Do I Experience Racism or Discrimination as an African American Person At K-pop Audtions

Hii Guys! This is Charlese! And I'm back at it again with another post!

This post is based on a comment I got in one of my videos asking me, and I quote,

"How people feel about you at auditions? I mean did someone stares at you in a different way (or laugh etc.) because your not Asian or any racism thing happen?" - neltasticvids

I did a video answering the question here

and I thought it would be a good idea to make a blog post about it as well!

The commenter is basically asking, do I experience racism or discrimination, as a Black/African American girl, at K-pop auditions?

The short answer to this question is.....(drum roll)...............No!

BUT I know you guys want the long answer lol xD

So for the long answer, I'm not going to lie when I first started auditioning for Korean entertainment companies I did experience some awkwardness and feeling like I was out of place like I didn't belong there; kind of like semi impostor syndrome. But those feelings of not belonging and not "fitting in" were products of my own insecurities and lack of confidence in myself no one else EVER made me feel that way.

If anything, everyone has ALWAYS been kind, respectful and welcoming towards me. No one ever really stares at me and when they do it's not mean or unwelcoming stares. Because I live in Korea now and I'm usually the ONLY NON-ASIAN in the WHOLE room of course I will get some stares [from the Korean applicants] but it's never unfriendly or rude.. When they [the Korean applicants] stare at me it's out of admiration or genuine interest! They think it's cool that I'm auditioning for the same things they are.

They even go so far as helping me fill out my application form and showing me where to go, etc....


I have a cute experience to share ^_^

Every time I have gone to a JYP audition some random cute Korean guy is ALWAYS trying to help me! I'm SO SERIOUS!!! I don't know what it is but EVERY TIME I went to a JYP audition [here in Korea] there was always a Korean guy, who was also auditioning for JYP, that would help me. BTW these guys were REALLY good looking! All of the people that audition are all REALLY GOOD LOOKING so....it made my heart flutter all these good looking guys paying attention to me I felt special lol xD hahaha

Also the staff is REALLY nice and welcoming! They  NEVER made me feel like I didn't belong there; they treated me with just as much respect and kindness like they did with the other Korean applicants. I was never made to feel out of place at ANY audition I've gone to. They assisted me to the best of their abilities and made me feel comfortable being there which leads me to the main point of this post.


Being a Non-Asian K-pop fan is hard ENOUGH as it is but being an Aspiring Non-Asian K-pop Idol is seen as you asking to get laughed at, mocked and publicly shamed. For YEARS and until this day I still get comments of people saying that I shouldn't audition [to become a K-pop idol] because Koreans are RACIST and they will be racist towards you so I shouldn't even try and that I would have a better chance in my own country as a singer blah blah blah yeah....okay -.-

Well I'm here to tell you that those opinions are exactly what they are....OPINIONS! they are completely FALSE! and therefore, they don't matter! ^_^ 

And you can take my word for it! As a Black/African American girl who goes to K-pop auditions and has been for the past decade! I can surely say that these people don't know what they are talking about because I have NEVER experienced ANY RACISM or DISCRIMINATION at ANY of the K-pop auditions I went to! And I have been to K-pop auditions in the USA, China and South Korea!

And like I said...I'm a Black/African American girl with an Afro! okay...I look NOTHING like the average Korean applicant. I don't have pale skin, I don't have long straight hair, I am not 43kgs! But despite ALL of that I still go to the auditions and I NEVER have any problems!

Basically what I'm trying to say is don't let someone else's opinion dictate how you should live your life. Because if you do that you're giving that person power to rule over you and persuade you and to make you believe that you aren't good enough when in all actual reality what you have right now IS good enough! You just need to take the first steps! Start where you are! Use what you have! and be consistent! and I promise everything will fall in place.

So...if you I want to audition for a Korean entertainment company my advice to you is to DO IT! JUST DO IT! What's a fail without a try? 2019 is year of DOING NOT SECOND-GUESSING!!! and no more of letting others opinions rule us anymore!

NEW MUSIC MONDAY'S EP.2 : TROY(트로이) - Why are We?(변해가)

Hii Guys!!! I back with another NEW MUSIC MONDAY'S!!!!



