Now and Next
What happens now and what's going to be next for the leader, and an observation on Korean culture.
I wish they wouldn’t cancel the individual activities of all the group members just because of what he’s done…or at least, that‘s how I felt before he left. Now, they just need time to cry. A boy band without a leader is a sad thing. A boy band with a replacement is worse. Sometimes. It feels almost as if they’re being punished for something they didn’t do. I see a similar thing happen with Soshi anti-fans. When they give a reason why they hate the group, usually it’s because of something only one of them has done, which I don’t think is fair. In a way, I understand why they would temporarily cancel all of their activities. It’s because it’s in the culture, I think.
See, Korea has what I call a “We, not Me” type of culture. (lulz, I’m no expert on Korean culture, but I’ll share what I know and have learned just the same.) In Korean, it’s not your house or my house, it’s our house. I even saw an example of this when I was watching “Boys Over Flowers”. In the scene where Jihoo takes Jandi to his house for the first time, she asks where they’re at/going. He replies, 우리 집 Uri jib “Our house.” If you’ve seen it, then you certainly know that Jihoo lives alone, so why would he say that? Because that’s the way the culture is. Certain things aren’t seen as just belonging to you. Our house, our school (which makes sense when you think about it; you’re not the only one attending the school). Even if I’m an only child talking to a friend about my mother, I’m supposed to say 우리 엄마 uri eomma “our mother”, because that is the correct way. 우리 나라 Uri nara, “Our country”. So in Korea, it’s not just about you, it’s about us, it’s about we.
(I spent so long typing this paragraph, I forgot what point I was trying to make…*실패*)
Now I remember what I wanted to say: Because it's "we, not me", they don't just see it as Jay's fail, they see it as the whole group's fail, so they all cancel their activities and have a sitdown. Anyway, that’s just now. But what’s next?
Jay says he’s going to be “studying music”. I hope that’s not gangsta lingo for “I’mma sit on ma momma’s couch and get fat off of oreos.” While he’s studying music, he needs to come down to Atlanta and visit my house! If he comes over, he can has cupcakes! Actually, anybody that comes over can have cupcakes, but he can have sprinkles! …okay, everyone gets sprinkles too. We’re just friendly like that. XD Call it “southern hospitality.”
After he gets finished “studying music”, whatever that might mean, what can he do? Well, in the meantime, he can always work as a model here in America. Let’s face it, we know he’s got the face, the body and the experience, he could totally do it, (My mom agrees. I showed her a pic of him, and she couldn‘t even really say anything. She just had that leering, creepy nuna look in her eye. You know the one I‘m talking about, because I’m sure you‘re made that face before. I know what you think about SHINee…) and make insane amounts while doing it. I’m not sure what they pay him as 1/7th of a boy band, but I’m certain he could make lots with solo modeling.
What if he doesn’t want to model? I’m sure he could start a singing (lol, no rapping for you in the US, bb~) career here. He’s pretty okay as a singer, good even, and hello, this is America. The singing’s not gonna matter so much when he takes off his shirt. And you know it’s going to come off. I have a theory that he can’t go anywhere without taking his shirt off at least once while he‘s there. How can I find out if it’s true…?
Making buttloads of money in the states is all well and good, but he still has to go back eventually. Why? Duh, haven’t you seen, “The Lion King”? Simba goes back to his kingdom to reclaim what’s his. He could have stayed in Paradise Meadow (LOL, I had to do it, I’m sorry~rofl) with Timon and Pumbaa forever and ever, but he went back. You could say, it was a matter of “pride”. OKAY, I’m going to stop with the puns and obscure references. Eventually.
Just like Simba, Jay has been driven out of his kingdom (lol, okay, maybe it’s not a kingdom, he’s not a king, but whatever) by hyenas. Only, unlike Jay, Simba isn’t reprehensible, he hasn‘t done anything. And unlike Simba, Jay’s hyenas aren’t nearly as funny. Either way, both groups of hyenas are out for blood. :[ So he fucked up, okay (I would also like to point out that some have done worse and gotten off with less. I‘m sure you can think of at least one. Some netizens never seem to freak out over things they should freak out over). He apologized, he’s going to do his time, fine.
But then he has to come back, because 2PM needs a leader. They can’t replace him, because not just anyone will do. 2PM’s leader has to be short, he has to look like he’s from Seattle. His right hand man has to be a tall guy with lots of teeth. He has to be good at speaking English, fluent in the gangsta dialect, and somewhere between fail and average on his Korean skills. He has to be a b-boy who loves hamburgers and working out. He has to have a body that looks like it’s been carved from marble. He must wear pink underwear, clothing, and accessories. And his name must be Park Jaebum.