The Copy Editors’ Corner is a recurring feature written by Mast copy editors.
KIANA NORMAN-SLACK;Â Online Copy Editor;Â normanks@plu.edu
Every now and then, someone will ask me how this whole thing started. “What’s is it with you and K-Pop, Kiana? How did you get into this?” Let’s take a stroll down memory lane…
I danced in a competitive hip-hop group back in 2012. Before rehearsal started, my choreographer would shuffle his iPod and we would warm up at our own pace. One day, I noticed a certain song above the rest.
Ever since then, I remember always walking into rehearsal thinking, “Man, I hope he plays that one song again today.” Well, one day my choreographer pulls out his laptop and tells us he wants us to imitate a certain move in a music video.
I had to contain my immediate and unexpected gasp of excitement because when he hit play, it was that song! I needed to know everything I could about this artist in three minutes and 28 seconds.
So instead of paying attention to what I was supposed to be paying attention to, I was paying attention to everything else: the background of the video, the colors, the artist himself. After doing more research when I got home that night, I found out the song’s title was “One of a Kind” by an artist named G-Dragon, who is also a member of the very successful Korean boy group BIGBANG.
This was also around the time when Psy’s “Gangnam Style” came out. The Hallyu wave came and went quickly, but even after it died a bit, I was still very intrigued. I remember doing laundry one day and turning on Spotify saying, “What other Korean music is there?”
Little did I know this particular moment in history would basically change my life.
I got to experience my very first K-Pop concert in 2015. How fitting is it that my very first K-Pop concert was the very first Korean group I was introduced to: BIGBANG.
In 2016, I had the opportunity to go to KCON in Los Angeles and along with going to a bunch of different panels about language and culture, eating some of the most delicious food I’ve ever had and meeting the nicest people ever. I got to experience a bunch of my favorite Korean artists live: BTS, Monsta X, Eric Nam, SHINee, TWICE and many more.
It sounds pretty radical, but through the exploration of Korean culture I have been able to find myself and I’ve never been more comfortable with who I am.
I’ve fallen completely in love with Korean pop culture. I’ve spent countless hours learning as much as I can about the Korean language, Korean pop culture, and Korea as a whole. It’s something I’m oddly very passionate about, and I strive to immerse myself in it as much as I possibly can.
So, that’s a little bit about me! Next time, I’ll bring you up to speed on what’s happening in K-Pop, along with a few more recommendations and a topic that I’ve been asked about a lot: Co-Ed groups.
Keep up with me on Twitter (@kianashanice) for K-Pop With Kiana’s YouTube clip of the week posted every Monday!
What I’m Listening to:
Akdong Musician – “Play Ugly” (From “Winter”)
BTS – “Not Today” (From “You Never Walk Alone”)
K.A.R.D – “Oh Na Na” (From “K.A.R.D Project Vol. 1”)
Red Velvet – “Body Talk” (From “Rookie – The 4th Mini Album”)
What I’m Watching:
“My Shy Boss”
“Tomorrow With You”
“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”
