Korean Music Discussion - Page 3938

[Date posted – Group / Type – Page number – Link]

20111112 C-Real 1873 - Link
20111222 IU Radio 2116 - Link
20120203 Sunny Hill 2356 - Link
20120209 Block B 2386 - Link
20120319 EXID Compilation 2584 - Link
20120320 C-Real 2588 - Link
20120330 Brave Girls Compilation 2615 - Link
20120406 Nine Muses 2639 - Link
20120412 Dal Shabet Compilation 2670 - Link
20120715 A Pink Compilation 3212 - Link
20120806 Younha Compilation 3472 - Link

20120416 Girl's Day Podcasts - Everyday Girl's Day! Episode 1 – 2690 - Link
20120421 Girl's Day Podcasts - Everyday Girl's Day! Episode 2 – 2713 - Link
20120509 Girl's Day Podcasts - Everyday Girl's Day! Episode 3 – 2805 - Link
20120730 Girl's Day Podcasts - Everyday Girl's Day! Episode 4 - 3353 - Link
20120829 Girl's Day Podcasts - Everyday Girl's Day! Episode 5 - 3697 - Link
20120921 Girl's Day Podcasts - Everyday Girl's Day! Episode 6 - 3880 - Link

20120806 - http://bntnews.hankyung.com/apps/news?popup=0&nid=04&c1=04&c2=04&c3=00&nkey=201208051936133&mode=sub_view
20120817 - http://star.fnnews.com/news/index.html?no=116096
20120824 - http://news.donga.com/3/all/20120823/48832954/2
20120828 - http://news.kukinews.com/article/view.asp?page=1&gCode=ent&arcid=1346162763&cp=nv

Group pictures will be Left to Right.

[Kim Hae Jin Journalist/Photo Lee Hyun Moo Journliast]

1st Official Album Release, ‘Welcome to Business’ before their debut attracting attention, girl group D-Unit debuted.

D-Unit long before their debut, they’ve been labeled before as T-ara Boram’s younger sister, former YG girl group practice student, etc called many names and gathered plenty of attention. Adding to that YG’s Hip hop duo YMGA’s DM producing this girl group and YG Ent’s lyricist Kush first time giving songs to outside artists, it raised the bar of expectations high.

“From the countless rookies I’m glad we’re getting attention but on the other hand it’s a lot of pressure and I’m worried we won’t meet their expectations. But as much as we prepared, we’re ready to put on a good show.” (Ram)

Previously mentioned, D-Unit has gathered attention with a unique background or nicknames; their well-defined concept that sets them apart from other girl groups creates high expectations.

“To show a lot with our music we prepared a lot. Specifically our album ‘Welcome to Business’ despite being a debut album includes 9 songs, a full album.” (ZIN).

“Established Girl Groups are pretty but we received our CEO’s gangster aura so we’re trying to show more cool appearances. For our petite size, might say it’s an appearance with a twist? We want to appeal our unbalanced-like charms.” (U-Jin)

Differentiating from other girl groups that do cute actions habitually, D-Unit showed more boyish charms. Even in a ‘hand heart’ pose they couldn’t handle it, they all picked ‘easy-going’ as a part of their personality they shared.

“Looking from my outer appearance, people say I look cute and weak. But my real personality is easy-going and tough. Even movies I like hardcore-like things (laugh). I’m the type when you get to know me more I’m friendlier.” (Ram)

“Because of my makeup I give a strong impression, but my real personality is far from being charismatic. I laugh a lot and I’m friendly. Also I just graduated High School, as a 20 year old I’m the most fresh too (laugh).” (Zin)

“Lots of people say I look coy and girlish, but actually I enjoy joking around and easy-going. In other words boyish.” (U-Jin)



D-Unit might be a rookie group but they have talent compared to already established groups. Ram produced the song ‘Crush’, included in the album and showed her potential as a lyricist, also U-jin and Zin showed their variety skills on the reality program ‘Welcome to D-Unit’ airing on MBC Music. As much talent they have, they have ambitions.

“Of course music, whether it is design, interior, photographs, drawing I was interested in the artistic field. So if I didn’t do music I probably would be involved in one of those things. So later in those areas of interest I want to challenge myself and attempt two or three of them.” (Ram)

“I also have many areas of interest but since I was young I was interested in acting. So if I get the chance I want to try acting, also try being an MC(TV) as well.” (U-Jin)

"Recently we were involved in a program recording for ‘Quiz that changes the world’ Lee Hui Jae sunbaenim and Park Mi Sun sunbaenim was really good at emceeing. I got a strong impression there, so I want to try being an MC. Right now I’m lacking but I’ll work on it and would like to shoot lots of pictorials too” (Zin).

