KPOP: [STAR COLUMN – TEEN TOP] PART 4. TO THE WORLD!

3 years into the industry, they’re always working hard to make a name for themselves as Teen Top. Their goals are not just for Korea, but towards the world. Their sweat and passion and through several trials and errors, Teen Top have posed themselves as the singers suitable for this global era. We’ll send applause to the 6 members who are working towards their bigger dream right now.

Teen Top’s overseas performances anecdotes, I’m L.Joe who has received the baton from Niel ^^

Since the days when we were trainees, as we looked at how many senior singers hold concerts overseas, we were envious “When will we be able to stand on a stage like that’. And while looking at the seniors’ cool looks, we were determined “We must! Teen Top must succeed!” In order to achieve the greater goal, we were slowly learning foreign languages. If we were to promote not just actively in Korea, we can be known worldwide as “ambassador of Korean culture”. These days, we’ve been feeling the effects of that.

To think about it, our debut was on American TV?

To think about it, Teen Top’s first broadcast recording was first made in America. A programme on American MTV covered our debut preparation process during our trainee period where they came to Korea to cover K-POP singers’ path to debut. We were amazed about the fact that we’ll be seen overseas even though we have yet to debut.

Because I had experience of living in America, and I had better English than the members then, so I was able to have a solo interview. Although I lived in America for only a short while, if I knew that it could be of help , I would have studied harder for English. I did regret. The moment I had the microphone in my hand and was going to speak in English, maybe because I was nervous, it didn’t turn out as good as expect ㅠㅠ. Since I don’t know when a chance like this will come by again so I must practise hard!

After our debut, we were surprised by the variety of countries where we received fan letters and presents from. How did they know about us? Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and not just in Asia, even South America and Europe as well! Wa, the world is indeed far and wide. Even when we’re tired and worn out, we gain strength from looking at the fans from all over the world’s support for us

The exciting performance in Japan

Our first overseas visit as Teen Top was to Japan. The moment we had debuted, we had a fanclub in Japan which is representative of their high interest in Korean singers. We had lots of people cheering us on and there were fans who came to look for us personally. Despite the awkward Korean, we had been touched on many occasions as we read the letters from the Japanese fans.

And when we were 3 months into our debut, we received the news that we were to hold our first independent fanmeeting in Japan. When we first heard it, the members, including myself, asked the staff repeatedly at the office. “You mean there are Japanese fans who will gather just to watch us, Teen Top?” The venue could fit 2000 people and we were over the moon~!! Not in Korea but in Japan, thousands of fans like us and would come for us? Is it true? It was like a dream.

With the Japanese we have learnt diligently all these while, we tried to hold conversations in Japanese; we had practiced really hard. As we prepared for our first performance in Japanese, we were excited. After the independent fanmeeting in Japan had ended, we shouted that “We need to work hard at foreign languages; and I was even more so determined.

Although they say there’re no boundaries in music, but if we were to better communicate with our fans, I really felt the importance of “we need to study even harder than we are now”. At times like that, Ricky or Changjo would be envious “But hyung you’re great at English~”. On one hand, I would feel relieved. Haha. Our Japanese activities started with the fanmeeting, followed by broadcasting appearances and a variety of performances. From that we had gained many important lessons.

Us, even in Canada?

After holding activities in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, we headed for Canada.

Because of our tight schedule, we would be on the plane for the whole day, after performing, we would return right on the same night. At times like that, we feel bad for not being able to meet our overseas fans longer. But at the airport and at the performance venues, we feel great when we see the fans welcoming us.

When we hear the fans’ cheer when we land at the airport, we would immediately forget our weariness from taking the long flight. Sometimes we would laugh and be grateful when we see the fans holding placards with our names upside down.

Especially in Canada, we really didn’t expect it. We were surprised that there were fans who like us, who know our songs and called for our names. It is still vivid, after the 13 hour long flight, we heard “Teen Top, we love you” Although now in America, Canada, Europe, people love K-POP, we didn’t believe that there would be fans who would come see us at the airport.. We’re really thankful!!!

The biggest difference in me when we go to English-speaking countries is that I speak much more. Because I’m in charge of the interview and meets On stage, I would introduce in English and when I translate, the members look at me differently^^ Unknowingly, I feel proud of myself! Hahaha!

During our first fanmeeting in Taiwan, when we were moving off, the tens of taxis’ with fans followed and we had a slight collision that rainy day. We were on our way to the performance venue, we stopped for a while to check on the fans’ safety and situation. Thankfully it was not a big accident and we heaved a sigh of relief. We’re really thankful for the passionate love, but we hope there wouldn’t be any dangerous situationsㅠㅠ

Recently, the overseas fans have been more passionate and proactive, in particular, C.A.P hyung has many male fans. When we hear a deep coarse voice from a distance away, most of the time it would be shouting for “C.A.P” Indeed, a man knows what a cool man is. At times like that, C.A.P hyung would be show off about it, but C.A.P hyung has lots of cute sides to him!

