With their 3rd single Level Up ready to be released on the 8th, ZE:A has revealed the final four individual album jacket photos packed with the avant-garde transformation, officially marking their highly anticipated countdown.

Having revealed the photos of 5 members and their MV teaser earlier, Star Empire Entertainment has released photos for Kwanghee, Kevin, Heechul and Siwan to complete the collection today and they are really rocking the concept.

Their album is set to drop on the 8th! So stay tuned you guys!







Many thanks to MoonAngel05 for the tip.

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Wae nal dugo neo byeonhaneun geoya. Ddeonaneungeoni.
Why did you leave me and change? Are you leaving me?
Wae nat ddeugeoweo jjarineun geoya. Mweolboneungeoni.
Why are you so compromising and stuck? What are you looking at?

Gwenhan mallo neo mworaneun geoya. Ddeoboneungeoni.
Useless words, what are you saying? What do you mean?

Wae neon gwerowo pihaneun geoya. Eebyeolingeoni.

Why are you so troublesome and avoiding? Is this a separation?

Han dubon oneun gamgina jjalbeun yeolbyeong kateun geot

Came once or twice like a short cold or fever

noryeokhaesseo dwaesso, eoneu nuguna jakeun wigineun isseo.
You worked hard and someone else has a crisis

geunde miss miss ibeon uri wigineun gyeolko simsangchi ana
But miss, miss, this time we won’t be bothered by this crisis

Nundo jaggu pihago nal sokiryeo hae
Your eyes keep on avoiding and deceiving me

Wae nal dugo neo byeonhaneun geoya. Ddeonaneungeoni.
Why did you leave me and change? Are you leaving me?
Wae nat ddeugeoweo jjarineun geoya. Mweolboneungeoni.
Why are you so compromising and stuck? What are you looking at?

Neon jeongmal mystery ije histeri naeildo biseuthari
neoui ibyeol drip coming
You’re a real mystery, now histeria, tomorrow will be also the same
Your separation drip keeps coming

Dodaeche eoddeon namjani neoui maeum heundeuleo
Actually, what kind of man moves your heart?
mareul haesseo dwaesseo, geunyang seucheogan jakeun gamjeongui byeonhwa
You speak up and it’s done, just a little change of emotions

geunde kiss kiss dalkomhamdo sarajin jigeum gyeoldilsu eobseo
But kiss, kiss and the sweetness are slowly gone, now I can’t stand
ije neoui modeunge da dallajyeoda
Now everything about you has changed


Wae nal dugo neo byeonhaneun geoya. Ddeonaneungeoni.
Why did you leave me and change? Are you leaving me?
Wae nat ddeugeoweo jjarineun geoya. Mweolboneungeoni.
Why are you so compromising and stuck? What are you looking at?

Gwenhan mallo neo mworaneun geoya. Ddeoboneungeoni.
Useless words, what are you saying? What do you mean?

Wae neon gwerowo pihaneun geoya. Eebyeolingeoni.
Why are you so troublesome and avoiding? Is this a separation?
Neon jeongmal mystery ije histeri naeildo biseuthari
neoui ibyeol drip coming

You’re a real mystery, now histeria, tomorrow will be also the same
Your separation drip keeps coming

neoreul botjabeuryeo hamyeon neoneun jeomjeom meoleojeo
ama naega neomu swiwojyeoda
ige majimagiya naui nuneul bogo marhejwo yeah
If I try to hold you back, you keep the distance more and more
Perhaps I’ve been too easy.This is the last. Look in my eyes and say it yeah
Yo! what you gonna do? I’m telling you.
eonjaebuteo yeosseylgga. Sijakdwen sokimsu
Sudoeobsi ggoigo ggoige dwesseo
dallajin geutaedo nunchichaeya haesseo
Yo! what you gonna do? I’m telling you.
Since when this is happening. The beginning of cheating.
I can’t do it, I got tangled and twisted.
You re the one who has changed, have you noticed?

Yeah neoui geu jangnan nae meorisokeun honran
siksanghan malman neureonoteun neowan Comin’ Down
eoddoke haeya halkka naege jom malhaebwa
dodaeche dabi anna game is over now.

Yeah, you and that joke, my head is confused.
You and the overused words comin’ down
How should I do it? Say it to me.
Actually why the answer is not coming, game is over now.

Why did you leave me and change? Are you leaving me?
Why are you so compromising and stuck? What are you looking at?
Useless words, what are you saying? What do you mean?
Why are you so troublesome and avoiding? Is this a separation?