Talent-filled and ambitious D-Unit, what is their goal for 2012? The response is a bit unusual, it’s to ‘cry’.

“We want to get the rookie award. We can set our sights up high right? Getting all 1st places on music programs would be nice. Receiving the rookie award and crying, and achieving 1st and crying… I hope we have chances to cry continuously (laugh) we want to cry tears of joy!” (Group)

[Leaving out stuff previously mentioned in interviews k, ^^]

D-Unit consists of Wooram (Ram),Yujin (U JIN), Soojin (ZIN), a 3 person group.



◇Each Member’s responsible part ‘Skills and talent’, ‘Maknae and her eyeline’, ‘Dreams hopes and looks’

Bringing out a different concept compared to other idol groups, their respective roles in the group was unique as well, besides the common vocal and rap Wooram’s part is ‘Skills and Talent’, Soojin’s part is ‘Maknae(age) and Eyeline’.

Continued Yujin’s says, ‘My role is dreams and hopes’ and quietly throwing ‘good looks’ out there out there creating laughter.

With a unique concept, compared to the existing idols groups, based on the song’s genre or atmosphere afterwards will continue to change, and will promote as units.

[So let me get this straight, there can be A-Unit and B-Unit as well o.o]

D-Unit who kept the 90’s popular hip hop clan Wu Tang Clan in mind, “Currently there are practice students preparing to enter D-Unit” and “We are worried about of our team cohesion, but since it’s still one team I don’t think there will be a problem on the sense of belonging. All the members are spending time together and keeping promises”.



◇A Full Album as a Debut Album “Because only one song feels insincere”.

For Soojin (ZIN) mentions that their current entertainment’s CEO was a past hip hop musician named Digital Masta, “Our CEO-nim has done music before, so he has great pride in his music” and “It felt like releasing only one song would be bad manners so without instrumentals we fully packed 9 songs in there.”

Specially this album’s ‘Crush’, ‘Sleeping Late’, ‘Anniversary’, ‘Before The Weekend Comes’, for Wooram who participated in the producing and writing for these songs says, “Truthfully it’s not all by me, it’s more like being able to participate in a group so I only put *my spoon on the dinner table”.

[*Korean phrase, mooching off others]

“Since I had past experiences as a band vocal, I wanted to participate in creating the melody, later I want to create a song completely by me”. – Wooram.

[Paragraph about Kush, a YG producer]

Also the keyword ‘the 2nd 2NE1’ follows around D-Unit, and includes talks about Ujin’s and Soojin’s with similar appearances to Sandara Park and CL.

Ujin says, “I’ve heard that I looked similar to Sandara Park a long time ago, also similar in my actions and my overall image” and “But if you look a bit deeper I have completely different personality, and it’s an honor being compared to Sandara Park sunbaenim.” Showing that D-Unit has a different charm compared to 2NE1.

For Soojin of course, “Because I don’t have double eyelids I need a thick eyeline, I think they’re looking at it from a makeup point of view” and “However on stage we have a completely different appeal and color than 2NE1 so I hope you would look at those points more”.



◇For Wooram who had no thoughts of joining a Girl Group, “As I got older…”

Unlike their cute appearances D-Unit has many episodes with ‘age’.

Ujin who was a previous YG Entertainment’s practice student for a year, she was a nominee for a group but because of her age she couldn’t join and transferred to her current company.

About this D-Business’ Lee Yong Hak CEO mentions, “YG Girl Groups is forming them under the age of 20 so born on 89 Ujin was dropped out” and “I already knew about Ujin, she was too good to give up so she was recruited”.

Also born on 87, in our (Korean Age) 26 Wooram, “I’ve been involved in a band and liked being more free so I didn’t have much thoughts on being in a girl group, but more I got older I got a reality check” and “in the end after a long period of wandering I came to this road, and I’m glad I entered into D-Unit.”

To perform such a powerful dance on stage, D-Unit’s oldest member Wooram, “Truthfully because of my age there is some limits to my stamina” and “I feel plenty of fatigue and feels like suffering a bit, but I can only do my best”.

Also Wooram’s and Ujin’s words toward their youngest member Soojin, “She’s the most fresh so she has to cover for us” pouring responsibility on her, creating a cheerful atmosphere.



