[News] SNSD is into the “Son Byungho Game”

SNSD is into the “Son Byungho Game”.
[Note: The Son Byungho game is explained later in the article.]

On November 2nd, SNSD held a press meeting with reporters at the Apgujung Everysing store. During this time, they talked about their successful entry into Japan and their sudden comeback into the Korean entertainment.

SNSD’s schedule must be extremely packed with foreign activities, but they are continuing with activities in Korea as well with their “Hoot” comeback. Because of this, concerns of their health are rising amongst fans.

About this issue, Sunny said, “We like to refresh ourselves during our breaks rather than just resting. We like going places with each other or performing special stages. Even when we go to film something, if we have fun at the shooting, then we come back energized and recharged because of that. Even recently while we’re going back and forth from Japan, the members play games every night at our dorm. If we enjoy our time like that, we are overflowing with energy.”

Sunny also said, “We’re really into the ‘Son Byungho game’ recently. We say things like, “Whoever likes sweet potatoes, fold a finger” or “fold a finger if you’re married”".

The game was coined the “Son Byungho game” when the actor Son Byungho introduced the game on an episode of KBS2 TV’s “Happy Together”. The players in the game go around one at a time to say a statement. If that statement does not apply, the player has to “fold” a finger.”

[Note: So for example, everybody holds out five fingers. If it's Sunny's turn, and she says "I like apples," all the members who don't like apples have to 'fold' a finger so they only have four fingers left.]

Tiffany added, “Whenever we hear that somebody is concerned for us, we are consoled and strengthened,” relaying a thankful heart to the fans.

SNSD, who has made a comeback with “Hoot”, will be going back and forth from Korea and Japan to rotate in activities.

[News] SNSD’s Hyoyeon still has a crush on a mysterious male idol

On November 2nd, Hyoyeon confessed during a SNSD press conference that she still harbors a crush on the male idol that she mentioned in May.

To refresh, Hyoyeon revealed that she had a crush on a male idol during an episode of ‘Strong Heart‘. She said,

“I have a one-sided love with a male idol group member. I think of him every night before I go to sleep and he even appears in my dreams. He doesn’t have double eyelid and has a good sense of humor.“

At the press conference, Hyoyeon was asked whether she still had a crush on the male idol. She responded truthfully,

“Yes. It’s still the same. I like to see people who work hard. If by any chance anyone has an interest in me, if you show me that you are hard working, I’ll like you.“

Fellow SNSD member Sunny explained, ”When Hyoyeon sees people work hard on stage she says, ‘Wow, so hard-working. I wonder how much you had to practice to do that.’”

Overachievers all around the world, you may be the one Hyoyeon is looking for!

[News] [UPDATE: SM's Statement] Taiwanese TV show accuses SNSD of providing sexual favors

Taiwan’s Super TV entertainment program, “Super Lucky” (命運好好玩) became the latest media outlet to report on the suspicions surrounding Korean female celebrities in providing sexual favors for fame. While the topic itself is controversial, it became more so once outraged fans discovered that the producers used images of SNSD to illustrate their points.

The show featured a famous critic named Chen Ling Ling and Taiwanese idol Lin Wei Ling.

The stars claimed, “Korean female celebrities must provide sexual favors and are forced to undergo plastic surgery.”

An image of SNSD along with a large caption stating “Sexual Favors” was then brought up, which gave viewers the impression that SNSD was the most representative case.

Chen Ling-Ling explained, “There are numerous rules in the Korean entertainment industry, and one of them is providing sexual favors. Agencies teach singing, dancing, and acting, and heavily manage their celebrities. Once their schedules are completed, however, they call the celebrities back out in order to participate in a dinner. This is usually considered the ‘first meeting’, and tends to be just a dinner. However, once dinner is over, the person will call the agency representative and express their desire to see her again. The next meeting is when the sexual favor takes place. Korean celebrities are forced to commit such acts, even at a young age.”

She continued, “I think that this is really unfortunate. Why must a celebrity receive such a phone call? But regardless, this is universal in Korea’s industry. Their agencies place an immense amount of pressure on the girls and force them so that they cannot refuse. It’s such an unfortunate case, but I heard that agency representatives force their celebrities to providing sexual favors, even driving some to the point of suicide.”

A few months ago, Lin Wei Ling (Estrella Lin) made a shocking confession when she revealed that she was canvassed to barter her body in exchange for an opportunity to make it in Korea. Lin reiterated her story on the show, saying, “I was requested to provide sexual favors while promoting in Korea.” Additionally, the Taiwanese singer claimed that she was forced to go under the knife: “I had to undergo plastic surgery while working in Korea. They told me to put fat in my face. I told them that I didn’t want to, and they stated that it was my responsibility as a celebrity to do so.”

