Author & Editor Park Chanyong Reflects on NewJeans’ Bold Breakthrough in Surprise Live

“After watching NewJeans’ live stream, I realized that this was truly their first breakthrough as artists. By ‘artist,’ I mean their ability to tell their own stories based on personal thoughts and reasoning, as well as their courage to face the risks that come with this profession.

K-pop, or to put it figuratively, ‘idol content,’ has always been a meticulously planned and edited product. The level of detail in this process far exceeds what outsiders can imagine. If I hadn’t worked at Arena magazine from 2022 to 2024 and directly interacted with artists, I probably wouldn’t have understood this either. There’s a reason why people in the entertainment industry remain silent about these things.

Amidst that context, NewJeans dared to speak up. They even explained why Min Hee Jin is so important to them — she mapped out a vision and shared it with them over a long period of time. In my limited perspective, very few artists could come up with such ideas on their own. And to publicly express it? Even rarer.

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Don’t get me wrong, I’m not belittling artists. In fact, what’s different about office workers or freelancers in this case? How many people really share their own direction with their boss or colleagues? Aside from vague comments like ‘want to get rich’ or ‘want to quit,’ how many people truly have a personal vision and determination? I think Min Hee Jin did something admirable by inspiring, convincing, and mentoring these beautiful young women, guiding them towards passion for their work.

The five members of NewJeans didn’t just stop at realizing that vision. They built their own narrative logically and had the audacity to express it through a ‘surprise livestream.’ It’s rare to see the true face of an artist, unless you’re a close friend or an insider. There’s no such thing as ‘unedited entertainment.’ Yet, in the first five minutes of this video, they didn’t even speak. It showed the real image of these kids—nervous and anxious.

I’ve always admired those who dare to tell their own stories, especially when I see that story and courage stem from a justified or admirable reason. These five members of NewJeans aren’t just kids. They’ve done something that even many adults might not dare to do when fully aware. And in my opinion, they have every right to do so.

People behind computers, those who only look at numbers or rules, those who view other people’s lives like stock charts, they criticize NewJeans for their recklessness and mistakes. Honestly, mistakes exist everywhere. I even think this whole idol industry has been flawed from the start. But there are still people willing to endure so much to try and create something meaningful.

This profession is strange. It’s a blend of production, distribution, and service that creates a product that drives people crazy. In this world, things like degrees and background lose their meaning. If they mattered, Bang Sihyuk, who graduated from prestigious Seoul National University, would have handled everything perfectly and composed flawless songs.

The greatness lies within NewJeans, in each member. If they weren’t exceptional, these issues wouldn’t have survived until now. They even organized that live stream to create something even more remarkable. Those who created this excellence earnestly declare that they have a vision and want to do more in the future. I’m excited to see what more they will create.

In reality, idols are just performers in the product known as K-pop. If compared to film, idols are merely actors. And previously, NewJeans were like that too—just performers.

But now, things are different. I believe that through that live video, NewJeans have debuted as the directors of their own lives. Let me reiterate: standing before the crowd, knowing they will be criticized yet still daring to tell their story, that is no ordinary courage. I support that willpower and bravery.”