Translations: DIANAPETRINA @ EMPIRE CHILDREN
Romanization: NASHIRAH @ EMPIRE CHILDREN

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MISS A PROFILE :

페이페이 Fei Fei
Name : Wang Fei Fei
Date of Birth : 1987.4.27
Nationality: Chinese
Height : 165cm
Weight : 47kg
Position: Main vocalist

지아 Jia
Name: Meng Jia
Date of Birth: 1989.2.3
Nationality: Chinese
Height: 166cm
Weight: 45kg
Position: Main vocalist, rapper

민 Min
Name: Lee Min Young
Date of Birth : 1991.6.21
Nationality: Korean
Height : 158cm
Weight : 49kg
Position: Vocalist

수지 Suzy
Name: Sue Ji
Date of Birth: 1994.10.10
Nationality: Korean
Position: Vocalist

Debut Song : BAD GIRL GOOD GIRL

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With their 3rd single Level Up ready to be released on the 8th,their released teaser of that MV first.I love the concept and the song sounds the best.I really love their new style especially MinWoo,HeeChul and HhyungShik.Check out their teaser MV

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ZE:A has recently been working hard for their comeback with their album 'Level Up'


Cr: Nashirah@Empire Children for translation
Sr: Newsen

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ZE:A revealed that the way to their muscular bodies and well toned muscles is kick boxing.

ZE:A has the "racer" concept for their third mini album, and to prepare for this, they have been learning Muay Thai and Kick Boxing to train their bodies to fit to the concept. They had a mentor to teach them and it looks like they have made become close friends with their mentor.

Meanwhile, ZE:A will be having their comeback on the 8th where their third mini album will be released online and offline.

Source: Newsen
Credits: Blueprincess824 @ Dailykpopnews

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We reported about the SBS variety show, Heroes earlier on and filming for the first episode got underway this evening.

Apart from Lee Jin and Yoo In Na who arrived late, the other 10 female cast members of Noh Sa Yeon, Seo In Young, Shin Bong Sun, Jeong Ga Eun, Hong Soo Ah, Nicole, Kahi, Narsha, IU and Jiyeon together with Noh Hong Chul and Lee Hwi Jae gathered together at the Munhak Sports Complex in Incheon to film their first episode.

The variety show is about the cast coming together to overcome various challenges as well as create a storyline that’ll keep viewers hooked.

Sounds pretty vague but it should become clear once it airs.

It will take the place of the outgoing Gold Miss, airing alongside Yoo Jae Suk’s Running Man from July 18th onwards in a brand new Good Sunday line-up.

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With their 3rd single Level Up ready to be released on the 8th, ZE:A has revealed three new individual album jacket photos packed with the avant-garde transformation, officially marking their highly anticipated countdown.

After revealing Joonyoung and Dongjoon yesterday, Star Empire Entertainment has released photos for Hyungshik,Taehun and Minwoo today

The boys are definitely oozing charisma with their toned and muscular bodies.

Meanwhile, ZE:A will be revealing their teaser video soon, and their album is set to drop on the 8th! So stay tuned you guys!

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Hyuna of 4minute is truly a hot issue from head to toe.

Ever since Hyuna and the rest of 4minute came back with Huh, her blonde hair has been garnering attention. Now that they came back with their follow-up song, I My Me Mine, Hyuna is getting attention once again for her overflowing hotness.

When 4minute first debuted, Hyuna’s leggings with holes were the center of attention. When she had a tattoo around her belly button, it became widely popular. Now, her blonde hair seems to be another hit in our hearts.

Netizens are saying, “Her blonde hair looks so good on her,” “She’s pretty no matter what she does,” and “Whatever Hyuna does, it becomes a hit.”

It looks like there might be a growth of blondes on the streets now!

What will Hyuna manage to pull off next?

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2AM’s Jo Kwon explained the “couple rings” between him and After School’s Raina.

He wrote on his Twitter, “Sponsored, friends!!!!” Though he didn’t relate it directly to the scandal between him and Raina, it was clearly targeted at the netizens who have been suspicious of the two.

This means that the ring was just a sponsored one he was wearing for that occasion. That would have to mean that it wasn’t a couple ring.

I guess he wants to make sure he’s all free for Ga-In.

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It looks like the rumors about After School’s Raina being Oh Bang Shil has come up again. Though Raina has denied and played dumb about this accusation, netizens are still out to get her and 2AM’s Jo Kwon.

One observant netizen found evidence that they were wearing the same ring and did the same pose on music shows. The netizen interpreted those things as a couple ring and a couple mission.

It’s popular in Korea for couples to get the same rings and it’s also popular among celebrities in Korea to do certain missions through the media for their boyfriend or girlfriend.

In this case, the two are both sporting a black band ring. The two also made “V poses” on their eyes on music programs.

Netizens commented,

“That ring is so common. I have one too.”
“They look similar but they’re not the same shape. Jo Kwon’s has more edges where as Raina’s is round.”
“Those things are mere coincidences but I bet Raina is Oh Bang Shil.”

So do you guys think she is Oh Bang Shil?

Credits : Allkpop

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SNSD’s Sunny recently reunited with the Invincible Youth cast in Japan after a tearful emotional exit two months ago.

