So Your Bias Will Enlist...

Jun. K and Taecyeon on Taec's day off

Bet you didn't know that South Korea was in perpetual war with North Korea, when you fell into the kpop/kdrama Hallyu wave. Now, you are probably a full-fledged member of a fandom, your walls are covered with posters (or in my case you have framed the posters for future use), you have a special case for all those special limited edition releases, and even though you may never reach Korea for a concert you have your bands light stick...  only to find out that your bias of the group you love or that special actor has to enlist and will NOT have another comeback for 2 years.  OH, you didn't know... now you know.  Its hard, but they HAVE to enlist. The coming year will be especially hard for me as my bias (Jun. K of 2pm) will be enlisting soon.

A little tidbit about military enlistment: 

It is administered by the Military Manpower Administration. There are two forms of service: active duty or non-active duty service

Length of service varies according to branches:

♤21 months for Army and Marine Corps

♤23 months for Navy

♤24 months for Air Force.

♤The non-active duty service, e.g. civil service or public service worker, is from 24 months to 36 months.

So basically for TWO YEARS your bias will "sort of" be out of the spotlight. (I will explain the sort of part in a minute.) 

I think I have actually mentioned this subject before...http://kdramaseoul.blogspot.com/2017/02/2017-enlistment.html

Click the link above to see the 2017 enlistment list, your 1988-89 babies basically.  Of course, 2017 is almost over and 2018 will have a whole new group of beautiful biases.

It IS what it IS my dears. I am sad and I will be crying my eyeballs out, but after getting over the devastation of our biases heading over for military training, what can we do?  Let's make a list...

10.) Watch their catalog of Kdrama.
Taecyeon of 2pm enlisted in September and luckily he has a few dramas and movies. If you want to see your bias and you miss him go marathon his Kdrama. If your bias is an actor you may have already watch everything, but that's why you can watch it again and again and again and again. (If you are a 2pm fan you just sang that in your head)

9.) Listen to every song they ever made.
So if you are like me and your bias hasn't been in a drama, then listen to his catalog of songs. Korean, Japanese... heck they may even have a Chinese version.  Make a playlist of party songs or ballads. Don't just listen in your room with the speakers blasting, put your headphones on and listen to every changing chord. (His music is basically all that I have )

8.) Look for English translations.
I find that I listen to the music and I don't actually know what they are talking about. I make an assumption from the chorus which is usually in English. I have been trying to make an effort to look up lyric translations. 2pm being my bias group has songs spanning 2008-2017 as a group, in both Korean and Japanese. Including full albums, mini albums, and singles... so much to analyze.

7.) Check out the members.
Ok so... I am very LOYAL to my bias like VERY, like it's all about Jun 2 da KAY!!! BUT other members in 2pm have released solo albums as well. Junho and Wooyoung both have really good songs AND a couple were produced by JUN. K so why not give the other members some love, just don't go falling in love....LOL!!!

6.) SEARCH SEARCH SEARCH
You ever go to youtube and look up and 3 hours have passed... yes me too, but your bias is on youtube. South Korea is awesome because there are so many shows with celebrity guess. OR maybe like 2pm your bias has had tv programs. Well someone from the fandom who loves other fans has subbed it in English for you. Search and find. FANCAMS can also be amazing. Dailymotion also has videos, as a matter of fact, my international friends use Dailymotion.  Other fans have uploaded concerts for your viewing pleasure. Youtube is my friend.

5.) Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/ Other Social Media
Instagram is my BESTIE, twitter and I are getting closer. In this day and age, Social Media is what has increased the amount of knowledge we have about KPOP and Kdrama. Our biases have accounts. If it wasn't for Instagram I wouldn't know ANYTHING about the whereabouts of my bias. AS A MATTER OF FACT... my bias just uploaded a pic of him with your bias, that is if your bias is Taecyeon, remember that "Sort of " part I mentioned. Once upon a time the celebs would enlist and they were out of the spotlight, but with Instagram, we found out that Taec was able to take a day off and had coffee, lunch, dinner something with Jun. K.  Prior to that OkTroll tweeted to his bandmate a few days before their date. Siwon was also good about posting while he was enlisted. Jung Il Woo just posted recently as well. So although that can't make music or star in a drama they can post on social media. THANK GOD!!!

4.) Write a Fanfic.
So before Jun. K had his accident last year postponing his enlistment I was getting ready for it by writing a fanfic. I like to write and get crazy story ideas and sometimes I just have to get them out. Now if you don't like to write maybe you like to read. There are great fanfics and fanfic sites out there. (Or start a blog;) I post my fanfics on https://www.asianfanfics.com
I was working on one, but my real job took a lot of time maybe this winter break I will be able to get back on it... If you are into 2pm check it out: Taking Chances

3.) Powwows with other fans
I am so lucky I have friends around the world who love, Jun. K. Or 2pm. Granted these friends are in different time zones and we only chat through social media it's still nice to have someone who completely understands the obsession.

2.) Count Down the days
So I don't like this one very much, but I guess it helps others. SO many fans will count down right from Day 730 or 800 or whatever all the way to Day 0. I don't think I am going to be able to deal with seeing such big numbers. But if it helps you get through the 2-3 years by all means....

