Every year the finals are going through a strong scoring system that is separated in to 70% Judges Choice, 20% Local Choice and 10% Global Vote. The goal for all the fans - Grand Prize!

After 6 years, more than 30 participants and 18 winners, in 2018 Bulgaria will participate at the final concert in Changwon, South Korea. Meet Kris, Kiril, Kircho, Kristiyan and Svet. The first male Bulgarian K-pop dance cover group called TOXIC!

After the end of the Korean war, North Korea was a virtually cashless society - everyone worked for the state and was provided for by the state. And in the Communist bloc context of the day, it worked - in 1989 North Koreans were more than twice as wealthy as their comrades in China.

​„Now we think of them as a hermit kingdom and not trading very much.“ says William Brown.

​„But actually they were integrated reasonably well into the Soviet plan system of countries.” says William Brown.

The loss of support from the Soviet Union, after its collapse in 1991, and a series of droughts and floods lead to a great famine in North Korea.

​„The famine ended the public distribution system where the North Korean state fed everyone through the ration system the government couldn't supply food so people launched off on their own.” says William Brown.

Since then, a strange hybrid economy has emerged, part government-controlled - where rations are allocated by the state - and part grey market, where currency is earned in the market economy. For example: A typical textile worker in the state-run Pyongyang textile mill earns around 3,000 won per month - which has a street value of about 40 cents. But that worker pays nothing for housing or utilities and receives food rations. Her sister might legally work for an export oriented company. She's allowed to get 30,000 won per month but with fewer perks. Another sister could work for a Chinese company and earn 300,000 won per month but with zero perks from the government.

​„All the state workers get paid through this incredibly low wage system and are dependent on rations that often don't show up. The ideal situation is for one person in the family to work for the state system and one person earning real money.” says William Brown

​It is a highly inefficient system. In per capita income terms, North Koreans are now 8 times poorer than Chinese and over 20 times as poor as South Koreans. Rather than reform, the government sought to fill a shortfall in hard currency by trafficking illegal goods abroad. According to numerous reports, this illegal business is run by an agency known as Office 39.

​„It's an office that's organized principally to raise US dollars for the ruling Kim party family.” says also William Brown

A study from a Washington-based human rights group trace's the regime's criminal ventures back to the 1970s when about a dozen North Korean diplomats were expelled from Scandinavian countries for smuggling alcohol, cigarettes, and hashish. Later the government switched to foreign organized crime syndicates to sell things like counterfeit pharmaceuticals and heroin, manufactured from state-mandated poppy farms. North Korea's government has dismissed such claims and some analysts have also questioned the data. Since 2005, intercepts of North Korean smuggling have fallen sharply though more recently claims of cyber theft have proliferated. Meanwhile Kim Jong-Un has started speaking to South Korea about opening up for investment in restricted economic zones and he's talked about switching to a more China-like socialist economic construction. Whether that's a true change of heart, or just a tactical retreat in the face of sanctions remains to be seen.​

The consumption of dog meat in South Korea, also known as "Gaegogi" (Korean: 개고기), has a long history. However, in recent years, it has been controversial both in South Korea and around the world, due to animal rights and sanitary concerns. On July 17 South Korean President Moon Jae-in's dog, Tory, become the face of a canine adoption and protection campaign that launched in Seoul, urging people to not eat dogs.

The campaign is led by Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), and starts during the first day of Bok Nal or the three hottest days in the year, according to the Korean lunar calendar. During this time, some South Koreans traditionally eat dog meat soup (“boshintang”) in the belief that it helps beat the summer heat.

A poster showing before and after adoption images of Tory, including Tory being held by President Jae-in Moon, is being used in the campaign. Countless stuffed dog toys were laid in a large love heart in a public space in Seoul. The plush dogs held love hearts that read “I’m not food.” Stalls were set up around the public display to educate onlookers on the cruelty of the dog meat trade.

"President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook said they are very glad and happy because Tory has totally changed. He looked anxious and sad when he first came to them but now he looks very happy and bright." says Park So-Youn, president of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE).

