[03.29.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 12- “I want to be 20 years old”

Sandara Park, who felt like their first debut stage was not enough, is unable to forget their performance on Music Core last month on the 20th.

"I made tons of mistakes during our first performance. It seems like that experience became an advantage. Since I was really excited on Show Music Core, I was running all over the place. The audience had fun with us as well. It was the best feeling ever."


Although 2NE1 has been on several music programs, their return to Show Music Core was a bit late. They made their first appearance on Show Music Core after their debut 9 months previously, and were able to properly display their true skills.

Sandara Park stated "Even thinking about that performance makes my heart beat faster."

Sandara Park, who possesses a girl-like sensitivity to her, especially likes rehearsal stages. She said that she likes it the best when she sees other artists listening to their song and enjoying themselves. Sandara Park was extremely passionate when she talked about music.

"We have rehearsals for music programs. When we're rehearsing on stage, I hope that other artists will enjoy the music together with us. I also really like it when female fans like us."

Sandara Park believes she will be fighting a new battle this year. Not only in terms of music, but various other talents and revealed she wanted to do acting as well.

"Sometimes I wish I could appear in dramas too. I really liked being in drama "The Return of Iljimae". I want to try roles in various genres. I want to try something like Han Yeseul's role in SBS 'Fantasy Couple' too. She's a really interesting character. (Laughs)"

Sandara Park, who puts her 100% effort in all of her endeavours, feels that acting is a new challenge to her.

"I also want to try the role of an innocent, pitiful girl too. A character who, although is suffering from a typical disease and their life has been shortened, they are still living each day bravely. I did something similar in Gummy's music video, but it's a bit different from the lines in a drama."


If Sandara Park were to start acting again, who would be her opposing character?

At the time of Gummy's music video, she was matched with Big Bang's TOP, she was paired with Jeong Ilwoo in the drama "The Return of Iljimae", and she also acted with Lee Minho in a CF. She even did a kiss scene with Lee Minho.


"I've had a lot of experience working with celebrities who were born in 1987. I don't know if it was fate or not. (Laughs) I want to act with Top, Jung Ilwoo and Lee Minho again. At that time, I could barely speak properly with them, but if I were to meet with them again, I think we would become close."

When speaking about Sandara Park the other day, Lee Minho who was filmed in the kiss scene, said that he was unable to become close to her because he was too shy, and that he was unable to get close to the celebrities that he has worked with.

"Lee Minho-sshi? I saw an interview where Lee Minho-sshi talked about me too. Truthfully, when I saw the interview I felt a bit guilty. I have a slightly shy personality. So I feel sad about it too."

27 year old Sandara Park wants to be 20 years old. Since there is still too many things she wants to do, and things she has to do, she expressed her greed that she wants to be young again.

CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translation by GEE @ YGLadies.com

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[03.26.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 11- “Why don't they contact me?”

The season that makes all girls hearts flutter has arrived. Lately the spring wind has been blowing gently, and Sandara Park's heart has been fluttering too.

"Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty in the woods, all get a prince charming on a white horse, why don't I have one~"

27 year old Sandara Park dreams of love. With sparkling eyes, Sandara Park said she really wanted to experience love. We became curious as to what kind of Prince Charming she was dreaming of.

"Um.. Wonbin-sshi and Kang Dongwon-sshi? (Haha) It's sad that these days Wonbin-sshi doesn't do many activities. He was really cool in the drama Ggokji. My ideal type of guy is a tough younger guy and Wonbin gave exactly that kind of image in Ggokji."

Sandara Park who is still lost in her dreams revealed that the truth is she was a fool at love too. Moreover, she said she had trouble speaking in front of guys.

"I don't have much aegyo and I can't speak well to guys. When guys speak even one or two words to me, I respond really awkwardly. When the other members see this, they warn me 'Until you change your personality, you won't be able to get a boyfriend'."

