Bernard Park wins 'K-pop Star 3'
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Bernard Park
By Park Si-soo
Korean-American Bernard Park won “K-pop Star 3,” the third session of a talent show on SBS TV, on Sunday and decided to do his pre-debut activities with the JYP music label.
In the final round of the competition aired live, the 21-year-old from Atlanta received the biggest acclamation from three judges — Park Jin-young, Yang Hyun-suk and Yoo Hee-yeol — and audiences for his rendition of American R&B singer R. Kelly’s hit “I Believe I Can Fly,” as well as the Korean song “Because I Love” by the late K-pop legend Yoo Jae-ha.
The runner-up was another Korean-American contestant, Sam Kim.
“I’m so happy. Thank you so much,” Park said in tears after his victory was announced.
“Please keep watching me.” Given an opportunity to select a label he will work with for his official debut, he selected JYP, the third largest Korean label, saying, “I consider Park (Jin-young) to be the best teacher for me.” JYP manages several top K-pop musicians, including Miss A, Wonder Girls, 2PM and 2AM.