Wonder Girls Facts

Dialogue Transcript of WonderFuls fan meeting with Wonder Girls!

llborderline on 02 10, 2010

last Feb 8th, 2010 Wonder Girls fan union representatives had a fan meeting with  4 Wonder Girls members Sunye, Yeeun, Sohee and Yubin regarding Sunmi postponing her activities, new member Haelim and their future plans. here is the dialogue transcript, Chinese interpretation by wonder4girl @ Baidu and goxie @ soompi forums for the english translation.

1. When & how did you find out SunMi’s decision to cut short her activities? Why did she make this decision? Upon hearing about this matter, how did the group members feel?

According to what the group members said, SunMi’s initial debut & her initial apprenticeship were shorter than for the other members. She was also nostalgic for school life. But it was not a sudden announcement of “Thinking of school life, I don’t want to give that up.” Rather, the aforementioned notion had begun during the advance into America & then it frequently recurred.

When SunMi made her announcement, the members’ feelings are similar to those of the fans now. Initially, it was panic, & retention pleas like “You’ll regret giving up WG now, let’s strive on together!”

But they also knew that SunMi is not one to make such a decision lightly. The members deliberated for a long time together, discussing what is genuinely best for SunMi, & then finally informing the company. After [further] discussion of the future direction, activities & such problems for the 4 members, this news was made public in end-January.

2. Including the decision to advance into America, the SunMi discontinuation of her activities, the acceptance of a new member to maintain a 5-person group structure, are all these choices self-willing & not compelled by the company?

Firstly, their reply to this question greatly impresses how much the group members valued the fans’ reactions. The members clearly understood the “Wasn’t this not done to live Park Jin-Young PD’s dreams [for him]? This matter wouldn’t have happened if there was no advance into America” etc. fallout from the fans.

In answering this question, the members unanimously said that this was already their dream when they aspired to become singers. But at that time, there was some worry “if the moment was too premature.” Nevertheless, going to America like this was really their dream.

Especially for YeEun. She said that she brought along a paper from childhood in which she had written about dreaming to go to America.

There remains some existing fan misunderstandings over what was said during ‘Golden Fishery’ about the advance into America. But that is a TV show, & the details of the journey exaggerated to some extent for broadcast. Those who have watched the MTV WONDERGIRLS Season 1 ought to know that, from those days onwards, WG’s dream was to stand on the world stage.

According to the group members, there is absolutely no subordination relationship between the company & the artistes. Not only that, the company does not need artistes who are absolutely obedient. If there were such artistes, WG would not have been formed at that time. Although there are contracts, they record on paper only the artistes’ obligations to the company. All important relationships are conducted through interpersonal communication.

3. Under present circumstances, how do the other group members feel? Especially SoHee, who is of the same age as SunMi. Is she not sad?

Because they were students, & thus separated from their families & unable to go to school, these matters were difficult realities to bear with. They also greatly exemplify SunMi’s feelings. But because it was a personal choice, & to have such an attitude will also spur one to stay on the job. When SoHee said all this, she displayed a sagacious demeanor.

At this point, the group members also said that nothing comes easy in this world. To do one’s own thing, one must work hard to continue doing it well. Absolutely cannot say, “Can’t take it anymore in America & so I have returned.” Besides, the ‘WONDERGIRLS SunMi’ is admittedly important, but becoming the ‘mere SunMi’ is also very important. One makes one’s own choices in life, & this is one’s self-burden. Swayed too much by other group members, & then regretting it later, no one can afford this kind of responsibility.

Some people even criticize SunMi by saying, “This was plainly your own choice, why say ‘no’ only now?” But, relatively speaking, all challenges vary from person to person. When it comes to prudent individual choices, it is hoped that everybody will not take up such an attitude.

4. Specifically, what help does the company provide when the group members are having a hard time?

Not to the extent of going to the hospital for psychological treatment. But however & whatever that can happen, it is resolved through dialogue. Whether it is Park Jin-Young PD or the company president, one can phone at any time &, when necessary, communication is fully underway.

They asked again about whether there was normally adequate rest,

Relatively speaking, it is not as hard as what the people around the world are worried about. Although there are moments of hardships, to stand onstage, even to stand on the American stage are all near-miraculous things. Things to be grateful for.

5. After SunMi’s announcement, did SunYe write that message that was uploaded to the WF community?

That message was indeed written by SunYe herself. The uploading process turned out a bit troublesome (for instance selecting the wrong Forum, etc.). Although the author signature was SunYe’s, the content was the outcome reached together by the 4 group members after their discussion. Even then, there was a desire to write a longer text. However, the longer the dictation, the more it was felt that things could get distorted, & possibly wronging the people involved in this matter. Dreading the aforementioned situations, it was thus written as such.

Knowing this matter directly from the members’ mouths is much better than hearing it from the journalists. I now feel that my ideas are wrong. At that time, the members have been aware of this matter for a while, have made their respective decisions, & in a calm manner wrote down this message.

