Teenage girls ready to lead K-pop

Baek Ye-rin, left, and Park Ji-min of 15& put up their best pose for the camera. Following a release of their single, they are now working on their next single. / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

Park Ji-min and Baek Ye-rin are no different from other teenagers;15 years old, they brim with curiosity, are interested in fashion and love hanging out with friends. But their booming and powerful voices tell more about themselves. Park and Baek who are now a duo called 15& may well be the next big thing in K-pop.

Managed by JYP Entertainment, they made their debut last month with the single “I Dream” amid much interest and anticipation. They are currently working on their next single.

“It felt really good to appear on stage and sing our first single as professionals, though I could not feel relaxed during the past month,” Park Ji-min said Wednesday in an interview with The Korea Times.

Their single “I Dream,” a ballad, is about the two girls who realize what they had long dreamt of. Park beat out other powerful and older singers in April to grab the top prize in the television audition program “K-Pop Star.” Baek, known as a “genius girl in ballads,” attracted media attention in 2007 after she displayed her talent on the television show “Star King.”

Park, who has a bright and bubbly personality, explained how she got paired with the shy Baek.

“We took vocal and dance lessons together for one month after I officially joined the company. And I thought our voices worked very well together, so I suggested that we debut as a duo,” Park said. “And both us are originally from Daejeon too, it makes us feel closer.”

Despite their efforts and good work, some people, however, expressed negative views online about them debuting together earlier.

“Some people said I took advantage of Ji-min’s success. When I heard it, I really felt offended and devastated. And it stressed me out so much because I also went through five years of intensive training here. But after our debut, I feel they have become more favorable towards me and support us as a group,” Baek said.

Baek, who trained at JYP Entertainment in New York for two years, passed her high school qualification exam this year, whereas Park is currently in her final year at Cheongdam middle school in Gangnam, southern Seoul. The teenage girls once wished that they could lead a normal life like their friends who go out shopping in groups and eating snacks together after school.

“I don’t get to hang out with friends like in the old days due to my tight schedule but I try to stay positive as I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do. I can manage it, you know, I am still young,” Park said.

Park grew up in a musical family; her father was an amateur singer for a long time. Park said her father frequently stressed the importance of having the ability to write and compose songs since she was chosen the winner of the audition program.

“I have already composed some melodies. I haven’t got the lyrics down yet. Now I think I need to learn a musical instrument like Ye-rin. She plays piano very well,” Park said.

“I was always keen to play classical and jazz piano since I was seven. And I am also interested in songwriting so I expect we can help each other and write our own songs in the future,” Baek said.

Asked about their plans and any genres they want to try in the future, the girls said they would like to show variety of music styles such as pop ballads and dance in their upcoming singles and albums.

“I want to become like Korean singer Zion. T, someone with an exclusive and unique voice. I would also love to try some modeling if the chance is given to me,” Baek said.
Park also said, “I would love to do musicals, sitcoms and even television talk shows. I think I have the potential. But most importantly, my ultimate goal as an artist is to create a new music genre like Elvis Presley. I will strive to achieve my long-term dream. Watch us!” <The Korea Times/Rachel Lee>