Sandara Park comes full circle
Sandara Park has come full circle.
Twenty years after finishing first runner-up in “Star Circle Quest,” the talent search that launched the singer-actress’ show biz career in the Philippines, she is now on the other side of the star-making equation. As the host of the new Filipino South Korean idol survival show “Be the Next: 9 Dreamers,” she feels “very happy to influence and help” young aspirants realize their goals of joining a global pop group.
“I was influenced by a lot of Filipino musicians and artists during my early days, too, so it’s like give and take,” Park said at a recent press conference for the said program coproduced by TV5 and MLD Entertainment Philippines.
As a member of 2NE1, one of the most successful South Korean girl groups, Park is a K-pop icon in her own right. But there’s something about this new endeavor, she said, that gives her the butterflies.
“I’m excited and nervous at the same time. This is a new challenge for me. I have tried lots of things—acting, being onstage, doing musical shows. But hosting a program like this? It’s my first time. I don’t know what to do … Alam niyo naman, ‘krung krung’ ako!” she said, drawing laughter.
Her two decades of experience as a performer on the international music scene makes her an authority figure on navigating the ins and outs of the industry. But while it would be interesting to see her share her thoughts, dispense advice, and impart wisdom to the show’s hopefuls, Park is careful not to overstep her role.
Those responsibilities fall on the shoulders of “Be the Next’s” lineup of mentors composed of Park Woo-jin of AB6IX, Bang Ye-dam formerly of Treasure, Lee Hye-bin formerly of Momoland, Vinci of Hori7on, producer Bullseye, and choreographer Bae Wan-hee. Chen of Exo is also part of the panel but wasn’t at the press conference.
‘Elder sister’
One thing’s for sure though: She will always have the contestants’ backs as their “elder sister.” “I can’t give them advice, but I will be a good ate to them. When they cry, I can hug them, or tell them, ‘You can do it!’ I think that’s a good role to have and I’m looking forward to it,” she told Lifestyle.
Park, 40, did note, however, that there has been marked change in the way K-pop idols interact with their fans. Back in her early days with 2NE1, it was crucial for her and her colleagues to maintain an air of enigma. The opposite is true for today’s generation: The more visible and accessible you are, the better.
“During my era, there had to be some mystery. The company (YG Entertainment) would say you should post only two pictures a day or reply to not more than 10 comments [on social media],” related Park, whose sentiments had Ye-dam—a former YG talent—smiling and nodding seemingly in agreement.
“But nowadays, the more content you give fans, the more you communicate with them, the more love they give you,” she pointed out. And this is something Park has learned to adopt.
“I think K-pop idols and fans are more like friends now. I try to give them more information and more love, because the love they give in return is incredible,” she said.
Global casting call
Airing Saturdays (7:15 p.m.) and Sundays (8:15 p.m.) on TV5 starting Feb. 8, “Be the Next” will have 75 contestants undergoing rigorous training and challenges, as they vie for a spot in a new nine-member boy group. The talent pool was assembled through a global casting call and, as such, includes hopefuls from other countries like Canada, Myanmar, Thailand, and the United States.
The tilt is slated for a 14-week run, with the last one being a live finale. The winners will be co-managed by MQuest Artists Agency, which will handle their local careers, and MLD, which will be in charge of potential international projects.
The boys, aged 15 to 24, have been living together and pre-training for a month now, according to TV5 head of marketing Vince Rodriguez. “It’s like they’re doing army training,” he told Lifestyle.
This way, they get to separate the wheat from the chaff. “If you see their training up close, you will see that no one’s fooling around,” Rodriguez said. “The trainers spot the boys’ strengths and weaknesses. The discipline is just different and I’m quite confident that everyone will come out a better performer.
What qualities are the mentors looking for in a future idol group member? For Bang, “charm and uniqueness” can be just as vital as talent. “Another basis is their growth and how hard they work. Some will be good from the start; others will grow as the show goes on,” he said through an interpreter.
Bullseye went straight to the point: Visuals, or looks, matter. “K-pop isn’t only for listening. Visuals also play a very important role,” he said. But in the end, he added, he will choose “the one who will really capture my heart.”
Surviving tough times
Meanwhile, if he were to give a piece of advice to those who are just getting started, Woojin said they have to be ready for the inevitable tough times. And as a former survival show contest himself, the singer knows this all too well.
“There will be times you will feel like giving up. But I would like to share my experiences about how I survived the difficult times,” said Woojin, who placed sixth in the second season of “Produce 101.”
Vinci may be the youngest or least experienced of the group, but it’s this very thing that makes him the most relatable. “I was also a trainee a few years ago, so I will be able to empathize with them,” the Hori7on leader said. “I know many of them are nervous, so I want to give them assurance that they can do well as long as they put their hearts into what they do.”
The show will be filmed in the Philippines, which means Park and the other mentors will be flying in and out of the country a few times a month. And for the K-pop star, that means her leisure travels will have to be deferred.
“I have been busy lately because we’re still on tour. So no [meeting with] friends muna! No alcohol, no rest, and no vacation. I will just really focus on work,” said Park who’s still in the middle of 2NE1’s ongoing “Welcome Back” concert tour. “But I try to work out and go for a massage when I have the time. It’s important to stay healthy so I can do all these!”
Turning serious, Park wished that the people who once voted for her can do the same for the new talents they hope to hone. “I want to try my best to… help them get closer to Korea,” she said. “We will try our best to make the contestants shine onstage.”
