#fan work for: neonpunch

[yessadirichards]

Lesser-known K-pop bands struggling amid the pandemic SEOUL, South Korea

While popular K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink have gone from strength to strength during the coronavirus pandemic, lesser-known acts are struggling.

The gap between the world famous and more obscure K-pop acts has never been greater — a situation exacerbated by the pandemic, which has been a huge blow to music-related industries around the world.

Global K-pop bands have managed to expand their fan bases over the past months through various online gigs. But others, including Girls Alert, have seen concerts canceled and personal appearances postponed due to social distancing measures.

Girls Alert, which debuted in 2017, didn’t see it coming, just like everyone else.

By late 2019, the young five-piece group — made up of Jisung, Saetbyul, Gooseul, Narin and Seulbi — had toured all around South Korea. Like other lesser-known bands, they've performed pretty much everywhere, from military bases to orphanages.

The members of Girls Alert said they initially chased glitz and fame just like other new K-pop acts. But they said that after their debut, they found that the reality of the business was far different from what they had expected.

Jisung said she and the other members led a “dirt spoon” existence after their debut, a term for a person who earns relatively little in South Korea with little chance for social mobility.

The singer, who is in her early 20s, said the band had to take care of everything — outfits, dance training, hair and makeup — by themselves, unlike more popular K-pop acts that have entire entourages of staff members. “We had to get clothes from Dongdaemun and plan our outfits with accessories all by ourselves,” Jisung said, referring to a large wholesale market in Seoul with maze-like alleyways.

K-pop music videos are known for their sleek and futuristic aesthetics, a contrast to Girls Alert's humble video filmed at Olympic Park in Seoul. Jisung noted that there were balloons in the video. "We had to blow them up one by one by ourselves,” she said.

While juggling her band responsibilities, Jisung also had to work at a sushi restaurant and help out at her parents’ cold bean noodles restaurant.

Gooseul, meanwhile, doubled as a dance trainer while navigating the band's schedule.

Members say things improved when a new label led by Kim Tae-hyun took over the group.

Kim’s own career has been turbulent. He worked as a manager of Im Chang-jung, a wildly popular singer-songwriter in the 1990s, and lost a hand in a car accident in 2002.

Since taking over Girls Alert in 2017, Kim said he has spent around 800 million won ($734,000) of his own money, which includes fees for the band's accommodation, van maintenance, hair and makeup, and a personal trainer.

In April, Kim — whom members describe as a father-like figure — asked the band members if they wanted to terminate their contracts and seek better opportunities elsewhere, as the coronavirus pandemic showed no sign of easing.

He didn’t ask for any penalty fees, which are often hefty and are frequently imposed by labels when band members try to depart.

Jisung said she asked Kim if he was abandoning the group, and refused to leave — a sentiment echoed by Gooseul and Seulbi.

Saetbyul and Narin elected to leave the band.

The pandemic has been a heavy blow to musicians around the world, but K-pop acts are more vulnerable, with many lacking the financial and social skills necessary to make ends meet. The majority of young performers spend nearly their entire adolescence — as long as 10 years — training and abiding by strict rules imposed by labels that often include strict dieting and rigid practice schedules.

Around 200 to 400 K-pop bands have debuted in the past decade, according to multiple South Korean media reports. With a success rate of less than 1%, it’s already a risky game, and with pressure from the pandemic, some lesser-known groups like Spectrum and NeonPunch have disbanded this year.

Despite the difficulties, Kim said he’s not ready to abandon hope on Girls Alert.

“If they don’t give up, I won’t give up,” he said.

[woollimboys101]

[PROFILE] PREDEBUT INFO OF CHA JUNHO.

Woollim trainee Cha Jun Ho (#차준호) profile. Information gathered here comes from @chanjunho_kr, chajunho TMI and @woollimproduce

2002 liner. DOB:  020709

Hanlim Multi Arts High School. 

Music department, vocal major. 

Has one sister.

Message from his sister. Please support the dream of my brother, Cha Junho, he's now 18 years old and has been living his life well, unlike me. Give him lots of votes once the show starts! Woollim Cha JunHo!

He said since he was young he really wants to be independent (taking care of himself by his own), he liked face rollerㅇㅇ his personality is nice and recently he left kakaotalk (he didn't use kkt now)

Was part of J Musical Vocal Compose School

Cha Junho started to become a trainee when he is 18 years old 

Nickname:  Robot : all his behavior/action is awkward like a robot

Chattomu : (차)준호 (또) (무)표정이야 = Cha Junho is expressionless again. It's hard to find his bright-smiling face

He practices diligently and works hard until late, but he still goes to school.

Cha Jun-ho is a 'good and busy kid' at school.

Cha Junho middle school is said that was closed earlier this year.

He is really nice.

Cha Junho is said to like pork belly.

Cha Jun-ho is said to be about 183 centimeters tall.

Everyone was shocked when they saw him on the orientation day, he’s really handsome

He was the school president

He has a nice personality, there’s nothing to bash about him. There’s no bad episode in his life or any flaw.

According to Cha Jun-ho, a friend of his school, he has a good voice and a sweet voice. 

Cha once wrote a poem titled "Walkingyaong," which reveals a solid theme and unifies each line of poetry consisting of two consecutive episodes into a symmetrical, geo-ji, and thus gives a sense of unity and stability, and gives a sense of rhythm through a three-tone scale.

He really works to manage himself, he doesn’t eat ramen.

When he is on vacation, he spends time with his family at his home.

Has a big older sister/brother. There's a big gap between him and his sister and brother so it seems that he is really mature for his age.

Members of his department include TXT Taehyun, GWSN Lena, NeonPunch Iaan, PRODUCE48 Chowon, Saturday Yuki and Ayeon.

Cha Jun-ho is from South Chungcheong Province.

OP said:  Cha Junho is said to be the best friend that my friend from school has ever seen. He's a good guy.

When he was a middle school student, he really focused on class 

He didn’t have any girlfriend and wasn’t close to girls.

Cha was said to have been famous for being a white long-padded man at his agency's senior showcase last year.

Cha Jun-ho said, "There are so many fans who are reaching out for letters on the 190321 Blue Carpet. I was just giving them away, but they looked at the flag and shouted, 'Give me that!"He even gave all the flags

Chan Junho didn’t have any plastic surgery, his double eyelid appeared as time passed.