'Foolish Dara' has had one experience in dating. She had a boyfriend for one year but the relationship faded between them. After this, she remained single for a long time. She freely expressed her impatient heart.

"If you become close to me, I'll be really bright towards you all the time. I'm the 'outgoing one' amongst 2NE1. It's a bit tough to become close to me, but if you do, I'll be 'outgoing' Sandara."

Although Sandara Park said that she wasn't very popular, she has captured the hearts of many men in Korea. Many male celebrities have stated that Sandara Park is their ideal types on shows too.

"It seems like there are a couple of guys who have said I'm their ideal types. I saw those shows too. But for some reason they don't contact me? I've even asked myself 'Why don't they contact me?'. I don't think I'm very popular. Even those close to me don't show me interest, although I'm always with my managers. It's a shame."

Even Yang Hyunsuk's representatives changed their contract agreements for the sake of 'Foolish Dara'. But Sandara Park has only been disappointed.

"Yang Hyunsuk's representatives shortened our contract that said we couldn't date for 5 years to 3 years. But it still doesn't seem like it's good enough. In 3 years I'll be in my 30s. Of course work is important too. I can work hard while being in love too."

When Sandara Park was young, she dreamed of getting married at 22. She wanted to wear a wedding dress when she was pretty and at the peak of her youth.

"I really don't want to do it past 30. However because of my contract, it seems like I'll have to. I'm sad. I don't even have a chance to meet anyone."

CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translated by GEE @ YGLadies.com

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[03.24.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 10- “My little brother is Cheondoong..”

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]


With a dongsaeng who is walking down the same path as her, and dreaming the same dream as her, she is not alone in her celebrity life.

Sandara Park's youngest brother is Cheondoong of MBLAQ. Although he overflows with charisma on stage, to Sandara Park, he'll always be like a little kid.

"Cheondoong and I are six years a part. Starting from when he was young I'd carry him on my back and stuff and I always worried about him. Even still, when I see him perform on stage, it's admirable. Isn't he cute when he shows off his personal talents on variety shows?"

Cheondoong was added late into the group that Bi produced, MBLAQ. Because of this, he had to work twice as hard.

"Starting from when Cheondoong was young, he wanted to become a singer. He worked even harder than me at learning dance. I think he's much better than me in terms of musical talent. (Laughs)"

While talking about Cheondoong, Sandara Park's eyes were filled with love. 2NE1 members even said "Sandara Park is like Cheondoong's stalker."

"Cheondoong's apartment is pretty far from ours so I can't see him often. It seems like my brother's busier than me. So we chat online and cam together online everyday. If I look at what Cheondoong is doing through webcam, the other members keep saying 'She's like one of his crazy fangirls.'"


Sandara Park's Description - In 1993 when I was in Grade 3, piggybacking my baby brother Cheondoong behind the Daegoo zoo.

Sandara Park is sad that she can't see Cheondoong often. Their activities are at different times so they can't even meet at broadcasting stations.

"In television shows, Cheondoong says "Noona, buy me food". After I see the show and tell him I'll buy him food, he tells me 'We're working on a new album so I don't have time'. I finally saw him during last year's ending award shows. I took the snacks from our waiting room and brought them to MBLAQ. Cheondoong needs to eat a lot. (Haha)"

Rather than opposing how out of their three children, the oldest daughter and the magnae are doing celebrity activities, their parents support them. Because of their parents' support, they were able to be acknowledged as celebrities and receive love from the public.

"While I lived in the Philippines, my mother was my manager. So she was always by my side. These days, she monitors me from home. I'm most scared for when my mom 'points out things'".

Sandara Park and Cheondoong are dreaming the same dream. Both want to make 'Our Studio'.

"I always talk with my brother. How in the future, we're going to build our own house. The first floor will be where we live with our parents, the second floor will be our studio. Truthfully, even though sometimes I want to stand on stage with my brother, we each have our own places to be."



CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translated by GEE @ YGLadies.com

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[03.22.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 9- “What the 2NE1 members do while at their apartment..”

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

2NE1's mix and matched framework is not much different from on stage. What kind of image do these girls have outside of their dazzling performances?

While it may seem like they like going to clubs and living a free lifestyle, the truth is that Sandara Park's hobby is doing the laundry and Park Bom enjoys cooking.

"When we don't have practice, we mostly spend our time at the apartment. It's not that we're not allowed to go out, it's just that we don't really have anywhere to go. What do our members do at home? Minji is singing 24/7. As for me, I keep on doing the laundry."

Recently, Sandara Park learned how to use the washing machine from CL. Since she was a celebrity starting from when she was young, Sandara almost didn't know how to do any housework. After learning how to do the laundry for the first time, she became really into it.

"The truth is, I can't cook very well. When it's dinner time, Minji cooks stew and CL makes ham and eggs. Me? I set the table.(Laughs) Park Bom can make really good cookies. But one summer, she made cookies and it was so hot I thought I died. Ah. Cleaning? We each clean our own room."


Through the four of them living together, it seems that their roles have really been divided well. So well that they seem to even be able to match their breathing on stage.

One of the things at the centre of 2NE1's personal life is that age is just a number. Essentially, the role of 'unni's and 'dongsaeng's have reversed. Gong Minji tells Sandara Park often that she's cute.

"My dongsaengs tell me that I'm cute. It's been reversed right? Honestly speaking, the four of us (CL, Sandara Park, Gong Minji, Park Bom) have quite a lot of energy. But we're pretty sensitive. So whether we're tired or happy, we're always relying on each other. When we're just amongst each other, everyone does aegyo a lot. Although I don't know if you'd believe it. (Haha)"


2NE1 are music bugs. They haven't experienced much outside of music. When asking her 'Have you ever ran away', she said they didn't. Then we asked 'What is the thing that you want to do the most?' and she replied 'We want to go to Lotte World.'

A while ago, Sandara Park took a vacation in Japan. She said that the most memorable part of it was going to Disney Land with the other members. She expressed her feelings about how it was an unforgettable memory, being able to play freely and enjoy themselves after so long. Not only that but the fact that both Koreans and Japanese people could recognize 2NE1, she felt thankful.

"Our members don't really like going to clubs. We all really want to go to Lotte World. We said that we'd go while wearing masks, but we still haven't gone. We should go before it gets too hot.."

Although Sandara Park has been pretty calm during the interviews, when she talks bout her life with the other members, she looks the happiest.

CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translated by GEE @ ygladies.com
Do not change these lines if taking out

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[03.19.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 8- “I wanna live the university life”

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Until the stage becomes a playground.

Though she had been looking forward to it for so long, Sandara says she was transfixed with the pressure and anxiety on her first performance.
Because she’d never even considered becoming anything other than a singer, Sandara felt so much pressure thinking it was her one chance to make a good first impression on the public, and show how much effort she’d put in.

”Our first performance was on SBS ‘Inkigayo’. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was so nervous, you see. We were getting ready until 3 in the morning at the hair salon and we didn’t get any sleep. I think it was too much. Over a thousand fans came too.”

Sandara was so nervous during her first performance that she made a mistake. She could have let it go since she’s a rookie and all, but she and the other 2NE1 members were very disappointed at their own performance.

"To be honest, we were criticised a lot after our first broadcast. We were inexperienced and didn’t even know how to use the mic properly. I wasn’t able to convey my voice to the audience. I practised with President Yang day and night for a week. I think I practised even harder than before our debut.”

Afterwards, it was a much smoother journey for 2NE1. Sandara gained popularity by the day. People started following her hairstyle and it became a ‘fashion icon’. Recently on the nation’s favourite variety show ‘1 Night 2 Days’, Kim C made many laugh by transforming into Santina Kim, copying Sandara’s fashion and so-called palm tree hair style.