The Invincible Youth cast had gone to Japan last week for a special recording and Sunny who said her goodbyes when she left Invincible Youth rejoined them for this trip.

On July 5th a representative stated, “Sunny has made a surprise appearance…She was very glad to be with her members again and she engaged herself in the filming.”

Sunny, who is currently preparing for SNSD’s Japanese single release was able to join the Invincible Youth members, thanks to the high interest level of fans.

It’s been about 40 days since Sunny left and she was able to joyfully spend 3 days and 2 nights with the members in Japan.

In particular, Sunny’s Invincible Youth buddy, T-ara’s Hyomin, who recently cried over Sunny’s empty presence, became teary-eyed upon reuniting with Sunny.

This and other events that occured while they were in Japan are scheduled for broadcast on the 16th and 23rd of this month.

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Invincible Youth’s G7 went on a trip to experience the life of a soldier in Korea.

In the upcoming episode, the girls will visit a nearby military and try the different tasks of a soldier such as being in a tank.

The girls all got dressed in the military uniforms as well and looked pretty sharp. The preview got many fans excited for the episode and it sure looks like it’ll be a funny one.

Check out the preview:

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With their 3rd single Level Up ready to be released on the 8th, ZE:A has already revealed their new album jacket photo packed with the avant-garde transformation, officially marking their highly anticipated countdown.

Today, more jacket photos have been revealed of Joonyoung and Dongjoon, who have transformed into racers! Aside from their previous images, these two photos display them oozing with soft charisma.

Although these two boys may look slim in figure, their toned and muscular body lines are evident as well.

Star Empire Entertainment stated, “ZE:A’s 3rd single Level Up is an album where the boys could show their upgraded images. Different from their ‘boy’ image, fans will be able to witness the matured ZE:A members. We hope for lots of love and interest for their upcoming album.”

They also revealed, “The first round of teaser jacket photos of Joonyoung and Dongjoon have been revealed. For 3 days till the album releases on the 8th, jacket photos of the remaining members with their surprising transformations will be revealed through ZE:A’s official homepage.”

Meanwhile, ZE:A will be revealing their teaser video soon, and their album is set to drop on the 8th! So stay tuned you guys!

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Anyway, I have to say that these girls are really WORKING IT! This is definitely going to be their year! :) They have shown HUGE improvements since their comeback and I’m very overwhelmed seeing a lot of new people appreciating and loving them for all the improvements and hardworks that they have shown. :)
HyunAh is definitely a star. Her hair looks so good on her that it added so much more charisma into her! She can definitely look good on any style and woah! she really have AWESOME pair of legs! And I’m surprised that they exposed her tattoo at the end of the MV!But can someone tell me what was written on her back?I really want to know it! :p

JiHyun looks like a dangerous cat on the MV. She’s hot and all..I hope she can get more exposure for their next MVs and albums! :)
Gayoon is working the sexy image. :) She's really looking good all throught out the MV and she really looks hot with shades. :)
JiYoon is a PERFORMER! She did well on her lines as well as with her dance break.
SoHyun Magnae really cute..She look more grow up now...

Enjoy the new picture from MV I My Me Mine :



JiHyun

JiYoon

Gayoon

HyunAh

Sohyun

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The ladies of 4minute have done it again, going from their HuH (Hit Your Heart) concept to yet another unique concept for their follow-up song I My Me Mine, and can be clearly seen in their recently released music video.

A few days ago, we got a long teaser of what was to come, and now we have the full video to satisfy our 4minute needs. The girls are rocking a new catchy choreography as was seen during their first week of promotions for I My Me Mine.

enjoy the video!!



Video : 8xrauren

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The rest of the ZE:A members can describe Siwan in two words, ‘fashionista’ and ‘tranquil’. With his passion to be like his idol, Lee SeungGi, Siwan talks about his ambitions as a fashionista and a music writer.
There’s never been a doubt that Lim Siwan is the fashionista of the group. He told Asiae that he enjoyed collecting rare fashion items, as well as studying fashion whenever he could. “I don’t think that fashion is simply based on the concept of wearing clothes well or not. Personally, I think it’s more on how many people like the clothes that are worn. If you show interest in fashion, don’t you think people will say you have a good fashion sense?”

Siwan added that buying and collecting clothes for himself was not for him to gain any special attention. During his vacation times in college, Siwan managed an internet shopping mall. The sales were decent and once his vacation was over, he would close the business and keep the remaining clothes to himself. “After closing my shop at the end of my break, I felt that I did pretty well with the sales. Seo In Young is a well-known as a fashionista. I usually look to her for fashion advice. When talking about fashion, she would be very stern. I learned a lot from her.”

Siwan loves avant-garde fashion and hopes to one day be acknowledged and be able to talk to Seo In Young about fashion, who also happens to be under the same management.