Tory was a rescue dog adopted by President Moon Jae-in last year, delivering on a campaign promise to boost awareness of the fast-growing numbers of abandoned animals accompanying a surge in pet ownership. The black mixed breed became the first shelter dog to attain the title of First Dog, joining Moon's two other pets, a Korean-breed Pungsan dog called Maru and a former stray cat, Jjing-jing.

"First Dog Tori had been abandoned, abused, and raised to be eaten before he was rescued. So we organised this doll exhibition to let people know that dogs are not a dish on a table but living creatures that needs love and care." says also Park So-Youn.

"As a person who has a dog, I feel sorry that so many dogs are abandoned and raised to be eaten. I hope that, through today's event, such situations for dogs will no longer exist." says Kim Ku-Seul, participant in the event.
​
Durring the event people also signed up for dog adoption. Proceeds from the toys which cost 30,000 won ($27) each, will be put towards rescuing abused or abandoned dogs, said CARE.

Author: Alexandra Taseva
​Video:  Alexandra Taseva

June 12, 2018 - an historical day! Leaders from U.S. and Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are finally meating for the first time after the end of the Korean War in 1953.
 
"The world will see a major change."

That message has been made from U.S. President Donald Trump and top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un after the historic meeting in Singapore on Tuesday June 12. 

Medias all around the world look at this photo and note the historical moment of the handshake between  the two leaders. Negotiations wore held in an atmosphere full of mutual good wish and readiness to solve the problems. President Donald Trump also promissed to invite leader Kim Jong Un in the White House.
​
U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to work on a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. Also Washington has pledged to provide security guarantees to Pyongyang said news agencies from all around the world.

​President Trump also said that the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula could begin "very, very fast". US Secretary of State Mike Pompey and North Korean representatives will hold further negotiations as soon as possible.

"I feel really great. We are going to have a great discussion and I think tremendous success. It will be tremendously successful. It's my honor. We will have a terrific relationship; I have no doubt." said President Donald Trump.

The joint statement, signed by the two leaders, has little detail on how and in what deadline the goals will be achieved, said Reuters. Experts recall that ten years ago there was talk of denuclearization on the peninsula, but that goal was never fulfilled. Today they think that the process will last for at least a decade, it will be expensive and will require the signing of a non-assault contracts between the two countries.

"The fact that both of them got to know each other and perhaps trust each other is good for future negotiations." said former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson.

A lot of residents from China, the United States and South Korea were optimistic about the development in the Korean Peninsula situation hoping that the document the two leaders signed during their meeting in Singapore was a denuclearization agreement.

A Chinese resident in Beijing said if that’s true, it is good news for the regional and global security.

"I think denuclearization of the DPRK is the best thing for our neighbor, China, and the world. It's what everyone wants. The danger of nuclear weapons is way too big." he said.

A U.S. resident added that with the positive vibes coming out of the summit, it looks like a peace deal might be around the corner.

"I hope good things gets better. We don't want to have nuclear weapons on our heads." expressed a U.S. resident.

Trump called the just-concluded one-on-one talks a "tremendous success" and leader Kim Jong Un also spoke highly of the summit. A lot South Koreans think about the summit as a victory.

"The summit between the DPRK and South Korea was positive so the DPRK – U.S. talks are surely positive." said a resident from Seoul.

Here in Eastern Europe, durring the hole day Bulgarian televisions, radio stations and online medias followed the historical summit.

"Historic meeting!" "Trump met Kim!" "For the first time acting US president will meet a North Korean leader!" wore the words you can here from every TV or radio station. Every media who worked on the news, presented it with a different unique style. Some made live connections from the U.S. with various international experts, others wore working from there studios or newsrooms.

"The EU announced the meeting in Singapore as a proof that the path to peace is through diplomacy." shared a reporter of NOVA TV.

A lot of radio starions talked for hours about not only for the U.S. – DPRK summit, but also for the Inter-Korean summit held in April. The Bulgarian National Television (BNT) spent the most time for the subject, making short videos about leader Kim Jong Un and about the Korean War and how the events went to end up at the U.S. – DPRK summit.
​
Here in Bulgaria the news around the Korean paninsula are not main focus, but still every media follows them with caution and hope for good results and peaceful life at East Asia. 