Another guest on the show, Vivian, added, “It’s the price of being a celebrity. People think that all you need are looks, a pretty face, and dreams of becoming a celebrity.” Vivian went as far as to provide a chart and aggressively criticized Korean celebrities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7MMyPr1lKU&feature=player_embedded

Fans angrily began questioning, “Why are you messing with SNSD” and “Just because SNSD is so popular, you must forcefully tack on meaningless rumors.”

Meanwhile, Super Junior’s Ryeowook tweeted in disgust, “This old lady can’t even differentiate between poop and bean paste, she’s just going all out, wow~ even i as a man can’t handle it… tsk tsk“.

SM Entertainment also issued a strongly worded statement after learning about it, “The content of the Taiwanese broadcast program was exaggerated and false. This is a serious case of defamation against SNSD and is damaging to their image. SME will be going through the proper procedures in order to take action against the broadcast show.”

[News] SeoHyun "being in the fake marriage with Jung YongHwa is a very valuable experience"

SNSD SeoHyun expressed her special feelings with CNBLUE Jung YongHwa on the 2nd during an interview at SM Everysing music room in Apgujeong. SeoHyun revealed that she is satisfied with her fake mariage life on MBC's We Got Married.

SeoHyun said "after meeting Jung YongHwa in Inkigayo, I gave him our CD. He said that he really likes our songs, and even trying really hard to follow our dance in 'Hoot'MV"

Hyoyeon jealously said "even though it was during broadcast, two of them were always together (the chinese words said something like the persons and the shadows do not separate), gave everyone who saw them goosebumps~"

Tiffany supported this couple by saying "SeoHyun is more expressive in this album. Seems like it is because of Jung YongHwa, SeoHyun even told him to pay extra attention on her own part in the song"

SeoHyun shyly expressed "sisters always tease me. they like to watch WGM more tham me, gave me lots of directions and opinions, they even encourage me to hold his hand"

SeoHyun said "nonetheless, this is a new experience, to me it is also a very valuable one"

SeoHyun mentioned that recently WGM aired the 200 days anniversary where Jung YongHwa gave her a Japan life guidebook. It gives her a lot of help.

SeoHyun said "we often have events in japan, and we don't know where to find food that we would like to try. Thanks to his book, we get to go to wellknown places to eat delicious food." Hyoyeon jealously commented "so nice", creating laughter.

SNSD is now promoting their mini album with the main title "Hoot"

[News] SNSD fans in uproar due to a broadcast in Taiwan

On a Taiwanese celebrity show programme, Taiwanese singers such as Lin Wei Ling appeared and talked about female Korean celebrities being forced into sexual acts and cosmetic surgeries. In addition, when talking about this, they showed a picture of SNSD. On the photo of SNSD they had, in big writings, sexual acts, on top of it as if they are saying SNSD is the biggest example. Korean SNSD fans have been saying "Why attack innocent SNSD?", "Now that their popularity is so huge that they now spread absurd rumors".

However, Cheon Ling Ling, also on the show, said, "Korean industries have lots of regulations. One of which is to accept sexual acts. Apart from that, the entertainment companies keeping close eye on your singing, dancing and acting as they teach you. After the daily schedule, they call up the celebrity and have a meal together. This is how the first meeting occurs. Usually at the first meeting, they only have a meal together. However after the meal, the person who was present at the table rings up the entertainment company and tells them, 'oh she was fine'. Then the next meeting is when the sexual acts occur even from an early age

She also added, "I feel really sorry about these things. How does celebrities must be treated like this? However this is normal in Korea. The entertainment company also pressures the celebrities so hard so they cannot refuse. Some suicide because of it. Of course this is not right"

Lastly she added "Last August when I wanted to start activities in Korea I was offered sexual activities. Also I had to have cosmetic surgeries. I was told to put more fat into my face. I said no but I was told that it's my responsibility as a celebrity"

Another quest WeiWeiAn said "It's a requirement of becoming a celebrity. If you have a talent and good-looking, then you can become a celebrity. However there are those who just look at the looks and dream of becoming a celebrity". This added further firewood to Korean netizen's anger.

[News] Pictures of SNSD prior to debut revealed. "Cute"

On a community site a photo of SNSD prior to their debut was released.

In the photo, SeoHyun, Yuri, SooYoung, HyoYeon, Jessica and other trainees under SM. The netizen who uploaded this photo also said that this photo was taken just after SM trainee dance competition.

