I think a really defining career moment was me taking on an acting role for the first time in quite some time. Because I was so tied up with my radio show last year, I didn’t have the opportunity to do what I love most, which is to act. It felt great getting back in front of the camera in that capacity again. On a personal side, I got to spend a lot of time with my family in the United States for the holidays last year. It had been a very long time since I was able to spend an extended amount of time with them.

I think that just continuing to get opportunities in this volatile industry, no matter how big or small, is how you can measure your success. Entertainment, no matter which field, is a long game. There is no overnight success, so as long as you stay in the game while you are getting opportunities or trying your best to better yourself in the scope of your craft, you are succeeding. Things like “fame”, “money” and “big jobs”, which many would consider as “success”, can only follow the model of what I consider is "being successful”.

I think by far it was moving on from music as the main “arm” of my career. While I am not opposed to doing music anymore, I consider things like acting and broadcasting to be my main identity now. When you are young and have all these dreams while watching your peers succeed in the K-Pop industry, it’s extremely difficult to let go of. “Reinventing” myself took quite some time, and I think a lot of it fell on meeting the right people, being lucky with the right opportunities, and personal realization and growth. Luckily, I had those three things happen almost simultaneously, which certainly smoothed over what could have been a much more difficult process. Staying positive in all aspects of life is the true secret, though I think. “Will it into existence”, if you will.

Well, I think it taught me just how big Korea has gotten globally in terms of culture, which is a little more difficult to realize when you live here. But in terms of myself, I think that I had a realization that I want to share my culture with the world, even if it isn't in a huge way. I have so much love for the history, culture, and traditions of Korea, and I want the world to see how beautiful it is.

Well, as someone who is biracial, I have roots in both Korea and the United States. But seeing how I have lived in Korea for so much longer, my identity obviously skews a bit more to Korea. If I am called for something where I have an opportunity to help teach others about Korean culture, I will almost always take it. I think I have a bit of a knack for delivering this sort of information to foreigners in an easy-to-understand way, and I take a lot of pride in doing it. But in terms of acting, I would certainly lean into my American roots if the role called for it. 

I already knew I wouldn’t get a huge amount of screen time, so I knew what to expect to a degree. However, I didn’t expect the reaction I would get online with all these articles and DMs showing so much love. I do want to shout out my good friend and American entertainment correspondent, Kat Moon. She reached out to Netflix to interview me, and her interview put me out to American audiences, and a lot of people started following my career. I honestly couldn’t tell you why I “resonated” with so many people, but whatever it was, I guess I did something right despite “self-eliminating” in the show hahaha.

Well, I will always miss my time with my members, but being able to have FULL creative control was incredible. I didn’t have to convince others of a “creative vision” and I just did whatever I wanted. It was less “assigned to me” as it was “I created A all the way to Z”. That being said, it certainly was more difficult because what obligations were originally split between 9 members, and the company fell strictly on me. The burden was bigger, but the creative freedom was as well. 

In my actual solo music, everything is drawn from personal experience. I think that’s the only way music can be personable and relatable. During my idol years, I was assigned everything, and I had to be on rails. That is okay, because that’s how many idol groups operate. But I think any music I do now will be in the way I want to do it.

I think I am now at the point where what I do will narrate how the rest of my life unfolds. From a K-Pop idol/singer, broadcaster, radio DJ/podcast host, runway model, and all the way to acting, I have touched every corner of the entertainment industry. My choice now will set me down a road that I am going to commit to. While I will always dabble in whatever opportunity comes my way, acting is the main road, and I plan to fully commit to it.

I, like anyone, am not perfect. There are always things I can improve on. I instantly know after a shoot of any kind if I could have done better. But I always take those shortfalls into consideration when the next opportunity arises. I can say that I never doubted my path as a whole. I live by the idea that if you work hard enough and want it enough, the results will come eventually.

I think there are certainly some positives and negatives. I struggled with my identity as someone who is biracial for many years. “Am I an American, or am I a Korean?” It took some time, but now I lean into my roots and accept it and try to use it to my advantage. Being bilingual is obviously a huge plus as well. In Korea today, I am limited to a degree in the type of roles I can take, but that is to be expected. However, there are roles that only people like me can take, and that pool of people is much smaller, so it gives an opportunity to shine a little brighter. On a personal level, I grew up with so many different perspectives on the world, so it makes for some interesting conversation when talking to other people, hahaha.

I don’t think it is ever too late to start what you want to do, as long as you gauge realistic expectations. Music, Variety, YouTube, Modelling, and Acting, I think, are things that can be started at any age. If you find something you like, pursue it!!! Don’t let a “late start” stop you. Some of the most successful people across all industries started later in life; it’s all about your drive!

These days, I am leaning into acting a lot more. I am working closely with my management, “A2Z Entertainment”, to build my career across all entertainment fields in Korea. I have been working in vertical short-form dramas to continue working towards building an acting career globally as well. I will still, of course, do music, variety, and YouTube as good ideas and opportunities arise. As far as I am concerned, the world is my oyster! Hahaha.

I hope they remember me as someone who has been driven and tenacious. Someone who served as a bridge between Korea and the world, and someone who entertained people. I hope to be someone who is remembered far in the future, for any of the various things I have done.

“Full Sails Ahead”

I spent the last 10-plus years setting up the rigging of my career, and now it’s time to catch the wind and sail into even bigger success! I am excited about the future and can’t wait to see what it brings!

I want to thank OTSM Magazine for the opportunity, and I hope you all follow my journey with me, so I can show you all that I have to offer! Love you all!