Restaurants in Singapore are whipping up special dishes in anticipation of the upcoming Trump-Kim summit that will be held on June 12 in the city state.

Our first stop is Harmony Nasi Lemak. The restaurant is offering a new twist on the traditional Malay dish which is usually made with coconut milk infused rice, deep-fried fish or chicken wing, fried anchovies, peanuts, eggs, cucumber slices and sambal sauce (Chili paste).
"In the dish we welcome Trump in making him feel home by using U.S. dry aged beef, a lot of people ask me why. U.S. beef, because in any trade negotiations by Trump you can realise that he always puts U.S. beef export at a very important agenda." says Zack Wen from Harmony Nasi Lemak.

The eatery takes out the anchovies and the deep-fried fish or chicken, and replaces it with dry aged beef to represent Donald Trump and kimchi, a staple of Korean cuisine, to represent Kim Jong Un.
​
Next stop is Royal Plaza on Scotts, a hotel near the famous Orchard road. Chef Abraham Tan created the Trump-Kim burger by mixing minced chicken with kimchi and other Korean spices.
"We hope that this burger can reach out to as many patrons who enjoy food, who love food and also in a way to well wish that this meeting will be successfully you know, as actually kind of in a way it's going to affect the world peace all that you know, so hopefully that this meeting will actually turn up well." says Abraham Tan.

Our last stop is Taco restaurant Lucha Loco who also wanted to be part of the historic event, so they came up with special Tump and Kim tacos.

"Obviously it's a huge event that's happening here in Singapore so we wanted to be a part of it as a company and we were just sort of chatting in the office and lounge trying to think of ideas, and we sell tacos that's what we do so we thought so let's put something, let's put a burger in taco and put some Korean chicken in a taco and see what happens."  shares executive Chef Nelson Burjos from Lucha Loco.
​
The Trump taco is a beef patty with chipotle ketchup and a special Lucha Loco sauce while the Kim taco doesn't contain any kimchi but a piece of chicken marinated in spicy Korean sauce topped with pickled radishes.

​The June 12 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will be held at the five-star Capella Hotel on Singapore's resort island of Sentosa, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted on Tuesday June 5th.

Friday, April 27, 2018, was a historic day for Korea. The third Inter-Korean Summit was full of smiles and handshakes. All this friendly atmosphere was also possible with the help of a noodle dish made by a chef from a famous restaurant in the North Korean capital, using a special noodle machine. The sight of the two leaders of Korea eating Pyeongyang-style cold noodles at the summit was the reason people formed long lines outside cold noodle restaurants in Seoul on Saturday, April 28.

Korea.net met with Kim Hyun-soo in a restaurant in Seoul, and he shared with us some of his thoughts about cold noodle dishes. "I often enjoy eating Pyeongyang-style cold noodles. After seeing the two leaders (Kim Jong Un and President Moon Jae-in) enjoying it at the banquet, I felt I had to have some, too, so I came here today. I wish we could be unified in the near future so that I can go to Pyeongyang to enjoy original Pyeongyang cold noodles there."

As we head out, we met Choi Ho-won. He tells us that, "I came here to try some Pyeongyang cold noodles since there was talk about it at the summit, and I've always wanted to try them. I was overwhelmed by the news of this historical summit."

Many Koreans welcomed the summit results and hoped that it could ease tensions on the peninsula that reached a crescendo last year due to North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons tests.

"Just a few months ago, my friends and I talked about the need to prepare 'war bags.' However, the two leaders had a summit, a banquet, watched a performance, and they even held hands. Now, my friends and I are relieved and feel satisfied with the summit results." said 19-year-old Seoul resident Choi Hee-jung.

The two leaders, Kim Jong Un and President Moon Jae-in, pledged to work for the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula and agreed on the common goal of a "nuclear-free" peninsula. The results weren't late in coming. On April 29, Kim Jong Un said that North Korea would openly shut down a nuclear weapons test site in Punggye-ri, in Hamgyeongbuk-do Province, in May. President Moon welcomed Kim's decision to openly shut down the nuclear weapons test site, agreeing to discuss when to invite experts and reporters from Korea and the U.S. to North Korea after the country completes its preparations. 