"I usually discuss my hairstyles with our stylist. Our stylist suggested the palm tree hair so I tried it. I didn’t think hair would be able to stand up like that, but it did. I loved it! So I performed on stage with that hair in ‘Lollipop’ and ‘Fire’.”

In the first year of their debut, 2NE1 swept the awards in four different categories at the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA): Best Song of the Year, Music Portal Mnet Award, Best Female Rookie, Music Video Award etc.

Hundreds of singers debut each year, but every single one of them has to practise hard for it. It’s now the era where if a management agency announces they’re taking auditions for singers, thousands of people try out. Trainees are the one in several hundreds of singer-wannabes to make it through, so not a single one of them lacks passion or talent.

One reason Sandara and 2NE1 were able to do so well in their first year was that the mistakes they made on their first performance helped them grow. Everyone has stage fright to some degree. Seeing that even Yoo Jae Seok, ‘The Nation’s MC’ says he’s nervous in front of the camera, being a celebrity is no exception.
But the plucky idol Sandara chose to accept her mistakes and try harder to enjoy her time on stage.

When she wanted to become a singer as a child, it wasn’t because she wanted to earn money and become popular. It was simply because she liked singing, and music itself.

After a while, Sandara finally found herself enjoying the stage. Rather than thinking of it as showing the results of her hard work to her fans, she thought of it as more of a place she can sing her heart out. The stage was becoming 2NE1’s playground.

"We still have a long way to go. I want to ‘play’ with the audience for the rest of my life. If I play and play, over and over again I’m bound to get better, right?”

Now that she doesn’t feel any pressure towards her performances and her fans are starting to accept her as a singer, Sandara is preparing herself for another challenge. She entered the entertainment industry at an early age in the Philippines so she hasn’t been to university.

"I really wanna go to university. I had a chance once, but I don’t think it was really the right time. If I get to go to university, I would like to study something outside of the entertainment industry. I want to study business and experience campus life.”


CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translated by: sjay.x @ YGLadies.com

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[03.17.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 7- “2NE1’s story, written by Sandara Park herself”

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

A music video production diary written by Sandara herself will take the place of Part 7 of Sandara Park’s Star Diary. She wrote her own subheadings and posted the pictures herself too.

This is Reporter Dara! I see my reporting skills have been recognised by the outside world as well, so I get to be a reporter for the day.

It’s been a hot topic on the net lately. I am thinking of releasing the behind story of the filming of our ‘Try To Follow Me’ (‘TTFM’) music video.


◆The Story of How We Had to Refilm the MV

It took a whole 4 days filming 2NE1’s ‘TTFM’ music video. We didn’t have time to go back and forth between the sets in NamYang and our dorms in Seoul, so we stayed in a motel and finally finished filming.

But a few days later, we were given shocking news. We were told that we had to refilm the music video at the new company building.
(Bbarabam...ㅠ.ㅠ Could it have been that the President wanted to show off the new office?)

But we made preparations all over again and worked hard refilming it all night. The nice background was actually the new building’s cafeteria. It’s really pretty, right? I bet you never even imagined that it was a cafeteria. When we saw the results, we were amazed at how awesome President Yang and the music video director were. (haha)

It’s this picture here.


◆Our First Choreography

2NE1 was so nervous before filming the music video. This was because we didn’t have any choreography. But that nervousness was easily taken care of thanks to the newbie choreographers of ‘TTFM’. CL and Gong Minzy played a very active part in the making of the choreography.

The choreography of this music video was actually the combined work of CL, Minzy and choreographer Lee Jae Wook. They are such talented people. So with the choreography being made three days before the filming and us practising all night for two days, how was the ‘TTFM’ music video?

◆15 Different Looks!

Another spectacle of the ‘TTFM’ MV would definitely be the outfits. 2NE1 shows 15 different looks in the music video. We’re all wearing different outfits in our individual cuts as well as the group ones, so I wonder how many outfits that adds up to? Try guess.