Overseas activities, precious fun!

Although there’s no break between our domestic and overseas schedules, it was in the midst of our activities. It was “break” to us, we felt at ease, as we were able to go overseas with the members even for a short while.

It was when we went to Sapporo, Japan. We had some free time so we built a snowman and ran around in the snow as we filmed our music video. Although we had no time to sleep before the schedule but we felt energized somehow, as we ran around building a snowman. Also, when we were recording for a show in Thailand and we ride on elephants for a short, it was a holiday to us.

When we see the fans in the different countries welcoming us, we feel bad for not being able to stay on longer and have to leave right after the performance. On the other hand, we are happy to be visiting a variety of cities to perform. In particular! We’re thankful for the fact that there are fans who would welcome us, really thankful.

Thailand, independent fanmeeting!

Not too long again, we met with the Thai fans in our independent fanmeeting. Although we have visited Thailand with our singers to perform, it was our first time holding a fanmeeting so we had prepared a lot beforehand.

We thought about what the Thai fans would like to see. Although it was a short time but we thought it’ll be great if we can spend this time together. After a long discussion, we prepared for our performances; we practiced again and again. The pronunciation for Thai was difficult so no matter how much we memorized and said, because of our awkward pronunciation there were times we were not understood. For the fanmeeting, we diligently studied and prepared! In order to communicate our thoughts to the fans!

When we were preparing for our visit to Thailand, memories of our first visit came to mind. The first time we had a performance in Thailand, our company president who came along with us tested us on the 10 important phrases we had to remember. On many tests, the person who came in last was Ricky! Ricky had suffered the shock of being last on several occasions and after getting scolded, he headed to the press conference, more determined to study harder for Thai. When we received requests to say the Thai phrases we knew at the press conference, so all of us spoke in our awkward Thai to greet the people.

Dudoom! It was Ricky’s turn! He wanted to say “Poomlakkun (means I love you)” but he ended up stammering “Poom, poom, poom”.. He said “I’m sorry” filled with aegyo and ended up in a round of laughter. To Ricky, maybe it was a painful memory so for this visit to Thailand, he studied even harder for Thai. So when he was able to speak a longer phrase, the Thai staff praised him for his good pronunciation and he was really happy. Because of that, we felt even more confident.

We were really happy that the fans could understand our short phrases and were able to respond well. As we performed, we learnt the Thai traditional dance and folk song. The thought that we could have something in common with our Thai fans made us feel great.

And seeing the fans in tears and thanking us, there was a sudden rush of emotions in our hearts, and there was another incident that happened when we were at the airport going back to Korea!

After our Thai schedules have ended, Ricky said “If there are more than 100 fans at the airport when we head back to Korea, I’ll moonwalk at the airport” Because the flight was at a late time of 11pm, we thought many fans won’t be able to come. Ricky said that it couldn’t be possible but when more than 300 fans gathered at the airport waiting for us, we shouted “Moonwalk! Moonwalk!” to Ricky.

Ricky was shy but as promised, he moonwalked to the departure area, because of the security guards, it was a pity that many fans weren’t able to catch it. Hahaha. Actually, Ricky was moonwalking then!^^

Ricky ya, next time, you have to moonwalk on a bigger stage~~~!

To the greater world!

After visiting many countries and meeting a variety of fans, what made us the happiest was that we could contribute, even if it’s a little, to K-POP and spread the understanding of the Korean culture. Not too long ago, my elder brother and friends in America contacted me, saying that there was high interest for K-POP even in America. When we release new music or music video, they’ll watch it and he said that fans of Teen Top are gradually increasing. It made me feel really happy. And they told me to send autographed CDs over. I felt proud and happy. I was touched every time I heard stuff like that.

Our fans who came to Korea to see us and told us that they had Korean cuisine, or fans who told us they’re learning Korea in order to understand K-POP, and because of that their friends like Korea as well and they travel to Korea together. When we read stories like these in the fan letters, it becomes great strength to us. On the other hand, it made us think about loving what we do and working hard for it.

Although we’re only in our 3rd year in the industry, being in the starting stage, we want to be like our other senior singers, working hard to become the Teen Top that heads for the world. Please look forward to Teen Top’s activeness as we head out to the world!!

We love you!!!

Niel: We’ll be the Teen Top that always remembers our initial motivations. Thank you. Please be with Teen Top~