Other netizens who saw this commented "They were so cute back then", "So charming, they were beautiful since young age" and "You can already sense the celebrity aura from them"

[Info] 10Asia Interviews Girls' Generation

Q: You placed first on Oricon's singles chart. How did it feel?

Tiffany: We all cried. We were performing on stage when news came that we took third place with our first single "Genie" but we still all cried upon hearing about it. When we took No. 1, I woke up to a text message saying we got first place (laugh) and I cried as soon as I saw it.


Q: Before, your seniors went to Japan with the mindset that they are starting their singing careers all over again. But you acted like pop stars from overseas from the very beginning. How have you been treated in Japan?

Hyoyeon: I think the Japanese people we have met are just naturally kind and polite rather than us having received any form of special treatment.
Tiffany: I think I've rather gone back to the mindset of when we debuted three years ago. And I've become more cautious as well. But I told myself I should have fun even though we're overseas.
Jessica: I was tearing up from the moment we held our showcase because I was so excited. I could hear our fans' cheering before going on stage so my heart was overflowing with joy from the fact that the venue was full.
Sooyoung: It was the first time Girls' Generation was making an official debut overseas and our seniors had done so well before us that we didn't want to tarnish their name. I think we also felt a heartrending emotion, as if we were saying, "We've been doing well so far. We've come this far."


Q: What do you think is the reason you became the first girl group to top the chart? You haven't gone on that many television shows yet either.

Jessica: I think that in Japan, they're fascinated by the composition of our choreography. We're even asked, "How much do you need to practice to stand exactly in the shape of a v and in two lines?
Sooyoung: We were featured in NHK's news which we heard in itself is a social issue. We even heard that Korean girl groups are great at both singing and dancing and that even their fashion becomes talk of the town. So we can't let people down when they have such expectations of us. That's why we're happy but also felt that we need to practice more.


Q: Has the fact that you're popular sunk in yet?

Tiffany: Some people imitated our dance moves while taking a photo, not knowing I was next to them. I felt so proud.
Jessica: An old Japanese man asked if I'm Girls' Generation. And when I asked him how he knew, he said he saw me on the news. Sooyoung as well, in Shibuya...
Sooyoung: They didn't recognize me. (laugh) Well in Shibuya they actually recognized me. Some people said, "It's Sooyoung." But people didn't recognize me when I walked into a record store where there was even a huge poster of us stuck on the wall. (laugh)
Sunny: They wouldn't be able to compared to when you have make-up on. (laugh)


Q: In Japan, they call you 美脚 group (group with pretty legs). How do you feel about this?

Sooyoung: They're actually not that pretty (laugh) but we started being calling from a certain point on. At the same time, we're also a bit worried that our performances or singing will be noticed less because our legs are being pointed out. I once saw on TV that only our legs were shot and not our faces. (laugh)
Hyoyeon: We get a lot of questions asking how we take care of our legs. But we can't do anything in particular because we don't have time so we either do a lot of stretching or lower-body bathing. We each stretch in our own rooms. (laugh)


Q: What advice did BoA give you?

Tiffany: "I've done this for ten years already so it's your turn now." (laugh) But she also said, "I was alone but there's a lot of you so you won't have to worry." (laugh)
Sunny: And that we could be lonely, that things will be very different from Korea. We try to be careful because the language is different and we don't know a lot of things.
Hyoyeon: I think the language is the biggest problem. I study Japanese whenever I have time but it's difficult.
Sooyoung: It actually feels like we're on a school trip. We keep eating while carrying out our activities. (laugh)
Tiffany: And we play games.
Sooyoung: Taeyeon got us a nail dryer so we ask each other to do our nails. (laugh) There's a lot to heed attention to but we're trying to enjoy everything, as if we're on a trip, and that's been shown on television so I think people like how we come off as friendly and natural.


Q: You seem to have a lot of female fans in particular in Japan.

Taeyeon: Yes, we couldn't adjust to the screaming at first. I think a lot of our female Japanese fans think that we're cool and they want to try being like us.
Sunny: Watch out for what you say. In a Korean documentary about us, I had said, "I think we have a lot of middle-aged male fans in Korea and a lot of female fans in Japan." Then a female fan of ours in Korea posted up all the information she has of us on the Internet and wrote underneath, "Sunny, do you see this? (laugh) I felt so bad.
Taeyeon: The Japanese members of our staff were surprised because they said it's what is usually observed in male idol groups. And I think the reason that our middle-aged male fans stood out more was because artists usually mainly have female fans but we have middle-aged male fans.