[Paragraphs about becoming an industry breaker, more artistic than focusing on beauty, showing that idols are skillful as well. Rookie award etc]

More individual shots
+ Show Spoiler [Top to bottom - Ram, Zin, Ujin] +

‘Real Manly’, would there be another fitting phrase for them?

Giving off a boy group’s aura, leisurely entering D-Unit did a greeting that their foreheads almost reached their knee, and saying afterwards ‘Please take care of us’ loudly. ‘Ah… they’re a piece of work’ is what I thought.

But the first thing that caught my eye wasn’t their faces but their clothes and shoes, studded with numerous decorations. Taking off all the accessories, necklaces took longer than I thought.

[D-Unit intro. Boram’s younger sister Jeon Woo Ram (RAM), YG practice student Jung Eu Jin (UJin), skillful maknae Gwak Soo Jin (ZIN)]

[Paragraph about Rookies releasing singles or mini albums compared to full albums.]

“For D-Unit they can do Hip Hop with bass, R&B, Dubsteb, Acoustic, Rock etc they attempt many genres. Title song ‘I’m Missing You’ is produced by 2Ne1/Big Bang song maker Kush and YG’s hip-hop duo YMGA’s DM helped produce it, it’s an acoustic guitar added electric sounds trendy hip hop song.” (Group).



▶Small peppers are really hot.

D-Unit members are all 160 cm tall [ZIN is 165cm], but they don’t wear any heels. In the case of the hip-hop genre to handle the powerful choreography maybe a part, but they threw away the focus on figure and being sexy.

“We do want to look pretty. But we haven’t gotten permission to put on smile above a crooked one by our CEO. (laugh) Our actual personalities lack aegyo (cute gestures) and we’re easygoing, we think we’re guys now. Even if we look like a group of hobbits, even if singers around us look at us with fascination, we’re happy we became singers.” (Group)

“When I’m on the stage I think of the past I struggled in. Looking back it seems like those times helped me but in my heart it’s still filled with bitterness. I’m releasing it all on stage.” (Ujin).

[Line describing them as ‘Pretty looking guys’ asking about each other's strengths]

From their member’s words, for ZIN (Soojin) is the team’s ‘mother’ and ‘energy source’, and her stamina and brains are good as well. Ujin likes healthy products like Red Ginseng etc. Leader Ram makes packed lunches for their group, and amongst 4 songs of their 9 in the album she participated in them, her musicality is exceptional.



▶How a rookie girl group handles inner conflicts.

Before their debut, D-Unit held two fan sign meetings in Japan, and when they came on stage they received love and high expectations from the fans. Causeless blame wasn’t lacking either.

To interlink D-Unit’s debut, rumors of girl group T-ara’s group discord was put on the cutting board. For Ram just for being the older sister of Boram, there was blame poured into D-Unit for no reason.

Another reason is Ram’s extraordinary family reputation. Actor Hwang Hae is her grandfather, grandmother is singer Baek Seol Hee. Father is singer Jeon Young Rok, mother is actor Lee Mi Young, and her uncle is comedian Lee Chang Hoon. When they debuted it was a way to spread the group’s name, but in the end it became a tag that will follow Ram and D-Unit forever.

There are lots of positives. Jeon Yeon Rok says for his daughters, “Don’t look back front or next to you, and do your best”, “Always greet properly”, “You don’t see them but many people see you. Always be alert.” Giving honest advice to them. Lee Mi Young and Jeon Bo Ram also gave them advice and cheered them on with some delicious food.

[Best way to cheer]

D-Unit does not live in a dorm. In the morning they commute to work, and into the AM’s they practice singing, choreography, then they go back to their respective households.

“I think not living together in a dorm does help our relationship. If you live together you see things you don’t need to see and trouble sometimes appears. After spending the whole day with the members and go home, I do want to see them.” (Ujin, ZIN)

For inner conflicts to become a big issue for T-ara, just because she was the younger sister of a T-ara member we couldn’t avoid asking her thoughts.

“It’s a cautious problem to talk about. So I’m frustrated. After living out their lives and suddenly living together, how could they all get along easily? They have to adapt. Fighting and making up, making up then fighting that’s what it means to be a person. Because they’re public figures they have to be more careful, in the music industry, they’re all people in the end… Only this standing out especially, I think it’s a problem everyone has to think about again. Boram-unni must be struggling. The whole team must be as well.” (Ram)

[Paragraph about 2NE1 similarities, Ujin similar to Sandara Park, Netizen flaming them etc]

“You can’t say our colors are completely different. Choreography, title song, and people helping out with our vocals are part of YG Entertainment. However just like you can say doing hip-hop you copy Eminem, we’re in the process of creating our own color. Please keep watching us.” (Group)

“At first we were an emotional wreck. ‘We have tough lives’ thinking like that and just passed over it. I don’t think we can approach this[netizen flaming] calmly forever.” (Ram, Ujin)

There was a momentary silence. Starting their lives as singers on the edge, I became curious of their teamwork.