Besides his fashion sense, another trait that the members enjoy about Siwan is his tranquil personality. Because of his personality, Star Empire even considered him for the position as the leader of the group. Management officials took notice of his serious and tranquil personality, two good qualities in a leader, and nominated him along with Kevin and JunYoung. His down-to-earth personality was already well-known among fans who watched their reality program before their debut.

“After releasing our first and second single albums, along with the results, I learned a lot from our mistakes. In the future, I will think that the ‘next thing’ is the most important thing for everyone. Because we are still rookies, there are more things that we were not able to show. The fact that we have more things to show ‘in the future’, I think, is another chance at possibilities for us.”
True to his personality, Siwan revealed his future dreams calmly. “A wish I want to make come true in the future is to write a song. Lately, when I listen to music, I am constantly thinking of how I would write a song. I think this wish has a lot to do with me learning to play the violin again.”

(Good friends Siwan and KwangHee.)

“I want to show how much I grew up musically and as a person. And I want people to like this person named ‘Siwan’. For that to happen, I have to work really hard.”

A playful person with the rest of the members, but a perfectionist when it comes to work. Please look forward to seeing Siwan’s growth!

Source: Yoon Tae Hee@asie.co.kr
Translation: ch0sshi@kpoplive.com

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Thinking back on his tough trainee days, Siwan realized that debuting was not an end, but only the beginning to something much greater.
“I tend to make an effort to make time for myself. In reality, that’s almost impossible, so I try to use my free time wisely.” With all of ZE:A’s nine members living together in a dorm, this reporter wondered if it was actually possible to have any ‘alone-time’. Even after practice, the members have an activity-packed schedule that the members adhere to on a day-by-day basis.

“That’s right. Honestly, we almost never have any time to ourselves, other than when we sleep. But because I’m used to this life now, I’m able to find ways to have some alone time amidst all this time.” As seen in an episode of Empire Kids, the boys show exactly how chaotic life can become with all nine members sharing a single dorm. Being one of the main contributors, Siwan helps Kwanghee start a food fight.

To get away from the chaos, Siwan manages to find himself some free time. With his laptop in hand, Siwan would go out late at night on the search for a good wireless connection. Surfing the net or reading a book to himself, he would enjoy his time relaxing.

“There is a book that I’ve been enjoying lately. It’s ‘How to Use My Head’ by Jung Chul. It seemed like a waste to only read it once, so I’ve read it two to three times whenever I’m able to.(laughs)” ‘How to Use My Head‘ is a book in which the author takes petty things a person experiences every day and sheds a new light on it. It makes people rethink all the simple things that they simply take for granted in life.

Siwan reached into his bag and pulled out the book. Just by flipping the pages, this reporter could see how much effort Siwan had put into placing the tiny words at the bottom of the pages. “At first, I only read it because I thought the writer’s ideas were interesting. After that, I began writting my own thoughts as comments at the bottom of the pages.”

“I put a comment under every single idea. Doing so, I was able to organize my thoughts. It helped me change my mind on everyday happenings.”

After looking through the pages, this reporter’s attention was caught by the comments written on the pages.

‘Happiness- Roses are pretty. People say that a rose is pretty, including the stem covered with thorns. In other words, everything you’re experiencing in life, including misfortunes, is happiness.’

‘Aging- Your current appearance equals a young person, your future appearance equals an old person. A young person gets judged on what they plan to achieve in the future, while an old person gets judged on what they have achieved in life.’
Hard-working Siwan’s outlook on life seems admirable. When asked if he had a someone he looked up to, his answer came without a moment of hesitation.

“Lee SeungGi. He’s always working hard, and is acknowledged in music, acting, and in variety shows. I’m lacking now, but I hope to become like Lee SeungGi.”

Source: Yoon Tae Hee@asiae.co.kr
Translation: ch0sshi@kpoplive.com

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The member who always seems to be in a good mood, Im Siwan (22, real name Im Woongjae), manages to capture everyone’s attention when he freely speaks his mind.
Without holding himself back, it was member Siwan that made comments as everyone told their stories. Seeing Siwan truly being himself, this reporter came to realize that Siwan seemed more mature than other people his age. “I was actually well-behaved as a child, and I didn’t get into trouble. I studied a lot and was a good student (laughs).”

Watching the way Siwan acted naturally, with his shy, light laughter and his mature mannerisms, it was easier to believe that this young man was actually nicknamed ‘ZE:A’s brain’. “When I was younger, I was a bit persistant. I think I’m like my mom when it comes to me always having to finish what I started.”

Despite his quiet personality in school, SiWan was picked for class president consistently, gaining recognition as a leader. When asked what he was interested these days, he answered, “Playing the violin.”

“I’ve been in love with the violin lately. I even know how to play the electric violin. I’ve come to realize how fun it is after playing again.”