2NE1’s stylists YangGeng (nickname) and Hyunjong really put a lot of effort into them. The funny thing is that the outfits were made before the choreography. They say the outfits were out a week before the filming of the MV, after a whole lot of meetings and fittings.

And we also got to show off some of our own personal collections in this music video.


◆Dara's Fighting Spirit Despite Her Injuries!

We were filming the highlight of the video, the part with the choreo. The ground of the set was covered in sand and because of the four cameras, we had to dance in a very small space.

So we started filming. Then Dara who had been dancing enthusiastically suddenly felt something hit her and her mind went numb. During one of the moves which included a powerful dance with their arms stretched out, Minzy had hit Dara’s head with her fist because they were so close. (ㅠ.ㅠ)

And filming went on.
But she continued being slapped, having her ankle trodden on by Minzy’s heels, being kicked and bruised in the knee etc. Not a single part of her body came out unscathed.

It was hard at the time but I hear they were overjoyed at the final results the day the music video was released.

So, was it fun reading my music video behind-story? It was really fun for me!

I hope you’ll continue to love our new song ‘Try To Follow Me’. And please keep supporting 2NE1! This was Reporter Dara, the member in charge of promoting 2NE1. See you again. (bows)



CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translation by: sjay.x @ YGLadies.com

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[03.15.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 6- “I secretly ate chocolate in the bathrooms, I have a greedy apetite"

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

”I’m going to see if you have the potential to be a singer for the last time. Show me your results in a month.”

It was like a ray of light for Sandara who was having a hard time overcoming the sadness of her situation. For the first and last time, President Yang had given her a chance.

”I practised SO hard for a month. CL, Park Bom and Gong Minzy gave me a lot of help as they watched me practise. I made a planning chart and practised until dawn.”

Park Bom taught her things on breathing, pronunciation and where to accent in songs. CL helped with selecting outfits, and Minzy with making choreography.

”At the time, the members pretty much made me up from head to toe. I think it was in spring of 2008, I tried really hard with the thought that it was the last opportunity I’d get.”

President Yang said ”For the first time, I see potential. Practise with the rest” and allowed Sandara to become a singer trainee.

”To tell the truth, I thought that meant I’d become a singer soon after. But I was deluded. I lived as a trainee for a year. There were 6 trainees in YG at the time and I think President Yang was paying close attention to all of us to decide on the best combination.”

Sandara was in a delicate situation for a year. She couldn’t let her guard down after President Yang told them ‘Noone knows whether there will be six members or five.’ As time went by, hip hop became a part of Sandara’s life too and she started becoming more and more like the other members.

Now, as an active member of 2NE1, Sandara’s trainee days have become a part of her most precious memories.

”I think I felt happy and touched by even the little things in my trainee days. Trainees take the day off on their birthdays or Christmas too. But most of them don’t have anything to do at home so they end up coming back to the practice rooms. When it is someone’s birthday, everyone celebrates together and eats ddeokbbokki. [spicy ricecakes]”

Though of course good memories weren’t the only ones. All the members including Sandara had to go through a hard time. The diet they were given to help manage their bodies also gave them greedy apetites.

”Because of our weight management, we were never allowed to eat anything fatty or oily. But you know how it is, if you’re not allowed to eat it just makes you want to eat more. The members and I used to secretly go out and eat a row of gimbap, or eat things like bread and chocolate in the bathrooms.”

Sandara chose Dakgalbi [spicy stir-fried chicken] as the most memorable dish from her trainee days. It was an expensive dish for Sandara who received pocket money from her parents.

”I didn’t exactly get that much pocket money. There wouldn’t be much left after paying for transport. I felt sorry to my younger siblings cos I could never buy them food or anything. I think Dakgalbi was the most expensive thing I bought with my own money. The members and I ate Dakgalbi on the 31st of December 2008, you see. (laughs)”

After practising for so long feeling nervous that the others had been a trainee for longer than her, Sandara was finally able to shed her label of a trainee.