“Problems? If we had them it doesn’t make sense. We just started, ay~. (sfx:You have to be kidding)” (Group)

▶We are ardent!

[Paragraph about where they’re from]

D-Unit members individually respect Jessie J, BoA, Beyoncé but they did not pick role models. They say they want to show their style confidently on stage and improving their work ethic without rest.

[Paragraph about not wearing hot pants or high heels, wants to break the first impression that idols are visuals, but that why would like to be noticeable singers as well. Should’ve just picked a role model IMO]

“The included tracks on our album are quite good, please listen to them once. From now on, we will probably come to you all with mini-albums or full albums. [AWESOME] We’ll do our best. I love our fans. Please cheer for us.” (Group)

Oh Sae Hoon Donga dot com journalist – ohhoony@donga.com
Photo| Gook Kyung Won Donga dot come journalist – onecut@donga.com
Video | Park Young Wook journalist – pyw06@donga.com
[Video is broken, fix it pls Mr. Park ]

[1. Intro paragraph, 2.Ram’s involvement in album]

“The album has only 9 songs, but we recorded many others. Inside the pool we reduced and reduced it. We think it as well; CEO-nim says releasing a full album is more sincere for the public. Whether it be a full album, digital single or different album, I think the level of completeness ours Is high. We’re proud of our album.”

Another thing, is their composition(members). Their team name does not include 'Unit' for no reason. They started as three, but it's not a complete group yet. Like their team name it's a unit. Afterwards the group can improve more, and based on their characteristics another Unit can be born. They have to compete with eachother.

“We don’t know how the teams will be formed. Based on the team’s color there could be adjustments, a new member could come in. Also if a member’s color is distinct, can even go solo. There is nothing set in stone. Even though we say that, it’s not like a fierce competition amongst us. We want to support each other to do better, changing the team differently or adjusting, we think of it as that’s the best for everyone.”

For people interested in this kind of team formation, but can’t show it on current stages. Asking what differentiates them from other groups they say, ‘keeping a non-laughing face’ they gave a silly response. They also say this backfires for them as well.

[But I like the current D-Unit :<]

“Even if we try to look charismatic or cool, they say we look cute. Our youngest member is 165cm tall, the tallest, but being assimilated with us she looks short too. Additionally because of our choreography we don’t wear heels, so we feel even smaller. After going to the broadcasting stations, other girl group’s heights are enormous. We are small and look tough, so there are lots of people who look at us with fascination. (laugh) Our greeting is, ‘please raise D-Unit’ while we raise our heels, they look at us with satisfied expressions.”

[Paragraph about attention from T-ara situation]

For Ram who has a celebrity family, she dreamed of becoming a singer earlier than her older sister. In high school after creating a band, went out to cities like Hongdae to perform, wrote her own songs/lyrics and sent demo tapes to entertainment agencies. Putting her own material in this album must be from her past experiences. But Ram’s singer debut wasn’t smooth. She was a practice student at a small company, and at times was alone in her house too. So Ram thinks of D-Unit as her last chance and performing.

Ujin who is from Australia was originally a YG practice student. In her first year of high school she went to study abroad in Australia, but with her heart set on becoming a singer she went around doing auditions. She was awaiting debut in YG, but in the end it got delayed and she almost gave up. Through the current CEO’s request she entered D-Unit.

For the youngest ZIN, compared to her unnies her path was much easier. ZIN who dreamed of becoming a vocal trainer, while getting private lessons from YG’s Jieun, through this connection she entered the team.



[Paragraph about this group being another YG Group, produced by YG people, past YG practice student, nicknames like ‘fake 2NE1’, but that’s before they see them on stage.]

“There are still people who look at us like that. Since our producers are from YG, it’s hard to escape their color fully. But what we’re in pursuit of is completely different. Talking about the stage, 2NE1 likes to focus on performance, almost like a musical. Only our images might clash, when we’re on stage based on our dance, we show a level of intensity in our choreography on level with boy groups. In that area we’re different. While appealing these kinds of traits, we’ll try to create our own color."

Kukinews Yu Myung Joon Journalist
neocross@kukimedia.co.kr
Photo – Lee Eun Ji journalist.