“I actually played the violin when I was in the 1st grade, up until the 6th grade. I forgot a lot of things, but I can still play. It might be because I played when I was younger, but I enjoy listeng to violin instrumental tracks. I want to practice even more now and play it for my fans (laughs).”
After hearing about Siwan’s background in classical music, this reporter wondered what made such a calm person become interested in mainstream music. When asked, he replied by saying that his dream had always been to become a singer.

“Since I was in the 8th grade, I gained interest in becoming a singer. I enjoyed listening to music, as well as singing along. Still, i wasn’t able to jump right into my dream since I was wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it on my own. Soon, there was a turning point in my life. This was during my first year of college.”
It was while he was studying in Busan National University under the Department of Mechanical Engineering that Siwan met his turning point. Naturally wanting to finish everything he started, Siwon decided to put his fears aside and move towards chasing his dream.

“As a way of challenging myself, I participated in the ‘Chin Chin Song Festival’. I applied on my own, and thankfully, I was able to catch the attention of a person from my current management. That was my beginning.”

Siwan’s relationship with Star Empire began growing after that event. It was when he became a trainee that he was able to begin showing off his capabilities as a singer.

“I don’t know how or where this road will lead my life, but I think if I work hard, the results will be just as good as me becoming a member of ZE:A.”

Source: Yoon TaeHee@asiae.co.kr
Translation: ch0sshi@kpoplive.com

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It was two in the morning when Ha Minwoo (20) received a phone call from Child of Empire’s own leader, Moon Junyoung. After seeing an online video of Minwoo dancing, Junyoung was determined to reach the famous dancing machine.
After posting a dance video online, Minwoo quickly gained popularity amongst online trainee hopefuls and had even caught the eyes of big name companies.

“He called me out of the blue at two in the morning and told me to sing a song. At the time it was too late to sing a song over the phone. The next day I had an official audition [for Star Empire] and after passing I immediately started training as a trainee. For me, it was a real opportunity. To this day, I’m still thankful to Junyoung.”
Hearing that MinWoo had been practicing his singing and dancing , this reporter wondered if MinWoo had been going to other auditions besides the one he had with Star Empire.

“I went to a lot of auditions. The company that I thought fit my musical style the best was JYP. I really wanted to get in so I decided to go to all of their auditions until they would sign me. Every time they rejected me I would fall into despair but I never lost hope and worked even harder. Actually when JunYoung called I was waiting for a call from JYP. I had just had an audition for them and I thought it was finally going to be my big break.”
It was at this moment that Junyoung, who was sitting silently along with the other members, spoke up. “Back then it was a good thing I called him. I felt the need to call him even if it was after midnight. If I didn’t, our MinWoo could have been a member of 2PM instead of ZE:A.”

When asked about the JYP audition results, MinWoo laughed nervously, responding, “I wasn’t picked in the first open audition where 2PM’s Jang WooYoung was picked, but a person from JYP called me and expressed their interest so I went in for a closed audition where I received news of passing later.”

It was at this point that Minwoo had a difficult decision to make. After all the painful rejections from JYP, he had finally made it in to his dream company. Minwoo contemplated for days on end, trying decide whether or not to leave Star Empire for JYP.

“In actuality, I was really torn. JYP was a place where I really wanted to go. It wasn’t easy to give up on it. During that time, I had made bonds with the members, who would say to me, ‘Let’s work hard together’. I decided to stay loyal to them.”
Even though in the end Minwoo decided to reject his dream company, he says he doesn’t regret his decision one bit. During his trainee days, he was thrown into advanced lessons with the other members, anxiously counting the days until ZE:A would finally make their debut.

“During my trainee days, V.O.S. acknowledged that I had an understanding of dance and I was even one of their backup dancers. That was definitely a huge experience for me. At a young age I gained experience of being on stage and had a taste of happiness. I was so overwhelmed with happiness because I was one step closer to my dream at that point.”

“On top of that, the V.O.S. hyungs told me a lot of great things. I didn’t know at the time, but after debuting and finally having that kind of experience, I understood what they meant. The experience and their words were a great help to me.”

Through all his hard work, Ha Minwoo has finally reached his dreams. He can proudly say that giving everything his best efforts has paid off. But even though he has reached his dream, Minwoo is still hungry for more. “I want to become a great singer for my family and the members who have watched me become a member of ZE:A. I will work harder and harder to display all the hidden talents I have so that everyone in South Korea will know who I am when my name is mentioned.”

Source: Yoon TaeHee@asiae.co.kr
Translation: Julez@kpoplive.com

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Ha MinWoo(20), is now known as Child of Empire’s own dancing machine. As a young boy from the small town of Yongsan, it seemed like his hope of becoming a singer was only a distant dream.
Asiae met with Minwoo on a beautiful afternoon. With a friendly ‘hello’, Minwoo took a seat and began telling his story. “Since I was a kid, becoming a singer was my only dream.”