TODAY'S MUSIC MONDAY CHOICE IS.....TROY!!!!








After their debut in March, TROY has finally made a comeback with an mid-tempo R&B hip-hop track co-composed by Lee Hyun Do and Bumkey. The song talks about many changes lovers go through in a relationship. The MV starts off with the quartet singing in several locations with noticeable outfit changes.  Each member is sporting their own unique version of street/ hip-hop style. The MV also includes a story-line which shows a couple going through a break-up but end the end get back together because they can't get over each other. I am in love with the song and I am in love with TROY!!! ^_^  I hope you enjoy the song as much as I do and please give TROY lots of love and support okay! ^_~ 

NOW....let's learn more about this group! 

Group Name: TROY
Members: Bumkey (leader), Jaewoong, Changwoo, Kanto (maknae)
Debut: March 11, 2014
Debut Song: "Green Light"
Genre: Hip-hop/R&B
Label: Brand New Music Korea
Fanclub Name: Troyan

Song List: Green Light


"Last March, a new entertainer R&B hiphop group "TROY" debuted with its legendary single 
"Green Light" after three years of preparation with Korea's number one black music record
producer Brand New Music. Six months later, Troy returns with a new single "Why Are We" 
with even deeper and richer sounds" (Youtube).















BUT! they aren't your average boy group...these guys were doing individual projects before they joined TROY. 

Birth Name: Kwon Ki Bum
Stage Name: Bumkey
Birthday: September 22, 1984
Position: Leader, Main Vocalist
Height: 172 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Instagram: @bumkey84
Twitter: @BUMKEY

• Lived in LA for 5 years 
• Released two solo singles in 2013: Bad Girl feat. E-Sens and Attraction feat. Dynamic Duo,and a Digital Single in 2014: Home
• Collaborated in more than 30 songs
• Was part of 2Wins along with the rapper TopBob (they released a mini album called2Wings)
• Was also part of an R&B group called Rhythmking along with Kwon Junsu, Park Suncheol, Lee Hwan and Lee Heecheol

Birth Name: Lee Jae Woong
Stage Name: Jaewoong
Birthday: October 16, 1981
Position: Rapper
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Instagram: @snow2mic
Twitter: @jwsnow81

• Was a professional snowboarder for 14 years, had to stop because he injured his knee

• Worked as a model

• Speaks english

• Studied physical education at Kyonggi University 

Birth Name: Joo Chang Woo
Stage Name: Changwoo
Birthday: January 7, 1983
Position: Rapper, Vocalist
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 69 kg
Instagram: @joochangwoo
Twitter: @drjujo

• Was a model

• His interest in music began in high school 

• Is close friends with Shorry J from Mighty Mouth. Is also close friends with the rapper/singer Bizniz

• Has great interest in fashion

Birth Name: Choi Kwang Ryul
Stage Name: Kanto
Birthday: May 23, 1994
Position: Rapper, Maknae
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Instagram: @youngblood_kanto
Twitter: @kanto94

• Started interest on music influenced by Dynamic Duo

• Released solo single What You Want featuring Kim Sunggyu from INFINITE

• Has two mixtapes: Initial Step (released in 2012) | DL and Young Blood (released in 2013) | DL 

• Participated in the show ”Show Me The Money”

• Featured on songs and MVs.

(sources: Soompi, Miss Korea, Fuckyeahkpoptroy, Youtube)

Cool right?! ^_^ They are very talented guys and I hope you check them out and support them! ALSO here are some more videos and websites that I recommend if you want to learn more about them. ^_^

http://fuckyeahtroy.tumblr.com/about
http://misskpop.weebly.com/troy-profile.html
WE TROY ep.1 - Bumkey story
WE TROY ep.2 - Jaewoong story
WE TROY ep.3 - Changwoo story
WE TROY ep.4 - Kanto story
Information about Brand New Music Company



That's all for today folks! I hope you enjoyed and learned a lot! Stay tune for more post...and I'll see you all later take care! SEEYA! ^_~

Upcoming JYP global 2014 auditions ^_^ YEAH!!!

