There are K-Pop fans across the globe who share the same passion. But on online platforms, it is hard to know about each other’ stories and K-Pop life. Even if we are in the same fandom, it is hard to get to know each other. So at Kpopmap, we started the Kpopmap Fan Interview Project to get to know more about K-Pop fans from different countries: more about their K-Pop life and tastes and to give them the opportunity to share with our readers about their favorite group(s) and bias. Ms. Yoo is the next fan to answer our questions. She is from the Philippines and is a fan of SF9 and more particularly of Yoo TaeYang! Check out how she entered the fandom, the songs and content she advises to new fans, and much more! Can you introduce yourself? Where are you from? Hello! I’m Ms. Yoo, a 22-year-old FANTASY from the Philippines. Here to gush over my ultimate favorite K-Pop group, SF9. How and when did you enter the fandom? It was June of the year 2021 when I decided to watch the K-Drama “Extraordinary You” in which RoWoon plays the starring role. There, I was completely enamored with his character. That prompted me to watch all his videos on YouTube till I stumbled upon his group. Their music quickly hooked me, but it was their personalities that won me over. It happened gradually by watching them on variety shows and other programs. I can’t pinpoint an exact date, but it was August at the time when I finally realized that I had already become a FANTASY. What are the reasons why you love your favorite group? I’ve been a K-Pop fan for five years now, and SF9 is the only group that has had me struggle with deciding who among them should be my ultimate bias. A true leader’s accountability is evident in YoungBin’s actions and words. He’s very mature and has contagious laugh as well. InSeong doesn’t only excel intellectually, but also in terms of interpersonal relationships. He’s witty and speaks well. JaeYoon has a way of making people feel valued. Despite being an introvert, DaWon has a bent for making people laugh. He’s also thoughtful to a great degree. RoWoon thinks deeply and has a knack for putting his thoughts into order. ZuHo may seem intimidating, yet he is a genuinely warm person. He gives a lot of thought to others. Yoo TaeYang is a wonderful guy who is kind, sweet and amazingly effortlessly funny, and his state of being hardworking is truly commendable. HwiYoung has a great outlook on life and is a principled man. Chani is a compassionate person who isn’t particularly outspoken. They actually are all profound thinkers. They are model-like men, each with unique charms and characteristics, and are multi-talented. Who caught your attention at first and why? With the exception of RoWoon, who was the one who originally drew my attention to his group, ZuHo and DaWon were the first to catch my eye. ZuHo has an extremely attractive appearance. He has a striking presence that makes him seem intimidating. I’m also an ARMY, and I felt DaWon’s looks and voice resembled BTS’s Jimin. That impression has changed now though. Who is your bias, and why? For quite a while, all members have been equal in my heart up until the day I saw a video of Yoo TaeYang patting a dog really gently. Cynophile that I am, he captivated my heart. There began the seemingly endless list of indescribable reasons why he is my ultimate bias. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to shake my high regard for him.
Can you recommend a title track and a B-side track for new fans? I don’t know about others, but ‘RPM’ is amongst their title tracks that gets catchier the more you listen to it. SF9 B-side tracks are, I swear, all so good that I can’t even pick a top fave. A lot lately though, I’ve been listening to ‘Shh’ from their first album “First Collection”. Can you recommend a fancam, V-Live, cover video, cover dance, or individual content video of your bias to our readers? Yoo TaeYang has a lot of videos, directed and produced by himself. My newest favorite is his performance video of Chris Brown’s ‘Kiss Kiss’. Seriously, this multi-talented man deserves a lot more recognition than he is now receiving. Everyone can tell he’s one of the industry’s top dancers. Can you also do the same type of recommendation for the group? I’d want to recommend their ‘Move’ performance on “KINGDOM: LEGENDARY WAR” because it was a real masterpiece, but RoWoon was not there; nonetheless, people should check it out as well. I recommend people to watch their ‘Good Guy’ performance on ‘M Countdown’ stage, which holds a special place in every FANTASY’s heart. Can you share with us one of your favorite lyrics? “남들 시선에 먹히지 마 길 잃은 소중한 널 데려와 (Come with me)” English translation: “You don’t need to cower from the stares of others, you lost your way, but I’ll take you, you’re precious (come with me)” It’s from SF9’s B-side track ‘See U Tomorrow’ from their mini album “RPM”. I’ve been hating the world for being bounded by judgmental people. I usually forget that those folks aren’t everyone. The lyrics are reassuring to me. The words serve as a reminder that when we hear others criticize us, we should not falter or become too concerned. In the hearts of certain people, we are precious. They will never lose faith in us. Are there any words from the members you would like to share? “People believe in everything they want to believe. They only believe in what they see… on purpose. Like… it doesn’t make sense to answer something that also doesn’t make sense.” On May 5th of the year 2020, ZuHo uttered these words on his V Live. What is your favorite group/bias’ influence on your daily life? When I met them, I was at the most vulnerable state of my life. I don’t know how it happened, but they made me get over the things I’ve been overthinking about for almost two years. I now know where to flee if I’m worried. SF9 has been my energy booster for six months now. They even instilled in me a sense of purpose in life. Seriously, I never had an utmost goal in life till I became a FANTASY. I just used to go with the flow of life. They may not be aware of my existence, yet they bring me constant happiness. What is your favorite side of fangirling/fanboying? It is meeting and interacting with people who would never invalidate the happiness I derive from fangirling. It is becoming part of another family, and I’m glad that it’s FANTASY. Do you feel there are any misunderstandings, things that are not well known, or any prejudices about your favorite group from other fans (non-fans)? I’m not sure if there are any, but I’m certain that if haters continue to bring up the group’s past situations that have been cleared already, by adding up false allegations, misconceptions might occur. Hence, I want to use this opportunity to humbly ask people to do fact-checking before believing onto something or before saying anything. As per Carl Jung, thinking is difficult that’s why most people judge. Let’s not be part of those sorts of people. You can also add a message to your bias or show it on a message scrapbook.
Thank you for answering our questions, Ms. Yoo. Note: Kpopmap Fan Interview includes some of the interviewed fan’s favorite videos. If you are interested in joining Kpopmap Fan Interview Project, please get in touch with us at [email protected] Everyone is welcome to participate.
Kpopmap Fan Interview: A FANTASY From The U.S. Talks About Her Favorite Group SF9 by FANS|Feb 2, 2022 Kpopmap Fan Interview: A Filipino FANTASY Talks About SF9 & Her Bias RoWoon, Starting Her Journey Since “She Would Never Know” by FANS|Jan 26, 2022 Kpopmap Fan Interview: A Filipino FANTASY Talks About SF9 & Her Bias RoWoon, Starting Her Journey Since “The King’s Affection” by FANS|Jan 13, 2022 Most of the KPOP music I can take or leave but I have found SF9s music just jells with me. Also don’t need to feel so guilty being honey trapped by men not little boys (damn fine and talented men at that). Being Fantasy is nice to see the crazy fans seems to be low key and that people largely just support and love the members for who they are. Thank you to all the other Fantasy out there for being protective without negatively needing pull others down. Makes me proud to support this wonderful group with other grown up fans.