When asked to tell more about his childhood, Minwoo began speaking about his childhood dreams. He explained that talking about his childhood was synonymous with talking about his dreams. “At a young age before most kids, I was sure about my goals and I worked harder than others.”

MinWoo was born in a place not far from Busan, in Yongsan south of Kyungsan-do. He was good at sports in elementary school and stood out among the others in terms of natural talent. It was during his 8th grade that he was made gym captain and hogged all of the gym teacher’s attention.

“Whenever there was a talent show, I always gathered some friends and went in front of the whole school to show our talents. I can still remember it like it was yesterday, watching our classmates dance from below the stage while waiting impatiently for our turn.”

For Minwoo, it was easy to make friends with his energetic personality. Some of his happiest memories from his childhood were from times when he would get together with his friends and practice for an upcoming talent show. “Because I lived in the country, I was always concerned how anyone from here could become a singer. For that reason I began having second thoughts about my dreams.”

It was then that he put his dreams aside when he began playing in a soccer team. However, his hopes and ambitions just kept coming back to him. “Starting in the 8th grade, I attended an after school music program. After starting high school I thought to myself, ‘Since I’m getting vocal lessons after school, I should also learn how to dance’, so I registered at a dance club at school.”

After going out to dance clubs with his friends, he began exploring his natural talent for dancing, experimenting with different styles. It was then that he felt confident and ambitious enough to register at a dance school in Busan. “During high school I attended dance and vocal school, I diligently went to both places everyday without a day to rest. I didn’t even shy away from the hour and a half it took to get to Busan.”

Everyday he would make that trip, coming up to 3 hours round trip. By the time he got home, it would already be the next day, and he would get only 3-4 hours of sleep due to the early school start. As tiring as the schedule was, Minwoo never once complained. Because he was learning how to dance, he was one step closer to living his dream and it made him happy.

“While attending the dance school I made a dance team called ‘SMJ’ and was the team leader. Through school we performed at recitals, events, and school festivals. I think that was a great experience.” As videos of his performances spread through the internet, it was so popular that it was on the main page of the portal site. It was then that Minwoo started gaining popularity.

Thanks to the online video that was spread all over, he received a life altering phone call. That was the start of Minwoo’s idol career as a part of Children of Empire.

Source: Yoon TaeHee@asiae.co.kr
Translation: Julez@kpoplive.com

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Prankster Kwanghee is well known for always blowing a kiss and flirting with the camera on music programs. The humourous boy with loud laughter has only been able to show the audience a small part of his big personality during his appearances on reality television and variety shows.

KwangHee was always been the one to make the other members laugh on Children of Empire with his wit. “Because it was a reality program, I just showed my natural, everyday self. I think people liked that. Fans would tell me that I seem normal when I have my mouth closed, but that once I open my mouth, it’s a completely different person.” Right after talking, KwangHee showed the reporters his trademark laugh, which may sound to some as if he’s actually choking. Fans have given him many strange nicknames after seeing his natural comic self on the reality show.
KwangHee has been able to bring laughter out in people by showing off his special talking skills on variety shows and on the radio. Besides having that talent, KwangHee also has another ‘talent’, copying girl group dances.

“You could say that I have mastered recent girl group dances. I enjoy following the choreography of f(x)’s ‘NU ABO’, After School’s ‘Bang!’, and Lee Hyori’s ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. You know how members of male idol groups come together for a joint performance at the end of the year awards? I’ll see you then. You definitely won’t be disappointed.”

An energetic KwangHee dancing.


Still determined to be like 2AM’s Jokwon and Super Junior’s Shindong, KwangHee kept a constant smile on the interviewer’s face. Also complimenting him on his talents was Starry Night Radio DJ Park KyungLim, saying that KwangHee is “an idol with a bright future in variety shows.”

“Honestly, because I am a rookie, I didn’t know much. The atmosphere was awkward when I would participate on variety shows after debuting. But after others began to remember my face, they began to take care of me. Kang HoDong takes care of me the most. I have been getting the love of Super Junior members, Kim JiSun, Jo HyeRun, Kim JongMin, Chun MyungHoon, Seo InYoung, and other PD’s (laughs).”
With an innocent smile, KwangHee couldn’t help but thank Kim JongMin for buying him food once. “By the end of the year 2010, I will make an effort to make it so the name Hwang KwangHee, as well as ZE:A, is not forgotten. We really have not been able to show all we’ve got, so we hope we will get more chances in the future to become the best rookies.”

Look out for more Hwang KwangHee, the boy with a big personality and loud laughter, as he grows this year as an entertainer and singer.

