KPOP Confidential/KPOP Revolution – Stephan Lee

So, I recently got into k-pop… I feel like it was inevitable- it would’ve happened at some point in time, since quite a few of my friends like kpop groups. 

And so far, I feel like these 2 books have cleared up a lot of questions I had about the Korean music industry… which were a lot…

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This is a special case, since I decided to cover 2 books instead of 1, but for good reason, obviously.

I’d previously been in a reading slump since like January of 2023, which was not fun since I felt like my interests had a depth of youtube rabbit holes and watching 5-minute craft videos (I physically could NOT leave that lifestyle.) Then I picked up this series, and for the first time, I’m happy to say that this was a game changer. 

This book duology was such a ride… you know that feeling of wanting to move closer to the end of the book but also wanting to keep reading? THAT’S LITERALLY WHAT I FELT.

First, I want to talk about the concept. For someone who doesn’t particularly believe that being a KPOP idol is all glamour and perfection, the series went specific on the thorns of the industry. The raw reality of this series shone a light on how people prepare for that kind of life (mind you, they aren’t always able to prepare…)

There was no covering up of conceptual idea in this series. In fact, the whole reason I liked it is because it focused on the struggle of KPOP trainees instead of showing perfect, idol-like standards that general girls (not just Korean girls) need to live up to. Which of course, they DON’T need to live up to.

Maybe I phrased it wrong… I guess what I’m trying to say is that it completely shuns that believed idea that the KPOP idols are above us normal girls in every possible way. Rather, Stephan Lee shows that the trainees and idols have similar problems to us, and that giving them crap about not being completely perfect is detrimental to those idols’ health.

Going off on a tangent here (because I’m apparently always sidetracked here), the main thing I never understood about KPOP idols, trainees, and just the whole industry in general; why does everyone need to be showcased as flawless? I get that there’s a specific standard that they all have to strive to get to, but why can’t the industry just embrace that idols have imperfections? There’s so much more room for understanding the idols that way, and idols can let loose a little bit more- no need to put up a façade to please everyone.

The fact that Stephan Lee chose to show that hard work isn’t the main winning factor to become an idol is honestly a bit controversial yet completely appreciated by me. Constantly, the KPOP trainees are fat-shamed, or told that their body isn’t the ideal type for a KPOP idol. In fact, they’re encouraged and bullied into getting plastic surgery so that they can look more modified and therefore more “Korean-Idol-Type.” It makes me wonder, really, if striving to be a KPOP idol is really worth it.

Saying this, my guidance counselor would probably have a literal stroke if she knew how intense(ly TOXIC) the KPOP industry could be.

Okay, I just realised that I haven’t told you guys about the main character(s). So let’s get on with that as well.

We have Candace Park, a girl who’s expected to fill that dutiful-Asian daughter stereotype by getting straight-As, taking all the AP classes, and doing viola as an extracurricular (which, might I add, she does NOT like.) But she’s so much more than that.

Often, I don’t see characters this complex without having some kind of “i’m-not-like-other-girls” complex (I’ve seen that in waayyyyy too many books to count.) Yet, she’s such an elaborately constructed character that I’m having some trouble figuring out if this was based on a true story (Stephan has some explaining to do…) She’s like, the literal DEFINITION of someone I would want to read a book about.

And that’s a compliment I don’t pay to just ANYONE. Going from a quiet Korean girl in New Jersey to being a major part in one of Korea’s most famous KPOP groups, that’s really just commendable. Stephan clearly loves the KPOP backstory culture.

My favorite characters would either have to be Binna, or Helena.

Binna: she was one amazing character that I’d highlight on this book. Through the middle and end of the book, she’s so incredibly supportive of Candace. Candace had trouble keeping up with dances and singing and the exercises that all trainees had to do, so Binna decided to lend a hand and help her each step of the way. My favorite thing about Binna was her characteristic trucker hat she always wore, which had the words Powder Pup written on it in sparkly silver rhinestones (it was supposed to spell Power Puff, like in Power Puff Girls, but I like Powder Pup better.) Though Binna was the Main Rapper, Center, and Leader of their team, she managed to shine a limelight on Candace more than enough times. She was such a genuinely nice person and I loved reading about her. Book 2 highlighted the fact that Binna became a choreographer and trainer for Candace’s new group (but I’m going to leave it up to you guys to read about it.)

Helena: though Helena was quite an uptight, snobby girl in the beginning of the book, hating Candace since the day they met, I somewhat understood the reasons why she was so toxic to Candace the whole time, but I started to like her a lot more since she and Candace grew to be like sisters. Admittedly, Helena could’ve been a bit less, uh, rude to Candace, as most of that hate was unwarranted, but I’m glad that the book series had a resolution I could live with.

Romance Time!!
YoungBae (a fellow male trainee) was a constant love interest to Candace in the book series, and though they had their ups and downs, YB proved that he could be a good boyfriend, friend, and companion. Though they were one INCREDIBLY sweet couple, they weren’t allowed to be together due to the dating bans in the KPOP industry (another thing I just DO NOT get… but I won’t go off on this.) Their whole relationship was based on them just being goofy and friendly towards each other in the beginning, and then YB supporting Candace when she ended up in trouble. I just felt a bit bad when YB and Candace had a bit of a falling out during the second book…

It was like that moment where I tell myself that I don’t like cliches, but then I find myself rooting for whatever romance I can see in the books.

Regardless of whatever romances and all that appeared, there was a LOT of DRAMA (which I just inhale, if you know me well.)

There is a lot of competition to be the lead or main or center of the group (forgive me if what I’m saying is wrong, since I don’t QUITE understand the difference between lead & main). However, I always see a double standard in these kinds of cases; if a member is always taking the most roles, he/she’s toxic and selfish, while if a member chooses to stay back and just help showcase the main, they’re lazy and unwilling. I just don’t understand how there’s absolutely NO in between.
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Though there was a plethora of amazing parts in this book, I’d like to highlight some not so great parts:

1. Candace’s Audition: WHO AUDITIONS FOR A KPOP TRAINEE POSITION WITH “BAD GUY” by BILLIE EILISH??

In case you don’t understand what I’m talking about, Billie Eilish is not someone you’d want to cover if you’re auditioning for a role which needs a large vocal range (no offense to Billie Eilish, she’s great, but not for this scene.) And..? She got in somehow.

2. Binna

I don’t understand how Candace debuted (made her showcase in a group) in just a few months, while Binna had been training almost 10 years and was reduced to being just a choreographer (because she didn’t fit the beauty standard.)

Okay, that’s probably it tbh…

Overall, I just want to give a huge thank you to Stephan Lee because he helped show the bright and dark sides of the KPOP industry… and I hope there’s going to be a book 3 because I JUST CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF CANDACE PARK :CC.

Bye ≧◡≦