The summit between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump is forecast to be held on June 12. Kim told Moon that there will be no repetition of war on the peninsula, strongly affirming that there will never be any use of force. Meanwhile, Kim has agreed with Moon to common time zones in Seoul and Pyeongyang, so that the North and South will live together in time.

The division of Korea into a North and a South stems from the August 1945 Allied victory in World War II in Asia, ending Japan's 35-year colonization of Korea. Through General Order No. 1 issued by General Douglas MacArthur, the U.S. and the USSR were to supervise the surrender of Imperial Japanese forces in their sectors, divided by the 38th parallel, as well as temporarily establish respective military governments until such time as Korea was either administered under an international trusteeship or achieved independence. In 1948, the USSR refused to participate in the U.N.'s supervised peninsula-wide elections for a new government, leading to the U.N.'s recognition of the Republic of Korea, South Korea, as the sole legitimate government in all of Korea.

The Korean War (1950-1953) and its Armistice Agreement left the two Koreas permanently separated by the DMZ, roughly approximate to the 38th parallel and through which runs the Military Demarcation Line. They remain technically at war today. North Korea's communist government has presided over a state-controlled economy historically dependent upon massive aid from the USSR, Russia and mainland China in order to survive. Meanwhile, Korea has developed into one of the world's leading economies, employing free enterprise economic policies as well as finally fostering a democratic government.

Since the 1990s, the two Koreas have held two symbolic summit meetings in 2000 and 2007, and have slightly increased economic cooperation.

Today, only a day left until the third big Inter-Korean Summit, the Korean people share their hopes, dreams and expectations for the future of Korea. Here, you can listen to a North Korean defector and a young South Korean executive in the next video.

Author: Alexandra Taseva
Video edit: Alexandra Taseva

​Contemporary Asian artist Ilhwa Kim launched her new UK solo show titled "Sensory Portrait" in London on April 4th. The South Korean artist says she wants her unusual, large-scale paper art to take people by surprise. Kim's works are made of tens of thousands of paper rolls she calls "seeds".​

Works of art made of hanji paper by Ilhwa Kim in 2015

The seeds are made by traditional handmade Korean mulberry paper known as "hanji" which the artist hand dyes following ancient traditions and rolls and cuts into pieces of varying lengths and sizes. Each seed is unique and putting them together they construct a universe with a constantly changing dialogue between light and shadow, shares with us artist Ilhwa Kim.

Ilhwa Kim shared with us "If you look closer, each piece represents a world of its own. And each piece also represents a small unit. These tiniest particles combined together become another world or another universe. That is why I see these as the seeds of the world." 

This uniqe artist, doesn't make gourous plans and preparations for her pieces. She works spontaneously when inspiration comes! Usually other paper artists glue the pieces directly onto the base, but Kim found that this only limits the movement of the pieses so she prefers to lay the "seeds" down freely at first. One art work takes months to create. But often she works on several pieces simultaneously to optimize her time.

Making tens of thousands of paper rolls requires patience but the artist said she does not get frustrated with the laborious process and only loses her patience when she cannot express her vision.

"When there is something I want to express, but I'm lost and cannot find the way to do it, that's what is most difficult for me.", she said.

Artist Ilhwa Kim 

Ilhwa Kim is born in South Korea in 1967 and has a background in oriental painting. She studied at the Hong-Ik University in Seoul. Her art has been exhibited in art galleries and art fairs around the world and it is its global nature Kim hopes will appeal to art-lovers worldwide.

"I majored in oriental painting. So I think the colours or other traditional elements which I learned from oriental painting influence my works unconsciously. But I don't deliberately focus on those in my art work." Kim said.

​The "Sensory Portrait" exhibition at the HOFA (House Of Fine Art) Gallery in London's Pall Mall runs through April 17.

Reporter: Alexandra Taseva
Photos: https://www.ilhwakim.com/

Dear Friday Chopsticks readoers this is Claudia and I am here at one very special place, which is “1million dance studio” and today instead of dancing I am here to interview one of your most favorite choreographers, who inspires so many people around the world. I am really thankful for having him here and I hope, that you will enjoy our conversation, so let's introduce him to you and not keep you any longer. Here is Junsun Yoo or Yoo Junsun like they say in Korea.
 
