Minzy Roundup Post

[adenar.livejournal.com]

On July 7, Minzy guested on the MBC Every1 show “Video Star,” which is co-hosted by her fellow former 2NE1 member Sandara Park. On the program, she talked about auditioning at YG and SM, malicious comments, being labeled a “traitor” after leaving 2NE1, and more. She also brought Sandara Park to tears with a moving message of gratitude for all Sandara Park did for the group.

After the show, Minzy spoke to Xportsnews about the experience. She said, “I was a bit nervous because it was my first time going on a talk show in eight years, but the four MCs took good care of me as though I was their real younger sister and made me feel comfortable, so I was able to happily chat and I had a good time.”

She also spoke about expressing her thanks to Sandara Park. Minzy said, “Her being together with me reassured me and I relied on her a lot. I was very worried because it was my first variety show appearance in a long time, but I was grateful because she supported me a lot throughout the filming.”

Minzy continued, “Before the broadcast, she kept cheering me on by saying, ‘I’m really excited for it. Our maknae [youngest member] is so good at everything. I’m not worried even in the slightest.’ She gave me courage and was a great source of strength for me.”

“It was so great that there was an opportunity for us to be together again while we’re each working hard at our own work,” she said. “Since we can now understand how each other feels and relate to each other without even saying a word, she’s someone who’s very reassuring and supportive for me.”

After making her recent solo comeback with the single “Lovely,” Minzy has talked optimistically several times during her promotions about the possibility of a 2NE1 reunion.

Minzy said, “I think fans also really miss 2NE1 and they’re looking back again on the past precious memories of us together on stage. I hope that there will someday be an opportunity for us to all get together again.”

Finally, Minzy shared that she’s preparing to return with new music soon. She went on to say, “I also want to take on a lot of different challenges if I get another good opportunity like ‘Video Star’ again. I think there will be a chance for me to perform online for overseas fans. Please look forward to it.”

“2NE1” debuted in 2009 with “Fire.” The image of a new girl group had shocked the public. Gong Minji, who was the main dancer in 2NE1. Although she made her debut at the young age of 16, she received a great spotlight not only before her debut but also during her group’s career, including her monster dance skills and solid vocals. Gong Minji, who has continued her solo career since the group’s disbandment, has returned after three years.

Gong Minji, who is already 27 years old and feels amazing, has made a comeback with her new song “Lovely.” During the long hiatus, in a stifling situation where she couldn’t play her own songs even if she wanted to, she recorded the frustrations she had heard, collected them and wrote the lyrics. She said she hopes many people will be comforted by her songs in the future.

Gong Minji wants to become a memorable singer even after the times pass, and she wants to work harder in the future. From now on, with a solid inner side and humane, tender answers, and a simple charm even though she is in her 12th year, let’s take a look at her interview.

Q. How do you feel about the photo shoot?
“I had a photo shoot with BNT before, and the atmosphere was very warm and fun every time I did it. I was able to have more fun and work hard today because you gave me a lot of reactions and made the atmosphere warm. Thank you very much.”

Q. My favorite concept is…
“Among the things I did today, it was fun to take a picture in casual t-shirts and jeans at the end. It was good to be able to make an active expression or pose.”

Q. How have you been doing?
“I recently released my new song ‘Lovely’ and I’m working hard. And I spent my time doing radio and music broadcasting activities. I’m glad that there are a lot of people who are saying that my singing skills have improved. There are a lot of people who say they want to see me dance, so I’m working hard to prepare for my next activity.

Q. The concept and styling we pursued have changed a lot from before. How do you feel?
“At first, I liked this style, but when I tried it on and made a lovely face, it was awkward. I was used to being strong and tough, so I felt awkward at first, but now I feel like I’m getting better. It was good to wear a dress and do something fresh and cute today. I’m still a little more used to the strong image.” (laugh)

Q. Friends of the same age who worked together acted in a cute concept. Was there anything you felt bad about showing only a strong image in 2NE1?
“At that time, I wanted to make a cute version of 2NE1. That’s why “Falling in Love” and “Do You Love Me” are songs where we tried to look cute in our own way. That was a unique and cute look. I’m having fun as a soloist and doing music like ‘Lovely’.”

Q. My favorite music is 2NE1’s music.
“There are times when I find out while watching TV, saying, “You look so pretty!” and “Have you had this kind of image?” I made a lot of such discoveries during this “Lovely” activity. That’s why I love this concept.”

Q. You made your debut at the age of 16 in 2009 and you’re already on your 12th year. It’s sentimental.
When I go to music programs, I only have my juniors. I can’t get used to it (laughs). Among the singers I was active with in the middle of my career, Yubin of Wonder Girls was the one who had overlapping activities recently. They are all juniors or rookies, so time has passed and I feel like I’ve aged a lot. It’s amazing. When I look at my juniors, I’m very happy to see them.”

read the rest of the interview at AyoMinzy












Today’s Gong Minji isn’t interested in the best. Instead, she says that she can do anything.