Q: Speaking of female fans, Sooyoung, do you know that person? The person who screams in an extremely high pitch when you sing your part. (laugh)

Girls' Generation: We all know her. (laugh)
Jessica: Shouting! (laugh)
Sooyoung: She once came to one of our birthday parties. So as a joke I said I hadn't been able to pay her yet for her cheering this month. (laugh) I once laughed while singing my part because her cheering was so funny. I look forward to singing my parts these days because I wonder how much she'll cheer for me everytime. (laugh)


Q: She's probably clearing her throat as she reads this article right now. (laugh) I think though that "Hoot" in particular has appealed to a lot of female fans.

Sooyoung: A lot of people said our album this time around seems to be an album for our female fans. We wanted to portray a more confident woman in her 20s and Yuri's song is about how a woman feels one-sided love for a man which a lot of our female fans said they could relate to.

Q: In "Hoot," you each take turns receiving the spotlight. Is there anything that you pay particular attention to when you each sing your parts?

Taeyeon: What I was surprised while monitoring ourselves was that each member was putting on facial expressions as well while doing the choreography. And I thought that must look refreshing for the third person. And I wanted us to be able to express ourselves in line with the lyrics.


Q: Sunny and Jessica, you each sing in very unique voices in your parts. What had the director asked of you?

Jessica: That I sing in a sharp voice. We each went with how we feel based on that.
Sunny: When we were recording, the director said there's a part where my voice sets the basic tone for when we sing altogether, so he asked I sing in a really unique voice. As if I was being strangled. (laugh)


Q: The choreography for "Hoot" is extremely complicated. How did you rehearse?

Jessica: We didn't have much time so we ended up being able to concentrate in a short time.
Tiffany: We all know now what I need to do to make myself look pretty and that the member standing next to the one in the spotlight needs to do well for that person in the spotlight to shine even more. I think that's how we were all able to do so well.


Q: How did you practice the dance moves?

Taeyeon: We work with a foreign choreographer but because he was very busy, he taught us just for a few days, so we just keep repeating by ourselves after that.
Yuri: It's like class because he'd tell us to take it from the beginning to a certain point. So the choreographer wrote our names on a paper and told us where to stand and all.
Sooyoung: I think the choreographers have a harder time than us. For example, if I'm way in the back, they'll worry about how to pull me all the way up front. (laugh)
Sunny: So sometimes, we'll make suggestions since we have it figured out better and they'll take our opinions into account.


Q: You also dance in time without looking at each other.

Sooyoung: That really just comes from sense. (laugh) I saw on the Internet that Taeyeon and I cross over each other but I mean, how on earth did we do that without stepping on each others feet? (laugh)
Taeyeon: We both don't want to shed any blood. (laugh) We all got stepped on a lot in the past. (laugh)
Sunny: There's a part where we dance as if we're walking in "Run Devil Run," right? But since Sooyoung's legs are so long (laugh) she once pierced me with her heels. It didn't show since I was wearing black tights but when I came down from the stage, my stockings had stuck to my skin because I had bled (laugh). We're wearing boots on purpose this time -- to avoid getting hurt. (laugh)
Jessica: We definitely concentrate better now. When we first debuted, we didn't know what we were supposed to do and lacked concentration but we're put in situations where we have to learn the choreography in three days and shoot the music video so our concentration has become better as well.


Q: What do you think makes that possible?

Jessica: We eat a lot. (laugh)
Tiffany: There's almost a convenient store set up on the sets of our music video shoots. That's why our managers say who's been saying Girls' Generation eats 800 kcal a day... (laugh)
Yuri: That we actually eat 8000 kcals. (laugh) They've said they want to post up photos of us eating.
Tiffany: I think we make it through the hard times because we have each other. I'll bear through whatever because someone else will be too and when one person laughs, everyone ends up laughing.


Q: Having such a relationship amongst your group must even more help nowadays with you pursuing your activities in Japan.

Sunny: I'd say that rather than us having become closer after going to Japan, we naturally came to band together after it became decided that we would be going. Should I say it came from sort of a fear of what we haven't experienced? I think that's why we banded together even more.


Q: What influence do you think your activities in Japan have on you?

Yuri: I think it's been a chance to make our music known to a wider audience and maybe a chance to upgrade ourselves?
Sunny: "Gee" and "Genie" are song we promoted in Korea so we were able to remedy the shortcomings to make them more perfect and it also helped for when we prepared for "Hoot."
Taeyeon: I saw that members of AKB48 are fascinated by how we practice and dance as a whole group so I think that's what we can show through our activities in Japan. We want to be as professionally perfect as we can at least when we're on stage.


Q: There's rumor you'll be appearing on NHK's year-end show "Red and White Song Battle."