Let's start first with a self-introduction.
 
Yes, hello! I'm Junsun Yoo from 1million dance studio in South Korea. My real name is Yoo Junsun, but I work under the name Junsun Yoo. Nice to meet you all!

When did you start and what made you start dancing?
I started dancing in the 3rd year of middle school when I was around 15 years old in Korean age. There is no specific reason why I started dancing. Actually, at that time I found studying very hard. I was a really good student when I was younger, but at one point I reached a level which was very hard to achieve. This made me really worried. Would I able to succeed in studying? And at that time my little sister told me “Big brother, learn some dancing! Try to find something different that would satisfy you and then wouldn't studying become interesting again?” In the beginning, I did it with this purpose, but later because I hated studying, I worked harder in dancing instead. It kinda started in this funny way.
 
Where your parents against your dancing activities?
They were really against it. In the beginning while I was still just learning to dance, they were saying “Do it”, “Try it”, but while attending school I told myself that I would like to pursue a professional dance career and then they were strongly against that. Since I was very young, I could not learn dancing with my own money – I had no money. So my parents gave me all their financial support, but they said “We do not want to support you, but we want you to take care of yourself and make money and learn to dance!” My mom was especially against it, but my dad on the other hand was very optimistic. He was like “Try it”. My father originally wanted to be an entertainer – a singer. He said that a lot, but he was really worried. “Of course I would like if everything turns out well for you, but I am also feeling uneasy”.

What inspires you when making choreographies?
What inspires me when making choreographies...It is different every time. For instance, in the latest video that came out - “Rockstar”, when I was listening to the lyrics I got a lot of inspiration. In this song, I wanted to match the moves to the lyrics to the maximum. With other choreographies, whenever I have sad days or happy days, or experience a funny day, I get a lot of inspiration. When I really get inspired, I make choreographies fast. For example in the case of Chris Brown's “Party”, I made this choreography only in 3 hours. I was really happy that day, and while I was listening to this song I was thinking “oh I like it, I need to make a choreography”. In those three hours I was just looking at the mirror and trying to find matching moves, and everything came up. But really it's different in every case. I also get inspired when I watch movies.
 
So do other people also inspire you? For example other choreographers from the US or other countries?
I get this type of inspiration too. When I was younger, especially when I was starting to dance. I got a lot of inspiration from other choreographers.
 
Can you share who for example?
They are really many and it is difficult to pick just one, but maybe the person who gave me inspiration in the beginning was Lyle Beniga. I thought he was really cool and that I would also want to do the same – to teach classes, to have activities as a choreographer, to make nice choreographies.

Which dance style do you like teaching the most?
Maybe it will be easier for me to say which style I don't like teaching the most. It's not that I don't like it, but it's more like it's difficult to teach – and this is the couple dance. For example when I was on the show “Hit the stage” with Hyoyeon from Girl's Generation it was really difficult. Because I haven't done it a lot, it was hard. For teaching maybe I like easy choreographies, because when people are able to follow them very well it makes me happy. These days, the most pleasant style for me to teach is hip-hop. I also like teaching EDM. I don't teach a lot of sensitive things today, because while I dance I can start crying. Yeah, if I have to conclude, the three styles, that I like teaching the most lately are hip-hop, electronic and something exciting, like funk.
 
What difficulties have you faced as a choreographer?
Hm there are not many, honestly. Maybe the stamina that you need while you use your body to dance. In fact, the more you use your body, the stamina, the strength are getting weaker. But of course this is in the case of choreographers. If you are a dancer, it is okay. As a choreographer, you need to use both your mind and body and that requires a lot of strength. Especially if you have to combine many things in a choreography, it is difficult. Maybe these things are certain difficulties. Also, when you worry about the future. When I don't have the same energy anymore, what will I do later? Maybe this concern. When I think about it, there really aren't many difficult things.

Then, if someone wants to become a choreographer, what kind of preparation should he or she have in your opinion?
The things you need are a lot. You cannot do anything perfectly. Because you can receive a lot a recognition or fame from people or from artists or other dancers, the specificity of your dream is very important. Confidence is also one of the most important things, your mindset. You have to customize yourself... you should not be lazy to practice. But even more important than that, to never stop the learning process.
 
