The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Luxury brands continue hiking prices in Korea

  • 3

    INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series

  • 5

    China flags consequences of Yoon's stronger coupling with US, Japan

  • 7

    Senior citizens land low-wage jobs after retirement: report

  • 9

    LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life

  • 11

    Pyongyang as lived experience: existentialism and identity in North Korea

  • 13

    US, China trade blame as hopes for military dialogue fade

  • 15

    Reasons to talk about North Korea

  • 17

    House lawmakers urge US to rally allies over China's Micron ban

  • 19

    S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of maritime dispute

  • 2

    BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group

  • 4

    India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in one of nation's worst rail disasters

  • 6

    From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade

  • 8

    Napoli's Kim Min-jae named Serie A's best defender, makes Team of the Season

  • 10

    Wall Street leaps, nearly escapes its bear market after strong jobs report

  • 12

    'The Roundup: No Way Out' tops 3 mil. admissions

  • 14

    UN official calls out Security Council for inaction on N. Korea

  • 16

    Defense chiefs of S. Korea, US, Japan to meet in Singapore amid NK threats

  • 18

    PHOTOSTrain collision in India

  • 20

    EU's top diplomat discusses Ukraine's ammunition needs with S. Korea

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Mon, June 5, 2023 | 21:21
K-pop
It's GFriend Time
Posted : 2016-03-02 16:39
Updated : 2016-03-06 01:48
Kim Jae-heun
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
/ Graphic by Cho Sang-won
/ Graphic by Cho Sang-won

Six-member idol group sports 15 trophies


This is the second in a series of interviews on top K-pop idols. ― ED.


By Kim Jae-heun

K-pop girl group GFriend of Source Music may not be well known abroad yet, but they are undoubtedly one of the hottest idol bands in Korea right now. The six-member group debuted last January and released their third EP, "Snowflake," this January, whose track "Rough" achieved triple crowns at Korea's top three TV music shows. GFriend added their 15th trophy on Sunday at SBS's Inkigayo, one of the country's most popular music TV shows. If the song wins at any of the music shows one more week, the girl band can tie Apink's record-winning 17 trophies for their song "LUV." Girls' Generation's megahit "Gee" and "Lion Heart" are ranked third with 14 champion titles.

GFriend's "Rough" also set a new record on the MelOn chart, the country's biggest music website, for holding the no.1 position for over 400 hours from Feb. 4 to 22. The song has stayed at the top of the chart for the longest period this year.

"Me Gustas Tu," from the group's second EP "Flower Bud" released last July, is currently listed in the top 20 on the chart and their promotional track "Glass Bead" of from their debut EP "Season of Glass" is in the top 70. Both songs regained the spotlight after GFriend's third EP hit the jackpot.

The girl band has already garnered media attention when member Yuju fell eight times on a slippery stage while performing "Me Gustas Tu," last September. The group still managed to finish the song with smiles on their faces and they were praised for their professionalism by the foreign press. Time introduced GFriend with the headline "This Video of a K-Pop Singer Falling 8 Times in 1 Song Will Inspire You to Keep Going No Matter What."

The same year, the group won the rookie award at the 2016 Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards, a major music awards ceremony.

Their success is more notable as they are not from a giant entertainment company like YG, SM, JYP or FNC. However, the group beat many top competitors to maintain the throne, such as S.M. Entertainment's Taeyeon of Girls' Generation and Taemin of SHINee. JYP Entertainment's new girl band Twice also failed to dethrone GFriend on the music chart.

[Exclusive] 4Minute in pursuit of new style of music
Exclusive4Minute in pursuit of new style of music
2016-02-17 18:51  |  Shows & Dramas
Behind-the-stories of K-pop girl bands
Behind-the-stories of K-pop girl bands
2016-02-22 15:34  |  Shows & Dramas
EXO leader makes silver screen debut in 'One Way Trip'
2016-02-24 13:51  |  Films
GFriend is one of the biggest phenomena in the K-pop scene and their future is certainly promising. Here is an interview The Korea Times conducted with the group members.

Q. This is the second year since your debut and you have just won your 13th trophy (at the time of the interview). How do you feel?


Sowon: Every time we receive new trophies, we feel different. We display them all on the display case at our company and we always stand in front of them watching them. It just makes us so proud and we still can't believe that our group name is engraved on the trophies. It means many people love our songs and we will have to work harder to give in return.

Q. Did you expect to become this popular? Why do you think the band is gaining so much love?


Eunha: We give off fresh charm and show healthy beauty. The group gives energy to fans and we unite very well with the help of the staff working for us.

Q. What kind of music style do you think GFriend pursues and what would be the group's strength?


Yuju: Fans refer to our songs as ‘innocent and powerful.' We sing songs that are pure but have a powerful choreography to them. I guess that differentiates us from other girl bands.

Q. What kinds of music do you listen to and do you have any role models?


Umji: We always listen to music in the car, while moving in between our schedules. We enjoy the music of many K-pop artists, although the members all have different tastes. Some like rap, but we listen to almost all the songs on the top 100 chart list. We are not allowed to have mobile phones so we listen to music in the car together.

ShinB: There are some songs that circle around my ear that I heard from somewhere. Then, before I go to sleep it pops into my head and makes me think about the lyrics. We tend to listen to the music that is popular at the moment.

Emailjhkim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1[LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1] How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life
2S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of maritime dispute S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of maritime dispute
3Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring
4Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets
5Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection
6Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine
7Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions
8Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston
9K-food transforms global culinary industry K-food transforms global culinary industry
10Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle' Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle'
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
2Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
3[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of Love' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of Love' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
4[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
5'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group