the year! Stay healthy and see you next week! Bye-!