Idol Caregiver, Bomi (bbombbombbom)
Choi Yeonju: Someone who makes you feel at home, shares delightful meals, and genuinely listens to your candid concerns. In Idol Caregiver, Bomi, Yoon Bomi, a member of Apink with 13 years of experience, takes on the role of nurturing her fellow idols. She invites “idols exhausted from their hectic schedules” to a cozy space adorned with a comfortable bed and a snug rug. She cooks for them, shares food with them, and initiates a casual conversation, making the guests feel right at home. Her laughter echoes exuberantly, sometimes causing her face to twitch, especially around CHUU, a typical ENFP with ceaseless chatter. She exhibits her playful “charming sloppiness” to her junior idols SOOJIN and JIHAN of Weeekly, insisting with unwavering certainty that “ashatchu” (a common slang abbreviation for “adding a shot of espresso to iced tea”) stands for “adding a shot to an americano”. She charms HARUNA and TSUKI of Billie, both from Osaka, by conversing in their dialect. Bomi thoughtfully curates menus, offering pet snacks to WHEEIN, who adores her house cat Como, and serving takoyaki, a popular snack from Osaka, for TSUKI and HARUNA. Her thoughtful gestures encourage the junior idols under her care to explore new ventures, embark on solo careers, or confide in her about their challenges and apprehensions before making a comeback after a long break. When asked the simple yet profound question, “What do you aspire to become?” these budding talents confidently voice their bold dreams of becoming “a freakin’ awesome celebrity” or “a global superstar.” When posed that same question, Yoon Bomi expresses her wish to be “someone who can help.” With her nurturing spirit extending beyond the screen, it appears she has already fulfilled her dream.

Mars and Me by Bae Myung-Hoon

Kim Gyeoul (Writer): Bae Myung-Hoon, a prominent Korean sci-fi writer, boasts a distinctive career background. With both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in diplomacy, he was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct research titled “Planet Politics of Mars: A Study of Long-term Space Strategies for Formation of Mars Governance System upon Human Settlement.” Essentially, it delves into potential scenarios that might unfold if humans settled on Mars. The typical notion of settling on another planet usually evokes images of scientists like biologists or physicists. However, as human inhabitation unfolds, it evolves into a realm requiring administration, politics, and diplomacy. Should we let a nation be established there? How should we deal with legal issues like a murder case? Should we apply Earth’s laws? Let’s get more specific. Could we have ganjang-gejang there? What roles would artists play in this new environment? Through the lens of a diplomatic scholar and the creativity of a novelist, Bae Myung-Hoon vividly depicts the lives of those who have migrated to Mars. After reading this, the Earth might start to seem a bit different. 

Doe JaeMyoung - 21st Century Odyssey

Kim Yunha (Music Critic): Today’s world is full of stimulation. Most people navigate through this modern life like buoys adrift at sea, often unaware of their direction. There are observers, though few, who watch from a distance. While some may pity them, thinking they’ve been pushed to the edge of the world, they continue to stare at the sea with a peculiar expression that’s neither laughter nor tears.

If there were a soundtrack to this scene, it would probably be Doe JaeMyoung’s. He has been mainly working as a solo artist since 2015, after being in the band Zzzaam and Loro’s. His music defies categorization as mainstream. Yet, irrespective of his musical niche, his work reminds us of what we’ve been forgetting amid the fatigue induced by the constant stimulations. Time and again, he persistently echos this message like an unyielding tide. That’s the kind of music he pursues–delving into unacceptable events happening daily around the world; the struggles of an artist seeking purpose and direction in this era; and the heartache of losing a father, the closest confidant since birth. His music and message, which may seem unfamiliar at first glance, form an expansive loop, starting with the poignant moment of separation that every human experiences at least once. Listening to “Where, In What From, Shall We Meet Again” featuring voices from a video that Doe JaeMyoung filmed with his father during childhood, evokes a profound emotional response. It’s truly a valuable and precious album in times like this.