Growing Up Korean-American - Living Between Two Worlds
Growing up Korean-American often felt like straddling two different lives.
At home, we spoke Korean, ate traditional food, and honored our heritage.
Outside, I was expected to blend seamlessly into American culture.
For years, I struggled to define who I truly was.
Neither fully Korean, nor entirely American—just somewhere in between.
Military Life and Identity - Duty Before Discovery
Joining the U.S. Army gave me discipline, purpose, and a deep sense of responsibility.
But it also meant putting personal exploration on hold.
For much of my military career, identity was secondary.
Duty, honor, and loyalty came first.
It wasn't until after my service that I began asking,
"Who am I beyond the uniform?"
My First Real Encounter with K-pop - An Unexpected Turn
Ironically, it wasn't growing up Korean that connected me to K-pop.
It happened years later, sitting in a Seoul café, hearing BTS for the first time.
At first, it was just a catchy song.
But something deeper pulled me in—
a sense of belonging I had never felt before.
That was the moment K-pop stopped being "music from my parents’ homeland"
and started becoming my own story too.
BTS and the Power of Authentic Storytelling
What struck me most about BTS wasn't just the music.
It was their raw honesty.
Songs about mental health, self-love, perseverance—
topics that even in America, many shy away from.
BTS dared to be vulnerable.
And through them, I realized it was okay for me to be vulnerable too.
Breaking Prejudices - Learning to Embrace K-pop
For a long time, I dismissed K-pop as superficial.
Colorful visuals, choreographed dances—
I thought it lacked "substance."
I couldn't have been more wrong.
BTS, and later other K-pop artists, showed me that sincerity and creativity
could exist hand in hand with performance.
They taught me that art doesn't have to fit a Western mold to be meaningful.
Living in Korea - A Deeper Connection Through Music
Now living in Korea, I feel K-pop’s impact every day.
It’s more than entertainment—
it’s woven into the culture, the energy of the streets,
the hopes of an entire generation.
When I walk through Seoul hearing BTS, IU, or Stray Kids playing,
it reminds me that I am not just an outsider looking in.
I belong here too.
In my own way.
Redefining Pride - What Being Korean Means to Me Now
Thanks to K-pop,
I no longer see my Korean heritage as something distant or foreign.
It’s alive, evolving, dynamic.
Being Korean isn't just about speaking the language or following traditions.
It's about embracing the creativity, passion, and resilience
that runs deep through every song and every story.
I carry that pride now, wherever I go.
A New Journey Ahead - Embracing Both Worlds Fully
K-pop didn't just change the music I listen to.
It changed how I see myself.
No longer torn between two worlds,
I now stand firmly in both.
I am Korean.
I am American.
And thanks to K-pop,
I have learned that I never had to choose between the two.