1.) Choose a new bias...
Chris Brown stated it like this: "These H*es Aint' Loyal." But the truth shall set you free. For those who can't wait 2-3 years... new groups, new actors are always coming out. Jun. K is my forever tho... LOL!!!! I am super Loyal... ok that is not true... I actually like Kim Hyun Joong BEFORE Jun. K, but with his scandal and everything.... I had to move on (not to say I don't appreciate his work.)

And there you have it... I hope that you are able to make it through your bias's enlistment. I hope I am able to get through my bias's enlistment.  

SS501 comeback? Probably Not...IJS

Kim Hyung Jun, maknae (youngest member) of the kpop group SS501 posted a pic on his instagram page that has bloggers and fans thinking a little too hard about a comeback. 

The wall seen here is covered with plaques of albums from SS501 days.

Koreaboo , a blog/website dedicated to all things kpop, kdrama, korean in general, thought that maybe the pic was a hint to maybe the group making a comeback, explaining that the caption for the pic was: "Will be filling up the rest of the spaces soon." 

 My reaction was: LOL!!! Smh... I am sorry. I love SS501. They were the first kpop group that I fell in love with... (well I knew about Shinee first) but I am not going to get myself all hyped up from a pic that could me LOTS of things. SS501 left their fans 5 years ago on a promise that they have NOT broken up as a group and that they would get back together one day. Since then we have seen solo efforts from each member. Leader, Kim Hyun Joong has had the most obvious success. First of all he's been in 4 dramas, including a sitcom called Can Love Be Refilled, the biggest drama of all time, Boys Over Flowers, Playful Kiss and Inspiring Generation. He was also on the first season of the reality show "We Got Married." He also released several solo mini albums, singles, and full albums. He's had major success in Korea and Japan, but his fans

Kim Hyun Joong

are all over the globe. Unfortunately the likelihood of him rejoining the group for a comeback is slim. At the moment Mr. Kim Hyun Joong is in the midst of a scandal. My last blog discussed the situation his has with a Miss Choi and getting her preggo. He was supposed to enlist in due to the Korean military mandate, but postpone that due to personal issues. Although a SS501 reunion might make fans feel better about him and this scandal, I'm not sure if it is the right move for him. He was in the middle of his our Tour and comeback when all of this scandal started. Kim Hyun Joong is complicated. I swear I think he got more plastic surgery on that nose. Is he bigger than SS501 at this point? Can he actually sing? Oh Hyun Joong I use to love you, but you disappoint.... Wait I must add that one of his Japanese single hit platinum status...so chughahabnida!?!

Park Jung Min

The Koreaboo article pissed me off because it didn't even mention sexy charisma member Park Jun Min. He has been in touring it seems non stop, even being the first Korean artist to perform in Russia. According to Kazok (his fan club) he has been in South America, but due to a back injury and health concerns thing has been difficult for Jung Min. It seems that he probably could get together with the guys but with health issues/injuries it could be difficult for Jung Min. 

Prior to enlistment Kyu released two mini albums.  Greenpeas (SS501's name for fans) were waiting for Kyu, to get out of the military. Finally he got out had a very intimate fan meeting and now it seems like he is either hanging out with producer Steven Lee (who produce alot of ss501's work and Kim Hyun Joong's biggest hits) or hanging out with Hyung Jun at times. I thought for sure he was going to jump on a song ASAP, but it's been quiet since he finished his military duty.

Prior to enlistment Heo Saeng released 4 mini albums and 2 Japanese albums. 
SHEEESH! Korean Military takes a kpop idol and turns them into regular guy with a quick hair cut. Heo Young Saeng is in the middle of his military service. Although he will be finished in July 2015 according to Koreaboo.

Kim Hyung Jun our Maknae and for me least liked. Luckily he has an instagram. I mean sure Kyu does too but Hyung Jun uses his regularly, which is the reason I am up now talking about ridiculous speculation.
I am saying he said he would be filling the wall up soon. Maybe he meant with just solo records. Maybe he meant with other pictures. I mean trust me... SS501 are living off of a dream and a hope. Any little thing is enough to help them hold on to the idea of a reunion. Can it happen? Sure. Will it happen? Can't say. Maybe Hyung Jun, Heo Saeng, and Kyu Jong will pull another trio effort like they did when Hyun Joong was working on a drama and Min Jung was in a musical. They were pretty successful with that. Maybe they could do one like they did for ss501 the solo collection.  I guess you never really know. In 2013 they were all able to get together and surprise fans for Heo Saeng's farewell (military going away concert). I guess even skeptics like myself will have to wait and see, but I'm not holding my breath.

I have the internet to forever remember SS501 in all their adventures. 

And if I want to remember Hyun Joong from a time in which I thought he was pure, I will watch Boys Over Flowers. In the meantime, 2pm is my kpop group at the moment. I know I am a terrible fan. Once a Greenpea always right??? LOL!!! I am a Hottest until someone in 2pm makes me mad. 

PS: A piece of me will always love Kim Hyun Joong no matter what.... even if he has douchey habits.... 

 But such star power... and performance, he has it regardless of scandal and that has set him apart.... 

Well SS501 FIGHTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!