NETIZEN

LEE BUM MI ALL KILL

 *Please don't pronounce Lee Bum like buttocks. The pronunciation is Boum. The first part of the chapter is on a TV set. I've added the special effects Korean shows have in brackets. Those who watch Korean shows know how it looks.

Seoul, Mapo Gu

Song Hi was gone, and there was a new idol in town. 18-year-old Lee Bum Mi, a girl with a sweet and sour attitude, was the answer.

Channel KLH The Morning Show

"Yeurobun [everyone], we have a great honor to have the next idol of your hearts. Please give a round of applause for Miss Lee Bum Mi."

"Hi, everyone."

"Are you happy to be here?"

Bum Mi beamed, "yes, I am. I never thought I'd be on a show like this one, but here I am."

"Your Inkigayo performance of your single POSEYO [look] made an all Kill hitting number 1 at its release. How do you explain that?"

"I think people are looking for a new sound. I wanted to do something different."

"Your video is inspired by NETIZEN and its chamber. Do you like the site?"

"My agent will probably kill me for this, but like most people, I connected to the site, and I've followed the chamber. I think one can learn a lot from NETIZEN. I asked my assistants to tell me if I say and do something out of line."

"Why?"

"Because I think one can be overwhelmed by this job and forget what is a good behavior to have. I don't want to be in the chamber."

"좋아 [choa=therefore good] for you what Black Moja and NETIZEN are doing is good?"

"그렇게 생각해요" [kuroeoke saengakhaeyo=I think so] I'm not saying the methods used are suitable, but thanks to NETIZEN, I know what kind of idol I want to be."

"And what Kind of idol is that?"

"I want to be honest with people, like today I'm pretty because I'm wearing makeup, but I'm so ordinary without it. Sometimes I won't put makeup on; I want my fans to know. There are a lot of girls who are insecure about themselves. I feel the same way about myself, but I put on a happy face and carry on because I can't change my face."

"You can become a plastic beauty," the presenter said.

"댓츠노노 [dastsu no-no= that's a no-no]!"

"So, you are all-natural?"

"No, I'm not. I had my teeth done. They were 이렇게 [ireoke= like this], the idol explained while mimicking how the teeth were on one another. "My teeth were like dancing piano keys, so I had them done on my agency advice, and there was also my Pusan accent I had to work on."

"Oh, cheongmal-yo?"

"네[yes], and my agency said it was important to have nice teeth, and my accent wasn't nice, but for me, it's my heritage. I'm not ashamed of my accent."

"This is your honesty, 좋아요 [choayo=I'm okay with that], do you always listen to your agency?"

"No, I'm very stubborn, but my mother is there to keep me in check."[Special effects added a pair of horns on the idol's head].

"Cheong-mal-yo?"

"Yeah, she is here today."

"Tchin-cha, Lee Bum Mi eommoni어디 있어요? [eodi isseo yo= where are you?]camera. Eomoni eodi e?"

"I'm here," said the idol's mom standing up to speak in the mic.

"Is your daughter stubborn?"

"네, but she is a nice girl."[ the technicians added a halo on Bum Mi].

"Thank you, Lee Bum Mi eommoninida."

"So, your mother comes with you everywhere?"

"Not everywhere, but she keeps an eye on me. It's comforting to know there is someone who cares around," Lee Bum Mi said with a smile.

"I heard you have an Instagram account, but it's private. You have many followers; why privatize?

"Because I don't want negativity, I have photos where I'm without makeup, childhood photos with my dancing teeth, and I don't want to have people criticizing, so I approve everyone, and yes, I block people who are rude."

"Aren't you scared people might get discouraged to follow you?" The presenter asked.

"One can't please everyone. It's my way of protecting myself. Also, I want to like people's photos without panicking about what fans will say about my tastes."

"But they can still say what they want elsewhere, like on the NETIZEN threads which are without moderators."

"I know. I accept the fact that not everyone can like me or my music. I can't take away people's freedom of speech."

"So you are okay with people saying bad things about you?"

"No, like everyone, I don't appreciate that, but I can't stop it. All I can try to do is protect what I can."

"What would you do if people desert your music?"

"I will go back to Pusan; I'd try to auto-produce my music or sell teopokki by the sea. [An Ahjumma perm effect was added to the star's image to make the spectators laugh]. I believe in being honest; I will find a public who accepts me the way I am with my flaws. Like I said earlier, NETIZEN has taught me many things. I love my fans, but I'm not their property. I'm an individual whose job is to entertain. I have feelings, and I would like people to consider them."

"Do you admire Black Moja?"

"Black Moja Ssi is a strong woman who isn't scared to say things no one would. I admire that."

"You have a brother who is an actor Lee Ji Woo who people criticized not so long ago for breaking his smooth image."

"Ji Woo Oppa is an introvert; he has never had many friends. He feels like he has found a new family and friends now he has changed agencies. I told him to loosen up a little, so he tried. I'm sad to see the public misinterpreted his actions and think it's not good for him to party a little. It doesn't change his entire being. I mean, we're artists have the same desires as everyone, we like having fun, and we hope to fall in love like anyone. [Red cheeks and hearts dropping on Bum Mi's head appeared on the audience's screens]. Why do idols have to obey standards to which most people don't?"

"Well, since you have young fans, you have to be an example?"

"Wae-yo? I'm only 18. I don't know more about life than anybody else. Why can't I be allowed to make mistakes? My mom still scolds me; how can I set examples? I can try to behave, but I'm only human."

Lee Bum Mi's words appeared to make the presenter uneasy he tried to regain control.

"And, there was also your brother's stuttering incident."

"People are mean sometimes, my brother once stuttered, and there were a million GIFS and Memes spreading. It isn't nice. These pranks truly affected him, and it was a difficult moment for all of us."

"Yes, I can imagine. So you have a video, inspired by NETIZEN for POSEYO?"

"Yes, it's kind of homage. It makes me sad when I think we needed a site to reflect on our daily actions. I wish the real black Moja were in it, or if she came to see my concert, I'd be happy. It would be an honor."

"Why not ask her now live on air?" the presenter urged her.

"Oh, my agency will kill me."

"But, you said you were stubborn and audacious."

"Kuortchi." [didn't I or isn't it so], Bum Mi exclaimed.

"So, what are you waiting for, ask?"The presenter prompted once more.

"Black Moja,전 왕팬이에요 [I'm a big fan of yours]. I would like you to come on stage with me to the next concert. If I get fired for sharing my opinion Black Moja take my agency to the chamber, 부탁합니다 [butakhamnida=please]."

"I hope she hears you, and I hope you won't get fired," the presenter said, laughing.