”I think luck followed me. We recorded ‘Pretty Boy’ in January last year. I must have been all right at that recording. (laughs) One day President Yang called Minzy, Bom, CL and me aside and said ‘You guys are gonna be filming a CF soon so be prepared’. That CF was Lollipop. That was when I finally knew that I had become a member of 2NE1..”



CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr
Translation by: sjay.x @ YGLadies.com
DO NOT ADD/REMOVE CREDIT LINE INCLUDING THIS

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[03.12.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 5- “When I first entered YG, 'Dara, how about being an actress?”

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

”Dara, I don’t think you really fit the YG image. How about becoming an actress?”

To Sandara who had even given up her popularity in the Philippines to become a singer, these words came to her as a huge shock. Working with Yang Hyun Seok had seemed like a dream come true for Sandara as she had liked Seo Taiji & Boys and copied their dances and songs from a young age. Sandara got on her plane excited about fulfilling her dream as a singer in Korea, and that under her childhood hero too.

”I was really shocked at President Yang’s words. He was right though. In the Philippines I had a teenager image, and I lacked skill as well as being ignorant about black music. But even so I never even imagined that he’d tell me to become an actress instead. It felt like the hardships had come.”

Back in 2007 when Sandara signed an exclusive contract with YG Entertainment, the singers of YG who were active at the time included highly skilled artists like Se7en, Wheesung, Gummy and Lexy. There were also countless trainees in YG looking to follow their dreams as a singer. It caused some controversy when it was reported that YG was signing Sandara.

”I think people made the judgement that I didn’t suit YG after seeing my image in the Philippines on KBS' ‘Human Theatre’.”

Eventually, Sandara officially started off her activities as an actress. She appeared in the music video of Gummy’s ‘I’m Sorry’ with T.O.P, member of the group Big Bang. Sandara looked a little bashful as she recollected her memories from filming the music video.

”TOP is quite shy around strangers, and I’m not exactly social either so we hardly talked at the studio. My conversations with TOP consisted of only three phrases: ‘Hello. Goodbye. Good work.’ To tell the truth, we’re still awkward. (laughs)”


Her first proper step into the Korean entertainment industry was with the MBC drama ‘The Return of Iljimae’. Her role in ‘The Return of Iljimae’ was the ninja, Lee. Sandara showed an elegant charm and performed fierce action scenes.

”I filmed ‘The Return of Iljimae’ for about a week. The director and all the staff were all so nice to me. I swear they treated me better than they did to Iljimae (Jung Ilwoo) himself. (laughs) I tried really hard and it was a fun experience.”

Just as she began to enjoy being an actress, Sandara was hurt deeply and fell into a state of despair. She had been chosen for a drama, but while she was practising her lines she was suddenly dropped from the part.

”I was chosen as the lead for a masterpiece. So I’d been practising my lines and making preparations and such. But I was suddenly told that I was being dropped. It was a huge shock, I cried my eyes out.”

But Yang Hyun Seok gave Sandara a golden opportunity during her time of sorrow and despair.





CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translation by: sjay.x @ YGLadies.com

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[03.10.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 4- “The truth about the sexy photoshoot controversy..”

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

After initially becoming famous with ‘Star Circle Quest’, Sandara Park began to speed through the highway that was the Filipino entertainment industry. She was even confirmed to appear on 4 programmes a week! And as she the number of her TV appearances increased, she gained more and more popularity. But some of the unique customs of Filipino broadcasts were difficult to understand for Koreans.

”In order to be a TV star in the Philippines, you had to be active as a couple with a star of the opposite sex who was chosen for you by the broadcast companies. And most Filipino celebrities considered hiatuses deadly to a star’s career.”

Like you have to follow Roman rules when visiting Rome, Sandara faithfully followed the rules of the Filipino celebrity industry.