Hii everyone long time no see...well...just been lazy, busy and very uncreative sooooo....yeahhhh sorry ^_^' teehee

anywhoooo mooooving on.....

YES!!!!!!!! FINALLY, YOU HEARD IT RIGHT FOLKS!

JYP IS HAVING A GLOBAL AUDITION THIS YEAR IN USA, CHINA AND CANADA! 

I don't know anymore details than that..but I will keep this post updated. 

I am most definitely going to go to the audition...so I will post a full experience review ^_~ 

For more info of the audition click here ^_^ 

The Importance of Learning Korean

Hey Guys how’s your life going? Mine’s is going great! It’s Christmas Eve…YEAH!!! That’s means people will be off work, families will come together in time to celebrate the holidays and Santa will be delivering presents to all the boys and girls…But yeah anyway, I wanted to talk you guys because I think it is a topic that is discussed but it should be stressed more; especially if you plan on being a trainee by next year. Today’s topic is going to be about the importance of learning Korean.

I’ve been studying Korean for about 2 weeks now and it’s going great! I’m learning a lot. I am also learning Chinese as well just so I can have another tool under my belt. I am taking Chinese in University and I’m studying Korean myself because unfortantely my university no longer offers Korean TT^TT (sad face) BUT…anyway it’s chill I’ve been doing fine on my own and I can tell you guys more about the product I’m using to learn this language. I think it’s great and it’s also cheaper than Rosetta Stone.

I think learning Korean is VERY VERY VERY VERY important for you guys to learn and here are my reasons why:

1.       Since you do want to be “Korean” Idols you are going to have to learn it someday so why not start now?

a)      The companies are going to have to pay to teach you Korean and that will be one of your very important classes to take but, if you already knew it than they won’t have to spend money on that and you could be taking other useful classes. That would save them some money if you already knew that language.

2.      When you go to auditions it would something impressive to put on your audition profile that you can speak Korean (especially if you are non-Korean).

a)      If you impress the judges with your singing/dancing/acting/comedy or whatever and they asked you in Korean to do something else, it would impress them it you could understand them because they wouldn't have to use the translator to talk to you.

b)      Also I think it puts you on a more intimate level with the judges because if you speak to someone in your language it goes to their head but, you speak to them in their language it goes to their hearts.

c)      Plus, it would show how hard working you are and how much you really want to be a K-pop idol.

3.      Even, if you don’t want to be a K-pop idol it would still be cool to learn Korean because

a)      You wouldn’t need subtitles for every little thing you watched in Korean (Korean dramas, variety shows, music videos, etc…)

b)      If you actually went to Korea you would be able to survive because you can speak the mother language and Koreans would appreciate you more because you took time to learn their language and culture.

c)      Plus, wouldn’t it be awesome to put on resume that you are fluent in Korean? ^_^

d)     And if you have Korean friends you can speak to them in Korean and impress all the Americans or Non-Korean speakers around you ^_^ YEAH!

So now do you see why it is important for you to learn Korean. It’s good to know other languages so that you are more well-rounded as a person and human being. By learning an another language you will able to connect with people in a much more intimate and deeper way. Why do you think Korean entertainment companies go through all that trouble just to teach their artist different languages? They do that so the artist can be well-rounded and have a deeper connection with their fans and show that nation that they do appreciate them and find their culture interesting. And learning another language is really good for your brain!

So, are you ready to start your learning Korean journey? GOOD! NOW!!! I will tell you about some good products out there to help you on your journey.

1.      Living Language Korean is a great product, I am currently using and I’m receiving great results from it and I recommend to any and everyone! Here’s the link to that CLICK HERE

2.      Talk To Me In Korean is a really good website to learn Korean from and it’s FREE! So that’s awesome too right? All you have to do is click on this link CLICK HERE

I really recommend you guys learning from these products. I have wonderful results from using them.

And that’s about it! ^_^ I hope I spark a little fire of inspiration to get you guys going towards learn Korean. And with all that said I’ll see guys later! 안녕!