As most people know, you have a famous younger sister – Yooa – from the group “Oh my girl”. How does her career affect your life?
If I have to speak truthfully, her career doesn’t affect me. 
 
Is there a positive effect then?
We are just brother and sister, we are family. We don't really affect each other’s lives with our activities. The situations in which there is some kind of effect is usually, let's say in articles, the younger sister of Junsun is Yooa from “Oh my girl” or the older brother of Yooa from “Oh my girl” is the choreographer Junsun Yoo from 1million dance studio. Maybe to this extent, but you check once and it disappears. Actually, press is so fast with things lately, the people will forget about it quickly. If our jobs were the same I might be influenced a little more… but we just cheer for each other and it seems like we don’t have strong influence on each other. I say “Sister you are doing well,” and my sister says like “You’re doing well! Brother, it seems like your skills are improving. Compared to before, your choreographies are better now.” Thing like that. But besides that, there isn’t anything big. She’s just my family.

What would you work if you were not a choreographer?
I would probably go for the design area.
 
What kind of design?
Fashion design. When I was younger, whenever I got money I used them for clothes, I was paying attention to my style. I think, that this would be nice.
 
How would you describe your dance classes in 3 words?
Detail, control, speed.
 
Which is the nicest aspect of your job?
Firstly, maybe freedom. No matter how you look at it it's art. You can work, whenever you want to. It's not a job where I don’t have to follow certain arranged appointments of course. As a matter a fact even if it's a choreographer job it's still a job. It is also really fun. As a choreographer, when I talk to other choreographers, there is not a single person who said that this job is not fun and there isn't anyone that is unhappy. While you do something that you like, you also get money for that. I don't feel like I can do the going to work at 8 in the morning and finishing at 6 in the evening thing. Therefore, I am a bit happy about my job. I can wake up late and go, I can also sleep for a long time.
 
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
I don’t think I ever really thought about that. I do have a big dream. But within that dream, like a staircase, there are very small goals. If I imagine myself in 5 years...If I wouldn’t be able to fulfill that, I might be disappointed. So I don’t think about it and step by step, like a staircase, I have goals that I want to achieve. And going like that, it doesn’t seem like in 5 years I will be worse than now.

Do you have plans to do workshops in Europe?
I don't have, but I really want to. I haven't been to Europe before.
 
Which country would you like to visit first then?
Actually I don't know. Since in Europe there are many countries, the countries that I know or are the most famous, I want to see in more details. If I go to specific places, others will be upset. Therefore, I want to do a Europe tour.
 
If you do a tour, make sure to come to Bulgaria once!
Ah of course! Of course I have to go to Bulgaria!
 
And finally, would you like to say something to your Bulgarian fans?
Hello! I am Junsun Yoo. I didn't know that I have many fans in Bulgaria. I will have to take the assumption that they are many. I only heard that they are many, but it makes me happy and thankful. Thank you for liking me. I wonder if I can go to Bulgaria one day. Yeah, please like me more, so we can see each other in person. But really, I can only thank you a lot! I actually believe, that you like my work. I really can't believe that people like me, because wherever I go I think that people don't really like my style a lot. But I am really thankful! I will really come one day to Bulgaria! And when I do, please welcome me. In the future I will make more cool choreographies for you. Everyone, please make sure, that you don't hurt yourself and I will also try to stay healthy so I can keep creating things. for you! I wish, that all of you also stay healthy and that we will see each other one day!

​​Hello! We are a Bulgarian radio show, called Friday Chopsticks. Friday Chopsticks is a show, dedicated to Asian show business and culture. Recently our colleague and Korea.net Honorary Reporter Bojana Doneva did an interview with K-pop group A.C.E. Half of it was included in her Korea.net material about A.C.E. You can read the article here: http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=150640
 
Our colleague, Bojana, thought it was a pity that the whole interview could not be included in the article, so after getting permission from Beat Interactive, A.C.E’s company, we decided to upload it here, for international fans to enjoy. Please, continue to support A.C.E in the future! 

