[비즈엔터 윤준필 기자]'BANG', K-Pop Training Result 'K-Inni-Pop'…Most Memorable Appearance at '2023 ASF'

The scorching dreams they carried with them when they arrived in Korea seem like yesterday, but the biting winter has quickly arrived. For the 4-member Indonesian girl group StarBe, the past four months have been truly short.

▲StarBe(Provided by KOFICE)

Selected as participants in the "Growing Twogether 2023" program organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea and sponsored by the Korea Council for International Cultural Exchange, StarBe has been undergoing 'K-pop training' in South Korea for about four months since August 1.

Before returning to Indonesia after completing their training, StarBe had their final interview with Bizenter. The expressions on the faces of StarBe members Abel, Chelsea, Kezia, and Shella were filled with a sense of relief that they had successfully completed the challenging training and sadness at leaving Korea.

▲StarBe(Provided by KOFICE)

"Through learning the K-Pop training system, we've realized how hard we need to practice to transform into a global girl group in the future. Even when we return to Indonesia, we plan to invest as much time in practice as we did in Korea." (Abel)

StarBe, a girl group that debuted in 2019 and is already well-known in Indonesia, came to Korea with the aim of learning firsthand the systematic process behind the creation of K-Pop and K-Pop stars, which they have always admired.

They practiced and prepared for new songs just like any other K-Pop artists in Korea. While they had about 2 hours of practice time in Indonesia every day, in Korea, they dedicated 7 to 8 hours to dance and singing practice. Knowing the practice intensity of K-Pop artists, they found the physical strain manageable and viewed it as an opportunity for growth. However, perfecting Korean pronunciation proved to be a challenging task.

"I had a lot of shortcomings in the dance department compared to other members, and I had to quickly learn the choreography within a limited time in Korea. There were many challenging moments, but I was able to complete all tasks safely and feel that I've leveled up myself." (Shella)

"Pronouncing '꿈을[ggu-meul]' was really difficult. Members might have felt a bit exhausted from repeating '꿈을' hundreds of times. Still, the moments when we were practicing Korean lyrics are memorable to us." (Chelsea)

▲StarBe(Provided by KOFICE)

The song 'BANG,' released by StarBe in September, is the result of their K-Pop training. It is the first 'K-Inni-Pop (K-Pop+Indonesian Pop)' with a mix of Korean and Indonesian lyrics. The producer of the mission song 'Showtime' from Mnet's 'Produce 101 Season 2,' Lee Geun-woo, oversaw the composition, and dancer Minju designed the choreography.

While the purpose of StarBe's visit to Korea was to learn, it was also important to promote Indonesian culture and charm. Therefore, in the music video for '뱅,' they used red, blue, and white LED lights to symbolize the flags of Indonesia and Korea.

In September, StarBe played a role as a bridge between Korean and Indonesian cultures at the '2023 Asia Song Festival' held in Yeouido Hangang Park. Afterward, they appeared on various broadcasts such as KBS and Arirang TV and also performed on the stage of the Korea-Indonesia 50th-anniversary concert. The moment when the four of them, representing their homeland, stood on the stage of the 'Asia Song Festival' was the most memorable during the training period.

▲StarBe(Provided by KOFICE)

"I've always dreamed of becoming a global girl group beyond Indonesia. The 'Asia Song Festival' was broadcast worldwide. Through this stage, we were able to realize that dream. It was also a great honor to stand on the stage with Korean idols." (Kezia)

For StarBe, who had longed to perform on a Korean stage and had the wish of someday standing on the Korean stage, the past four months in Korea were like a dream. The four members said, "It was a time of learning everything about K-Pop, falling in love with Korea, and growing as artists." Back in Indonesia, StarBe is creating a new bucket list and dreams of returning to Korea.

"Next, we want to stand as a global girl group at a popular music awards ceremony held in Korea. We also want to collaborate with other famous artists, hold a world tour, and meet fans from all over the world."

To be continued in Part 2.