”To tell the truth, even during ‘Star Circle Quest’ I held on even when things got hard thinking ‘I’ll be able to relax after this’. But as soon as ‘Star Circle Quest’ ended, I was put into four different programmes. Sigh~ I didn’t get a day off for a whole year. I even had to sleep in the car. But I must have a lot of stamina. I was hardly ever sick. (laughs)”

Sandara Park, who has a huge amount of stamina despite her frail girlish looks, was able to make it through her endless schedule with her optimistic personality. When we saw Sandara smile brightly as she talked about how she made a lot of memories while running around the broadcasts stations to follow her hectic schedule after her debut, we could feel the love and affection she feels towards the Filipinos.

The person that the Filipino broadcast company chose for Sandara to be paired up with for her ‘love team’ was Hero Angeles, winner of ‘Star Circle Quest’. Next to Sandara always stood Hero Angeles.

”I did most broadcasts with Hero. In dramas, movies and CFs etc, Hero was always the counterpart to my role.”

Though she did form a ‘love team’ with Hero thinking it was all part of the custom, it caused an uncomfortable situation for Sandara because of her honest personality.
She dropped a bombshell when she said on one Filipino TV show that ‘Hero isn’t my type’. On Korean variety shows remarks like this would’ve been considered nothing more than humourous material, but it was different for the Filipinos.

”All our fans at the time cried. I think I didn’t understand enough about the whole ‘Make-believe couple’ concept.”


It became a chance for her to see for herself how deep the roots of Filipino customs really were in their fans. Another questional custom for Koreans is sexy photo shoots. At the time, such photoshoots were considered necessary as part of the process of child actresses maturing into adult actresses.

Sandara also received an offer for a photoshoot. She accepted as it was the suggestion of one of her seniors who worked for a broadcast company that also ran a magazine. She believed it when she was told she would just have to wear a skirt and a top.
‘UNO’, the magazine that offered Sandara her photoshoot was actually a prestigious male magazine.

”I’m on the petite side so I was called a ‘primary school kid’ in the Philippines a lot. I accepted the photoshoot offer because I wanted to show a different side of me.”

But when she arrived at the scene, they demanded a bikini shoot. Though she was hesitant, Sandara had been working without a manager and lacked the experience to amend the situation, especially when all the preparations had been made.
It was just one result of a just-matured young lady working in the entertainment industry without a manager.
But the photoshoot that passed by without any problems in the Philippines was made a big deal back in Korea. It was revealed too late in Korea last April and started up the ‘Sandara Park sexy photoshoot’ controversy.

The pictorial showed Sandara Park in the Philippines in 2006 wearing heavy make up, a black corset and bikini etc. for ‘UNO’.
Some people said cruel things like ‘Sandara must’ve really needed the money’. They do say that the most unexpected crisises hurt the most. Sandara had remained calm talking about herself until now, but she showed sorrow and regret while recollecting these events.

”I was really upset when people said things like ‘She did it because she needed money’. I was just trying to follow their customs, they didn’t even tell me I had to do the shoot.”

It made her even sadder to see her family in pain because of her.

”My parents were really shocked. I’d never regretted becoming a celebrity. I’d never even felt sad or angry that I had to give up my privacy. But when I saw my family watch as the public made assumptions and misjudged me, I felt regretful. It was really hard for me.”

CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Trans Credits: sjay.x @ YGLadies

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[03.08.10] Sandara Park 12 Part 'Star Diary' Part 3- "They made us eat stuff like mice and lizards.."

Start Diary Part [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Sandara Park first entered the entertainment industry in a foreign country, and is the prime example of a Korean returning to Korea to debut in their motherland.

In the time between 2003 when Sandara Park became famous in the Philippines, and her return to Korea, she gained a huge amount of popularity. They say it was to the point that if you didn’t know Sandara Park, you weren’t a native Filipino.

When she returned after being active in the Philippines, Korean fans gave her the nickname of ‘the BoA of the Philippines’.