Source: Yoon Tae Hee@asie.co.kr
Translation: ch0sshi@kpoplive.com

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With a great energy, ZE:A’s KwangHee begins his interview enthusiastically. The boy who wants to be just like 2AM’s Jokwon on variety shows, has the ability to turn an awkward atmosphere into a peaceful one as he begins speaking.
KwangHee began by revealing his life’s motto, “Living a life smiling gives other people happiness,” said the one who brings life into the group. Even though he’s only sitting down, his talents seems to spill out of him. “You have many talents, right?” SBS’s Star King MC Kang HoDong had once asked him.

Ever since he was a child, KwangHee discovered that he had many hidden talents. “I got rid of it now, but before our debut, I kept in contact with my elementary school friends via minihompy messengers. They would tell me that they knew I would become a celebrity.”

Even in his elementary school KwangHee was known for being the humorous and witty one amongst his group of friends. It was his cheerful personality that made it easy for him to have such a large group of friends. “All throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I would never miss a talent show. I think this is when my vague dream of wanting to become a singer sparkled. I really liked how my friends would cheer me on when I took the stage.”

His official training as a singer began when he was in high school. Even though he had voice and dance practice, he didn’t get lazy with his studies. It was after joining the school’s cheer squad that KwangHee was able to show off his talents to the school. “I clearly remember cheering on the baseball team on the day of a game. While I was flailing my arms around to Wax’s ‘I’ll Give You All My Love’, a lot of people around me would tell me that I should become an idol.”

At this point, KwangHee only had a vague idea that he wanted to become an idol singer. Due to how unsure he was about his decision, he didn’t have the confidence to actually go to any auditions. But it seems like luck was on KwangHee’s side as a rare chance soon came to him. He found out about a school uniform modeling contest and decided to participate. Out of 6,000 participants only 100 were to be chosen. KwangHee made it as far as the second audition. “I was allowed an interview in the second audition, but I met the person that was in first place. That was my first meeting with JunYoung. After more deliberation, only 15 were chosen to continue, among those 15 were JunYoung and I.”

After making it into the top 15, KwangHee gained a surge of confidence. JunYoung and KwangHee became close friends after going to the fashion show together and finding out that they had many common interests. Even though they were under different managements at that time, the two had no idea that they were working towards making their same dream come true.

“[My life] was really hectic. Seeing how I continued attending school after being accepted in Star Empire, and having to constantly train.”

“After getting used to it, I wondered how nice it would be if I could practice together with JunYoung. I honestly wanted to be in the same group with him. So I brought JunYoung. Even when I think about it now, I think I did the right thing. I was a trainee for five years, and JunYoung was a good supporter. Two is better than one.”
Even though at that point his future wasn’t clear, it seems like all the sweat and tears have now paid off. The hardships he had experienced before his debut have allowed KwangHee to grow.

Source: Yoon Tae Hee@asiae.co.kr
Translation: ch0sshi@kpoplive.com

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Child of Empire will always look back at their Wingcar Concerts and see them as the stepping stones in the making of their careers. They’ve earned themselves the nickname ‘Road Idols’, a name which they now wear around their necks like a medal of honor.
ZE:A’s Heechul, known as the ‘mysterious rapper with an attitude’, takes a look back at January of this year, a time when the 9-membered group shakily got up on stage and showed the audience the results from their hard work. “We were just rookies that had just debuted, but thankfully many people paid attention to us. They liked our song, we shot a CF, we were very happy (laughs).”

Child of Empire made their debut in January of this year with their first single, ‘Mazeltov‘. With their unique lyrics and catchy beats, their song soon became a hot issue. “After we debuted we worked really hard. Looking back, I think all the members worked hard, focusing only on the future without thinking about anything else. Because of that, all of a sudden it was 100 days after our debut.”

“Many people recognized ‘Friday, Saturday, Sunday!~’ Mazeltov and the name Child of Empire. But generally, people had a hard time matching up ZE:A with 9 different faces. I think it’s understandable because we’re rookies. I made a resolution to work even harder.”

It didn’t take long to see how hard Heechul had been working, as he was offered to appear on the variety show Big Show featuring Park MyungSoo as the MC. “I thought the opportunity to appear on ‘Big Show’ was such a great chance. If I was to appear on entertainment shows on top of the music programs, more people would recognize me and when that happens they naturally pay attention to our music.”

Heechul, who felt like he had an obligation to publicize the name ‘Child of Empire’, gratefully accepted the offer.

“Truthfully, I was worried because I was a beginner in entertainment. Whenever I was anxious, members would cheer me on saying I would do well. Seeing the members cheering me on, I thought to myself, ‘I really need to do well’.”

Heechul burst out laughing when asked about the atmosphere at the ‘Big Show’ filiming. “It’s so much fun going on to the film set. MyungSoo hyung, HyungChul hyung, SangChu hyung, HyunHee hyung all really like me as the youngest. They all treat me so well, the mood is bright and harmonious, any day I have to go in and film, I get excited and head straight to the set.”

While members of Big Show are known to be veterans in the entertainment business, Heechul had no problem admitting how long ago he had debuted. “It’s been 3 months since I debuted!” he said proudly as the guests went around saying how long ago their debut was.