However, the fans did not know about this matter for very long, & were in a state of panic. I myself did not take into account all this then. Also, under the conditions & to moderate the mood, I have written more forceful words than usual, & in this regard let down the fans with my lapses.

6. With regards to HaeLim’s strengths, many have questioned her vocals. How does the group members see HaeLim? Is she equipped for the aptitude of a WONDERGIRLS member?

The members said that, just like no one is fully qualified to judge the strengths of others, we cannot do the same with HaeLim. However, with the China performance that became the evaluation criterion, they would not have attended at all if that was possible. But many such contracts have been signed, & to unilaterally cancel is not very polite towards the China side with the ongoing activities. In such a situation, the stage preparation time was somewhat inadequate.

In this present state, the group members expressed understanding with the public’s accusations & criticism. At the same time, they also expressed concerns with the extreme rhetoric from a certain segment. Naturally, when compared to the 4-5 years of joint acclimatization with SunMi from apprenticeship to debut, it was incapable of HaeLim to immediately fill her predecessor’s void merely as a 3-year trainee. The members also acknowledged this point, but who is able to do well from the get-go? Through more acclimatization & effort, it is hoped that everybody can see the unlimited potential of HaeLim, who is SunMi’s peer in age yet has been around since WG’s early period.

In addition, about the “HaeLim speaks 4 languages & is thus replacing SunMi” rumor, the members said that simply being multilingual can cause such an uproar handily questions its validity. But all this is not grounds for naively demote SunMi & promote HaeLim.

With regards to HaeLim choosing this road, the group members that are [now] her fellow artistes felt it is inevitable to experience such things & then mature. They are also uneasy about certain fan networks going overboard in assessing HaeLim. YooBin’s empathy with HaeLim was so much so that it reddened her eyes. Although fully understanding the fans’ present reactions, HaeLim is however also working hard now. With the fresh restart, WG hopes the fans can continue as always to give their support.

7. With regards to the approximate plans for future activities.

We will release the album containing the previous English/Chinese tracks in mid-April.

Asked about including the SunMi-sung songs, stemming from fan feedback on whether they can be made available, the reply is that any Korean [album] edition can also be said to be a SunMi edition. But English & Chinese editions are more difficult. Recently, the completed SunMi-collaborated recording of ‘Nobody Lane Stone’ English version, the ‘Tell Me’, etc. Chinese-version songs, etc. were all made available after consideration from the fans’ standpoint.

Hereafter, all other plans & activities will be immediately publicized after they are confirmed.

8. Compared to Twitter, why so little activity at the official Cafe?

Firstly, prior to asking this question, pertaining to the problem of slow updates in the Korean official Cafe, the person-in-charge had promised to request news exclusives as far as possible from the American side. This was the only issue that was directly answered by a company staff at the fan dialogue.

The group members said there was absolutely no intention to ignore Korean fans with the Twitter updates. In fact, the greater Twitter usage was for all the fans. It did not come to mind that Korean fans, who routinely upload messages into Twitter, found this hard to accept.

Besides, it is possible to instantly tweet simple, 1-2 sentence brief greetings. On the contrary, one cannot be this insufficient at the official Cafe. Whatever the content, they must be composed in long form, & the members found this aspect somewhat inconvenient. Moreover, the parasitical media also constantly sought information at the Cafe, causing the members to feel sorry for the fans, & to feel incapable of expressing themselves as desired.

Some fans criticized them for disregarding the Korean audience. The members denied this, asserting that those who have traveled together with them will believe this point. They just wanted to reach out to overseas fans of similar ages. But [metaphorically,] it does not construe being more fond of the youngest of many children, nor being partial towards the weakest. In this way, they shall still be proactive at the official Cafe as much as possible.

9. With the various rumors abuzz nowadays, is there any specific clarification to make?

Firstly, it have been negative media reports that are presently circulated the most. But all the fans know those are not the facts, so it is felt that there is no necessity for any specific clarification. On the rumor that a team member cried at the China performance, all the members verified that this was unfounded. In addition, half the rumors about the members now in circulation are false. For example, SoHee’s ‘umbrella fighter’ & so on.

10. The company said it will deliver a concert DVD. Why is it not on sale yet?

It is because, at that time, the company had casually filmed in order to confirm the stage positions. The picture quality was not the greatest. It was similar to, in wanting to shoot a whole soccer field, the people in shot turned out minuscule. They did not meet commercial value & thus not processed & put on sale.

Regretfully, there is no DVD for the first concerts. If concerts are held again later, they will strive to film some DVD-releasable videos.

11. It is the 3rd Anniversary. Anything to say to the Wonderfuls?

The group members joked that, having felt to be together for so long, it was only for 3 years? During the 3 years, they had many ideas whenever such a commemorative day arrived. But, ultimately due to this or that reason, nothing big-scale was organized. During the 3 years, they experienced many adversities & difficulties, but feel very happy to have the Wonderfuls’ support, & they want to thank everyone.

The members also promised to find time during the 3rd Anniversary commemorative day to film some keepstake videos & upload them.