1. Please introduce yourself.

A.C.E: Hello. We're A.C.E. The name stands for "Adventure Calling Emotions" and we benchmarked the TV show "Infinity Challenge".  On the show, they say that they're far from perfect, but they show it to the audience that way and they always do their best to bring laughter and to move people's hearts. Our five members may lack something or be a bit too normal, but we came together as a group and we want to pursue our dreams, against any adversity, and to become heroes on the music scene.

Jun is our team leader and lead vocals, and also dances. Donghun is also one of our main vocals. Wow and Jason do dance, vocals and rap. Chan is a vocalist and is the youngest.

2. Please introduce one of your new songs.

​Jason: The main concept of our second single "Callin'" is a call or summons and we've incorporated hard style music, which belongs to electronic dance music (EDM), into K-pop. We used a powerful synthesizer and the song, with 155 beats per minute, is faster than our debut song "Cactus", so you'll be able to see an even more powerful and cooler choreography.

The title song talks about the growth of young men who are ready to answer the calling of the world and also about their passion and youth.

3. How did you feel during your debut? And how do you feel now that you make a comeback?
 
Wow: During our debut it felt like a dream to be able to be on the same stage and rehearse with all those people we had only seen on screen and to have our own staff. I was so nervous I don't even remember how I got off stage after that.
 
Chan: It seems we are even more nervous for the comeback now than we were during our debut. Since it was our first comeback it felt like it ended in a flash.
 
Jason: It was my dream to become a singer since I was 14. When I realised we were finally debuting I felt very nervous and worried a lot. Now, as Chan said, we are even more nervous than we were back then. We hope people will like our songs.
 
4. Could you share more about the production of Callin'?
 
Jun: Actually we had already recorded “Callin” before we made the MV for "Cactus". Of course, "Cactus" was also finished long time before we debuted with it. Thats why we've listened to “Callin” even more than "Cactus". As it took so long to prepare it and all our members like it at least as much as "Cactus", we're looking forward to share it with everyone.
 
Jason: Preparing the choreography was very difficult. This time all our members gave their ideas for the choreography and in the end we went overboard. It looked very cool but we had made it in such a way that we didn't have time to rest if we had to perform everything all at once live. We didn't have time to rest at all so we took away some of the elements and we'll show you the revised version. Compared to "Cactus" this choreography has a stronger and more sexy feel to it and we are more attached to it since we took part in the making.
 
Donghun: The producer said there was no other idol-group song as fast as "Cactus", so he asked us not to make more songs that fast in the future. He insisted that we wouldn't do that again but when we came together, we made this song and I remember when he heard it he was just smiling, saying: "Ah... Ah...". It's a nice song so what if there is more shouting and it's 155 BPM? That's what I feel. (Smiles.)
 
5. What role do you think busking played before your debut? How did you do it?

Jun: We tried to show how we grew as performers. The start was simply uploading our practice videos to YouTube. Our team thought about what our next step should be. Our agency isn't big and we didn't have any singers in the agency who came through before and who had gone through this before. So we were thinking about what we would be good at and busking came to mind.

We decided to do everything from the beginning to the end all by ourselves. So we chose the setup, choreography and order, and we even moved the equipment and drove ourselves there. It was hard because the five members had to cooperate and we had never done this before. However, this period helped us grow and brought us closer together as a group.

Chan: It was just like Jun said. It helped us a lot. Especially before our debut, we covered many other songs by artists who came before us because we didn't have our own songs at the time. In the process, we got to watch performances of other singers many times and learn what colors and charms each has.

Most importantly, we learned how to communicate with the audience and how to keep going spontaneously. We were able to spot right away what songs or dances people like, on the spot.

Also, we really appreciate the support from the audience and we realized how valuable the fans are.

​6. What can you say is the greatest obstacle you experience in comparison to the famous bands?
 
Donghun: To be honest, most people don't recognise well new bands like us even if we're on stage and we don't get the chance to perform that often. This is the most difficult part for us. We are better known as people who started busking and share their rehearsal videos on Youtube rather than A.C.E, the band who write their own songs.
 