“I have a lot to learn from the hyungs. They really have tried to teach me a lot. I want to teach the other members what I’ve learned from the hyungs. These days, other members are going out on entertainment programs, they’ve done well without me teaching them. Especially DongJoon and KwangHee.”

Fans have kept their expectations high ever since they found out about HeeChul’s appearance on Big Show. Being the first member of ZE:A to appear as an official cast member of a variety show, fans gave him the nickname of ‘Jung Tide’. With this nickname, fans meant that Jung Heechul would bring on a tidal wave of ZE:A members on variety shows.

Having now debuted in the Entertainment business after appearing on Big Show, Heechul has a different charm to his personality. “I want to do lots of activities under the name Child of Empire with our members and receive lots of love for as long as we can. I want to work my hardest so that we can always be our best.”

Source: Yoon TaeHee@asie.co.kr
Translation: Julez@kpoplive.com

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All 9 ZE:A members were acting shy during their first interview, that is, until a certain topic got them stirred up and talking animatedly. Their own Heechul took the lead as they began talking about their cable TV program, Children of Empire.
Time flew by quickly as each member shared their own take on their filming experiences during the show. “There were two seasons for ‘Children of Empire’. With both of those seasons combined, I was the one who felt the most distressed” Heechul began. The rest of the members agreed that Heechul had the most stories to share from their filming. “During the first season, I was the one who was dropped from the Star Empire training. At that moment, everything went blank for me. When the manager took me to the airport, all the strength I had left in me just vanished and I couldn’t even hold myself up.”

Heechul’s demeanor suddenly became very serious, almost as if going back to that moment.

“I had no idea it was all scripted. After I got to the airport, I got a call from the manager director who told me [it was scripted]. I thought it was weird when the female writers had followed me into the bathroom. When I later asked them why they did that, they said they were worried I was really going back to Jeju.”
Only the top coordinators of the agency and the show’s producers knew that the expulsion of HeeChul and TaeHun as trainees was scripted, all the other agency employees, and of course the members, had no idea. “[Coming] from a dorm bustling full of people, Taehun and I moved into a one room in Kangnam and lived there together. It was a nice environment (laughs).”

Heechul tried his best to playfully tell his heart aching story of when strangers passing by would ask “Why is he walking so carelessly when he was just kicked out of ZE:A?”

“Taehun and I were continuously training, practicing rapping, but of course the place where we trained was right near the agency. While we were going to train, it was like a special 007 mission and we would sweat our butts off in order to accomplish it. Because everyone thought I was back in Jeju, I couldn’t get caught by the employees of the agency, the other members, or the fans.” Secretly living and training so close to the other members, this reporter wondered, did he ever get caught?

“The funny thing is, I got caught not near the agency, but in Kangnam. As I was going to meet up my friends, I ran straight into the members at Kangnam station. Thinking back in that moment, I still feel shaken up. While I was hiding behind an ATM, I completely denied that fact that I was in Seoul while on the phone with Joonyong. But DongJoon wouldn’t buy it, so I confessed that I came to Seoul to take care of some business. I think I was taken aback so much that I got sick with a fever of 40°C (104°F).”
After all that hiding and sneaking around, how was it that they were able to reunite with the rest of the members? “Taehun and I wrote and recorded a rap together, then sent it out to the agency. While the other members gathered around and listened, they were completely surprised when they recognized the voices. At that moment, Taehun and I burst into the practice room.”

That scene was the highlight of Children of Empire, Season 1, as the surprised members hugged Heechul and Taehun, overcome with emotions. Even a clip of leader Joonyoung crying like a baby was shown, saying that he was overwhelmed with emotions when he found out the touching lyrics were written by their own Taehun and Heechul.

“That’s how Season 1 ended and we got started on the second season, which were the Wingca concerts. Everyday we traveled to 3 different locations in the countryside and performed. When we first started in Ilsan, we performed in front of only 20 people, but as the time passed, the number of people who shouted our names and cheered us on increased. I was really thankful for them.”
After sharing their stories from the first season, is there anything in particular that stood out to them from the second season? “After a vote with the members, Kevin, Hyungshik and I were picked to come to work wearing a uniform, they said they picked me because I was the second youngest. At the time, I was upset when they kept making fun of me because I didn’t know it was scripted.”

So many things happened during their Wingca conerts, from the power going out, sand going into their mouths, and having speakers burst. At a performance in Daegu Dongsung Street, 2,000 fans came out only to see ZE:A after there were rumors that DBSK was in town. They say that the emotion they felt that day was an unforgettable memory.

“Thinking back on it, the times we spent on the Wingcar concerts were the most important stepping stones in the making of ZE:A.”

Source: Yoon TaeHee@asiae.co.kr
Translation: Julez@kpoplive.com

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