Sexy and sweet, Secret goes global
From left, Han Sun-hwa, Jun Hyo-sung, Song Ji-eun and Zinger, four members of the K-pop girl group Secret pose together in this promotional picture. Having wrapped up a successful concert in Singapore in March, the group is working on a new mini-album that is expected to be released late April or May. / Courtesy of TS Entertainment
By Kim Ji-soo
It’s been more than two weeks since the four-member K-pop girl group Secret performed in Singapore to rave reviews.
Dressed in sexy red jackets and black pants, they took to the stage at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Hall on March 29. Secret became the fourth K-pop girl group to perform a solo concert in Singapore.
Jun Hyo-sung, who graced the stage solo to perform Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” has lasting impressions of Singapore.
“I just remember that I was running around on stage because I was so overwhelmed by the number of fans and their response,” Jun said.
For fellow group member Zinger, it was a memorable event as she finally put her health issues behind her following a December 2012 car accident that involved all four members.
Speaking of critics who say K-pop girl groups perform more provocatively overseas, the group said that is a misconception as they mostly hold concerts overseas.
“We try to maximize our performance in concerts and, with the Singapore concert, the ardent fan response probably prompted us to move more than usual,” said Song Ji-eun.
Han Sun-hwa said she believes the group’s sexiness, and Korean sexiness in general, is different from Western implications of the word.
“Western sexiness is more direct, but Korean sexiness is more subtle, hidden and mysterious,” she said.
Jun, 23, Han, 22, Song, 22, and Zinger, 22, debuted in 2009 with the digital single “I Want You Back.”They followed that with “Magic” and “Madonna” in 2012. The signature dance move they performed in “Madonna” is a mainstay of Secret’s choreography, which is done by Park Sang-hyun, who heads the dance team PLAY. Park is also responsible for the group’s other songs including “Magic,” “Shy Boy,” “Love is Move” and “Poison.”
Just five years after their debut, the group has shown unusual versatility, a risk they took when they switched to a cute fresh image with “Shy Boy” (2011), from their initial sexy image.
“We were quite worried because we were making an image change, but ‘Shy Boy’ topped the charts and naturally we have special fondness for the song,” Song said.
The group’s ability to tackle a broad range of songs and concepts helped it to the top 10 on Japan’s Oricon charts in 2011, the third K-pop girl group to do so following KARA and Girls’ Generation. Han is also starring in the popular television program “We’ve Got Married” with Gwanghee of K-pop boy group ZE: A. Song, who is the group’s main vocalist, has released a song with Bang Yong-guk of B.A.P. Jun moonlights as a lingerie model and Zinger has appeared on reality television shows.
“Any kind of attention that Hyo-sung or Sun-hwa receives is ultimately good for the group,” said Song. “When each member does its part, and is recognized, the group can only benefit.”
They said such teamwork comes from endless conversations through which they share their problems, large and small, and lean on each other.
The group is working on a new mini album due to be released late this month or early in May. Secret has one full-length album titled “Moving in Secret.”
The group said they will continue to give their best for each song and each stage, which they believe has been the key to their success.
“I hope in 10 years, we will become a national group where everyone of all ages and gender can enjoy our songs and receive solace through it,” Zinger said.