For now we may advance slowly but all our members believe that if we strive even more, people will gradually hear more about us and one day they will support and cheer for us. So we won't fret about it but will work even harder and have fun doing that. We're grateful for every chance we get to be on stage, for the support of broadcasting staff and we feel the warmth of every fan we get on social media.
 
As our name suggests by creating various songs we will strive to gradually become a recognised band like our sunbaes.
 
7. How do you get closer to your fans?

Jun: We had to wait a long time before our debut, so we're especially thankful to our fans. Before debuting, we met our fans on the streets when busking. We also communicated with our fans on social media. We always monitor our performances and we found that there were a lot of fans out there supporting us.

We haven't been able to show our gratitute enough to all of them, but we're making an effort to get closer to them all. We chat live online, leave comments, do live videos and say hello to them when we're on music programs, even if only for a very short time. We know that's not enough, but we want to return what we've received from them.
 
8. Is there a TV ot radio broadcast you would like to be on and why?
 
Jun: I definitely want to try "King of masked singer" or "Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook"! As a singer I do have a little professional greed so I'd love to try a format where I can get an unbiased evaluation based on vocal ability only. If I get the chance I definitely want to do it.
 
Donghun: I'd love to be on "King of masked singer". Although in our team I am a main vocal and I get the chance to show the public my vocal skills well, as a singer I do get to wonder how much more I can do with just my voice. I'll work hard to do that! 
 
Wow: I prefer "Infinite challenge". I've been their fan for a long time and as a regular viewer now I'd really love to try some of the challenges together with them. I will be especially glad, if our A.C.E team can challenge the "Infinite challenge" team.
 
Jason: I would like to take part in "Running man". I've always liked exercise and I run really well. So I'd love to try tearing sunbae Kim Jung Gook's name tag for once.
 
Chan: "Baek Jung Won's Three Emperors of the Kitchen" or "Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education" - I like that kind of broadcast. The first one I like because I really love to eat and explore delicious restaurants. The second one because I was a football player up until middle school and I saw them play football with the renouned commentator Lee Young Pyo when he appeared on the show. Next time a well-known player or someone like commentator Lee Young Pyo appears I'd love it, if I can play a match against them. I get flustered even when I think of it!

9. Your next goals as A.C.E?
 
Jun:  As for now I'd like to keep showing people A.C.E.'s great music and performances, so we can slowly become a renowned band. I'd also really love it, if we can show the endless talents of A.C.E  in shows like "Infinite challenge". And one day, if possible, I'd love us to make individual concerts. No matter the scale or the place. I just want to show our fans and friends who support us what only A.C.E are able to perform.
 
Although being on stage is always a happy occasion we are grateful for, time never seems enough for us to show everything we can. I wish we can perform for as long as it is needed, for us to give people everything we have to give.
 
10. Is there any special charm of you that you'd like to show in the future?
 
Donghun:  Both "Cactus" and "Callin" concentrated more on performance than vocals. I'd like us to show you more singing next time.
 
Wow:  We'd love to take part in creating things together like we did with the choreography for "Callin". I'd love to write some of the songs in our next album. For that to happen we are practicing for a midi or at least a song every time.

5. How about sending out a message to all your fans overseas?

Jun: We've just started our journey. We're excited to wait and see what we'll be able to show our fans. We'll try our best to be a proud artist for those who love us, so please keep an eye on us and support us. We'd be really appreciative of your love for our song "Callin", too. Thank you.

Donghun: We managed to come this far, so we'll do our best from now on. We want to show you how we grow little by little, so please look forward to seeing our growth. Your love and support is really appreciated.

Wow: I'll work hard to be a team member who can really wow people! Your love for our song "Callin" is really important. Thank you!

Jason: We'll strive to show you our best, so please keep sending us your support. Thank you.

Chan: We'll do our best in everything, and I'll do my part as the youngest by delivering positive energy. Thank you!
 
Perhaps you are new to A.C.E and want to find out more about their charming points? Check their pre-debut dance cover of EXO’s Call Me Baby below and see what you are missing out:  

Reporter: Bojana Doneva
Translated by: Jihye Yoon, Militsa Nikolova
Photo and video: Beat Interactive