Sunny: We're still new to the singing scene in Japan so we'd be grateful to get to go on the show. But to think of spending December 31 there... (laugh)


Q: Isn't is sad not being able to just play during Christmas and New Years?

Tiffany: You gain some, you lose some. And I think we'd rather be disappointed if we weren't asked to attend year-end award ceremonies.
Sunny: And it's not like we have anything else in particular to do. How sad. (laugh)


Q: What's your future goal? You've already achieved so much.

Tiffany: We're still hungry. (laugh)
Taeyeon: Yuri took part in the album this time but I think more and more members of our group will take part in producing future albums. Everyone is very interested in composing or writing songs. And I once met a French person in Japan who asked we go to their country as well. We also read a lot of comments on YouTube by our fans in Europe asking for us. So we'd like to perform in Europe one day.
Jessica: But in the mean time, I'd like for us to do a lot in Korea. We're working in Japan as well but since we've also released an album in Korea.
Tiffany: Yeah! It's nice being home. (laugh)

[News] Could Yoona Ever Meet her Ideal Type?

Could SNSD Yoona ever meet her picked ideal type, Kimura Takuya?

Oricon exhibited a list of “Battle of Red and White Song”, as the expected red is SNSD, and white is singer Kimura Takuya of SMAP chosen. ‘SNSD’ appearing makes the possibility to be higher.

However, the two meeting isn’t for sure.

SNSD’s second Japanese released single ‘Gee’ ranked 2nd on Japan Oricon chart, the record high score for international women groups. In addition, they were also active in the Japan NHK music program, as people saying they will probably appear in the “Battle of Red and White Song”.

Yoona said, “I’m going to study Japanese and when I meet him, I’ll greet him.”

However, SM did not confirm the situation. “We did not receive any offer for appearance. By December, the roster of performers will come out.

On Novembr 2, when Yoona met reporters, she revealed “I will love Kimura Takuya forever,” wanting to appear in the “Battle of Red and White Song”,.

[Info] The dark horse of CF industry SNSD and their story

An older but recently translated account of a Samyang CF staff member provides some insight into the success of the Samyang campaign with SNSD.

Last fall after the new Samyang CF went on the air with the catchphrase “Chingoo ramyun Samyang ramyun(For friends it’s Samyang Ramyun)”, there were two things that I heard the most from people around me.
One was that they changed their taste in ramyun to Samyang after the new CF went on the air.
The 2nd thing was that they asked, “Did those models in the CF really eat the ramyun?”

I was greatly proud of the overwhelming response and 2 weeks after the airing of the CF the advertiser(Samyang) indicated they were startled with the result, and I learned that the catchphrase will continue to be used as Samyang Ramyun’s slogan.

It was a meeting of a slim-bodied slick-looking girl group and an instant food product so it was expected that there would be a question like the one above. And I answered them personally like this:

More than what’s shown on foreground, it is behind the scenes that SNSD girls really show themselves as natural shining models.

It was a project that proceeded swiftly and after the first CF aired I remember the camera team telling me they were frustrated that they couldn’t shoot to portray the eating scenes better when these girls were such good eaters.
As one staff at the set told it, first it was the surprise of “Huh these girls eat so well like for reals”, then in the end the surprise turned into a trust, of the model SNSD, who constantly entertained the filming set with their cheerfulness and energy. Beyond being in a CF seen by public SNSD was the naturally right one for Samyang Ramyun.

The Samyang Ramyun CF was a rare case where the advertiser already had the model in mind before contacting us, so with just few discussions the general plan was set without much difficulty.
Our work was to maximize in portraying the liveliness of SNSD and so we made the easy to learn dance moves and we chose the Bubble Bubble melody which was simple yet addicting for people like Gee was.

And the result was beyond all expectations. Leaving the doubts behind the friendly and bright image Samyang Ramyun was pursuing synced perfectly with SNSD.
Now when people think of Samyang Ramyun they think of SNSD who gather around cheering “Chingoo ramyun Samyang Ramyun”. The results speak for itself.

The CF industry has obvious needs. There’s a reason for this idol girl group achieving success after success.
The basic condition for CF models endorsing public consumable products is to be comfortably approachable. And if the model has a public-wide name recognition in addition, then it would be the prime choice of models. It is rare to find models who can fulfill these simple but very difficult conditions, and SNSD is that rare breed.

But beyond all these talks I most want to praise their characteristic vivacity, SNSD is like a blank slate and I want to try to color their charms as much as possible in the next CF projects I’ll be doing with them. It is a quality you can’t easily find even among the most outstanding top models, it is these girls’ greatest strength.

If they had a high point in 2009 with the glory of Gee in the music industry, their heyday in CF industry is just getting started.