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Riding the Seoul Train
Danny Im of 1Tym performs in October at Constitution Hall, where the crowd included (below, from left) Elaine Park, Joanne Kim and Christina Oh. "I like American music too, but sometimes I find it too sexual," said Christina, 16. "Korean music is more innocent, but still really fun."
(Photos By Tracy A. Woodward -- The Washington Post)
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In seconds, the audition is over. Alice's bilingual youth, spent listening to countless hours of Korean songs, watching Korean television dramas and visiting fan Web sites and forums, culminated in a 30-second performance that was rattled by nerves and a quiver in her voice.
"It was my first time auditioning," she says with a hint of disappointment. Then brightens: "I'm going to go to Korea and try out again."
* * *
Just as baby boomers once fought over which Beatle would be their "boyfriend," teens Elaine Park, Joanne Kim and Christina Oh argue over who gets to "claim" Tae Yang of boy band Big Bang.
They are sophomores at Lake Braddock High and self-described BFFs -- best friends forever. All born and raised in Fairfax, the three have attended the same schools and churches since childhood. They've shared countless hours lounging in each other's bedrooms, the walls decorated with posters of Korean boy bands, memorizing lyrics and scouring Korean entertainment forums like Soompi.com for scraps of gossip.
At the concert at Constitution Hall, the three stake their claim to a small section in front of the stage. Elaine says she will go home happy if she can give Big Bang's Tae Yang a personal memento -- maybe her student ID.
As performers come on, one by one, the friends sing all the lyrics -- Korean and English -- to songs performed by Se7en, Gummy and Lexy. Arms interlaced, they sway side to side.
"I like American music too, but sometimes I find it too sexual," says 16-year-old Christina. "Korean music is more innocent, but still really fun."
Suddenly the stage falls dim. With a buildup of smoke and flashing lights, the six members of Big Bang come out to the heavily synthesized dance beats of the song "La La La."
The BFFs lose it as the music inspires a hormonal storm. The floor shakes. Fans jump and scream. "Musheesuh!" a girl in back yells. You are so handsome!
Elaine presses forward, trying to get as close as she can. Her moment arrives; Tae Yang comes to her part of the stage. She frantically grabs for something to give him: a water bottle. He takes it and smiles. She floats to another world, but a very familiar one.