”Becoming a celebrity in the Philippines was a coincidence. One day my friend suggested I try audition for the Filipino TV station ABS-CBN’s ‘Star Circle Quest’. I decided to try thinking it would be a good experience for me, and the results turned out unexpectedly good.”

‘Star Circle Quest’ is the Filipino equivalent of FOX’s ‘American Idol’ in the U.S.A and MNet’s ‘Super Star K’ of Korea, and was a very popular programme in the Philippines at the time, in 2004.

Although immigrating to the Philippines made her silent after being trapped by the obstacles of culture and language barriers, Sandara never gave up on her dream of becoming a celebrity. Her parents reassured her with promises that once she graduated high school, they’d send her back to Korea again. ‘Star Circle Quest’ was a chance that approached the young Sandara who was counting down the days til her high school graduation.

”I couldn’t speak Tagalog at all at the time. I was the first Korean to audition. I didn’t know anything so everything I did seemed clumsy and awkward. It must’ve seemed like a fresh new image to them at the time. I think I was lucky.”


Sandara auditioned in November of 2003 and started filming in April of 2004. Because the programme was popular enough to be broadcasted 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday, more and more people became aware of her.

”Filipinos and Korean expect different things from their artists. The people in the Philippines wanted an all-round entertainer who could sing, act, MC etc. I totally understand how the people on ‘Superstar K’ felt. I experienced for myself how ruthless survival is.”

Though she may only have started it thinking it would be a good experience for her, Sandara tried her best. Even when they put auditionees through ‘fear courses’ for them to build courage to help them act better for horror genres, Sandara did not back down. But some of the fear courses were just too extreme for a young schoolgirl.

“They made us eat stuff like cooked mice and lizards, and go into a house that was apparently actually haunted. They made us do so many awful things like cutting off chickens’ heads. I admit I didn’t eat the mice."

The contestants’ fearful experiences were all directly broadcasted to be seen by people at home. Though Sandara couldn’t do a few of the terrible missions, she refused to give up her dream of becoming a celebrity.

”When I cried because I was so scared, the production crew just made me do things that were even harder knowing I wouldn’t be able to do them. What I remember the most was making our own chicken meal. Starting with beheading a chicken in a forest, we had to do absolutely everything ourselves. It was so hard for me.”

But despite her frail looks, Sandara stayed strong. Even through repeated experiences that would’ve been difficult for a schoolgirl to endure, not once did Sandara let her parents see her cry.

”I felt like quitting so many times a day. I cried a lot during filming too. I felt like I was the only one in the world. I think it was worse because I didn’t know anything or anyone. I kept holding on though, I didn’t want to make my parents feel hurt because of my own dreams.”

This truthful side of Sandara captured the hearts of the Filipinos. In the last voting when the final 5 were being decided, she received approximately 500,000 votes via text. This was a new record for any female contestant that had ever been on the show. But in the ‘Grand Finals’, Sandara came in second.

”I was actually really happy when I didn’t win. I did try my best but even so, I lacked talent and skill. When they were about to call out the winner I was shouting in my head ‘Not me, not me!’. There would’ve been a lot of pressure, you see. When they didn’t call my name I was so happy that I jumped around. Afterwards, I was complimented for being so genuinely happy for my colleague who had won. It was actually because I was so glad for myself. (laughs)”

The Filipino media introduced Sandara’s charms as being genuine. Most of the other previous contestants ‘Star Circle Quest’ were usually signed to an agency, but Sandara was inexperienced when it came to TV broadcasts.

”On TV, I just said anything that came to mind. The reporters really liked me cos I would drop a bombshell every now and again. I think I was truthful to my emotions too. I’d cry when I was sad and let it show when I was happy; I let my emotions show. I think they liked that I was truthful and innocent.”

CREDITS
Source: http://www.asiae.co.kr/
Translation credits: sjay.x @ YGLadies.com
Do not change or add yourself to these credits when taking out.

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