BEAST, 4Minute and G.NA were expected to meet their fans at the AIA K-POP 2013 concert held on 27th June at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, with the theme “Be real. Love it. Live it.” The event was the first ever concert sponsored by a life insurer in the country.
In a press conference held before the concert to introduce the star-studded line-up, Bill Lisle, CEO of AIA Bhd said, “AIA has been privileged to do business in Malaysia for 65 years and this is something we do not take for granted. To celebrate this important milestone with the people who help us make a difference – our customers, employees, agency members and partners – we’ve brought a taste of Korea’s famous pop acts to Malaysia. The concert also provides the perfect opportunity for AIA Bhd. to connect with the younger generation.”
“With Korean pop music now a phenomenon which is taking the world by storm, this concert will give us the opportunity to support some of the amazing talents Asia has to offer while capturing the interest, energy and real passion of today’s younger generation,” Lisle concluded.
Present at the press conference was BEAST, a six-member boy group comprised of Doojoon, Kikwang, Junhyung, Dongwoon, Yoseob and Hyunseung, who had just recently released their digital single called “Will You Be Okay?” on May 29th which topped all Korean major music charts. Another featured artist was 4Minute, comprised of Hyuna, Jiyoon, Gayoon, Sohyun and Jihyun, whose latest title track “What’s Your Name?” from the mini-album “Name is 4Minute” reached the No. 1 spot on various charts, including Billboard K-POP Hot 100. A solo act in Korea’s pop scene, G.NA’s latest single “Oops” from her “Beautiful Kisses” mini-album has clinched the top spot in one of the most popular Korean music shows called “K-Chart”.
G.Na revealed that after she ended the promotion of “Oops”, she was getting her next album ready, which will hopefully be out soon. She also said, “I’ll be practising and I’ll be going overseas to visit places like Malaysia,” further stating that she would like to visit other places as well in order to promote herself. When asked whether she would like to become more active in acting, G.Na said that her Korean language is not as good as she would have liked but she would like to try acting when her Korean language improves. She showed her determination by saying, “Trying is always good, and so I would like to try acting one day when my language has improved.”
4Minute talked about what makes them different from other girl groups and said that “unlike other groups, all 5 of us have different personalities and characteristics, so we believe that this is our group’s unique factor.” Asked about their recent comeback with the song “What’s Your Name?” and their success on the Gaon chart in May, the group shared that “we were very nervous, but very happy that it has reached No. 1″ They also revealed that they have a new release on 28th June, called “It’s Poppin’”, which is a song with a dance theme. Nam Ji Hyun said on behalf of 4minute, “we request that our fans see for themselves when the song is released” and they hoped that everyone will love it too.
Having been to Malaysia many times before for promotional purposes, BEAST members said that, “Malaysia is very stylish and fashionable, so hopefully we’ll find a chance to explore the city and do some shopping.” They also talked about their ‘Beautiful Show’ tour, which will begin in Seoul on 21th and 21st July, saying that “we hope we will have an opportunity to visit Malaysia in the future (for the concert). Besides from their activities as singers, three of BEAST members, Doojoon, Kikwang and Junhyung have tried their hands at acting in dramas. For the remaining three members, Yoseob, who has yet to star in a drama said “If the opportunity arises, we would definitely be interested in acting, especially having seen the other members do so well. The rest of us hope that we may also achieve such success in acting”
The official AIA K-POP site www.aiakpop.com.my was launched in May to update K-POP fans on the latest concert news, photos and videos of their favorite K-POP artistes.
2013 AIA Kpop Concert in Malaysia is brought to you by AIA Bhd. Thanks for the media opportunity given to Kpopstarz team!
The full transcript of the press conference is below:
Question 1 (G.NA):
What have you been up to following the promotion of the single ‘Oops,’ from your latest mini album?
G.NA:
At the moment I am getting my next album ready. I’ll be practising, and I’ll be going overseas to visit places like Malaysia, and hopefully I’ll be able to visit other places as well to promote myself. My album will be in the making, and hopefully that will be out soon.
Question 2 (BEAST):
Do you plan to visit Malaysia as part of your 2013 ‘Beautiful’ show tour, which begins in Seoul this July?
BEAST:
(Dong Woon) : On July 20th and 21st, we will be performing in Seoul for the ‘Beautiful’ tour, and we hope that we will have an opportunity to visit Malaysia in the future.
Question 3 (4Minute):
How do you feel about your success on the Gaon chart in May?
4Minute:
(Ji Hyun) : The new song ‘What’s Your Name?’ was our comeback after a year. We were very nervous, but we’re happy that it has reached No. 1. We have a new release next week, which we hope everyone will love too.
Question 4 (4Minute):
Tell us about the dance theme of your new single ‘It’s Popping’ which will be released on the 28th of June.
(Ji Hyun) The song will debut on June 28th, and we request that our fans see for themselves when the song is released.
Question 5 (4Minute & BEAST):
Are there any places in Malaysia that you wish to visit?
4Minute:
(Ji Hyun) : I heard that the beaches in Malaysia are very beautiful, so we hope we have enough time to visit one.
BEAST:
(Yo Seob) Malaysia is very stylish and fashionable, so hopefully we’ll find a chance to explore the city and do some shopping.
Question 6 (BEAST)
Doo-joon, Gikwang and Junhyung have tried their hand at acting for dramas. Hyunseung, Yoseob and Dongwoon, are you all also interested in acting?
BEAST:
(Yo Seob) : If the opportunity arises, we would definitely be interested in acting. Having seen the other members do so well, the rest of us hope we may also achieve such success in acting.
Question 7 (G.NA):
Have you ever considered becoming more active in the acting scene?
G.NA:
Unfortunately my Korean language is not as good as I would like at the moment. So when my Korean language improves, I would love to get the chance to try acting. Trying is always good, and so I would like to try acting one day when my language has improved.
Question 8 (4Minute):
How do you think 4Minute differs from the other girl groups out there?
4 Minute:
(Ji Hyun) : Unlike other groups, all 5 of us have different personalities and characteristics, so we believe that this is our group’s unique factor.
Writer: Aisyah Roslan | Photo Credits: AIA Bhd. | Contributor: Ain Osman
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