You couldn’t take your eyes off the puppy on the set today.
I really like puppies. I have a small poodle as a pet. The dog I met today is a big dog, so I was amazed and glad to see it. (Laughs.)

What is the name of the dog?
Dougie. There’s a dance move called the Dougie Dance. The dance also came out on ‘I AM THE BEST’. When I bought my dog, it happened to be when I was working on ‘I AM THE BEST’. So I named her after the dance. There’s some swag to it.

Because you dance so well, you seem to know how to use your body when shooting pictorials.
I like taking pictures. I’m also interested in fashion, so I often look at magazines. When I go abroad, I buy them one by one and I bring a lot. It helps a lot when making a song or setting a concept.

I wonder which magazines you like.
Street style magazines such as V Magazine and LOVE. Of course, I like Nylon, too. (Laughs.)

Your style has become very lovely. Your single, which was released on the 24th of last month [May], is also titled ‘LOVELY’. It’s the opposite of what you’ve shown before, so I wondered if you’ve done what you wanted to do.
I’ve given a lot of strength before, so now, I want to relax and show various sides of myself. I felt, ‘I have this side, too’. At first, even I felt awkward. In the meantime, it has not been easy to smile naturally or show a lovely appearance because I have become accustomed to powerful dances and strong images. But it worked as I kept doing it.

Which side is the real Gong Minji?
My personality itself is natural and friendly with people and I have a lovely atmosphere and feeling. (Laughs) When I dress, I tend to be more street, comfortable and sporty.

Taste changes. Dress, preferences, whatever.
My dream was to wear a one piece that looked like a sky-high dress. (Laughs.)

Come to think of it, I didn’t see it well.
I’ve rarely worn it. Mostly boxy T-shirts and leggings…At that time, I couldn’t do that [wear a dress] because I had characters and images to show.

Do you have any plans after ‘LOVELY’?
Now I’m slowly getting ready. If the new single ‘LOVELY’ was like a gift to fans who have been waiting for a long time, I think the next song will be a real start.

Can we meet this summer?
I’ll try my best. (Laughs.)

When I listened to ‘LOVELY’, the lyrics and emotional keywords were comforting.
Since it’s really hard to wait without a promise, I think I felt a lot of frustration when I couldn’t do what I wanted to do for a long time after 2NE1. I worried, and I wanted to comfort myself when I felt like it was all going to disappear. I told myself, ‘It’s still not over’, and ‘I am precious’.

Comforting is always difficult. What method do you use to comfort someone?
I like listening to stories. Somewhat of a listener like style. (Laughs.) So I have quite a few friends who come to me and tell me about their worries. Let’s just listen comfortably. Still, if there’s anything I really want to tell you, I don’t take sides and give realistic advice.

read the rest of the interview at AyoMinzy

source: rosypeach, soompi, Arirang Radio K-pop, Minzy TV, AyoMinzy (2) via bntnews (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) and nylonmedia

Comments

[aures.livejournal.com]

thank you OP, these photoshoots are gorgeous, i love that black and orange skirt, it suits her so well

sandara park is really the heart and center of 2NE1, it's so beautiful to see they still have such a strong connection and that they can rely on each other when they meet

i hope Minzy will release new music soon, Lovely is such a beautiful song

[soyunatetera.livejournal.com]

I'm crying so much with the first video
It was such a messy time when YG gave up on 2en1 and we didn't realize... I even remember believing some of the rumor that were circulating, but the four of them loved the group, they just didn't have a company that wpuld care enough
The way Bom instantly started crying broke my heart 💔

[myxlittlexporny.livejournal.com]

It was also so weird to me how they gave up on 2NE1. They Are all so talented and I feel like they were very liked, no? I just don’t remember negativity towards them... I was a big SNSD Stan, but somehow I have all 2NE1 albums and not a single SNSD one woops...

[violoncelliste.livejournal.com]

i don't want to sound like 'that one korean person told me something so it means the entire korea was like that' but i was talking to a friend in Korea around 2 years ago and she told me that at the height of their popularity 2ne1 were (and i quote) 'celebrated like heroes', at least in her friend group.

netizens were absolutely terrible to them for their looks, but they were popular and they made money, so the real reason why yg gave up on them was that they're just misogynistic and completely incompetent. look at blackpink, they could be making so much more money with minimal effort and they're not doing it because? there's no real reason, yg just sucks.

[myxlittlexporny.livejournal.com]

That’s so... infuriating. And just bad business. It’s weird no other company scooped them up. It’s not like they’re too old or anything

[adenar.livejournal.com]

Minzy found a new company pretty quickly. They promoted her well for a year and then she and almost all the other company artists fell off the map. The company's basically only got Gilggu Bonggu and the PDX101 boys so I assume they've cut their losses and stuck to those two artists. She managed to settle out of court earlier this year to leave her contract (I assume at financial penalty), and has now formed a company with her family to promote with.
Sandara is still with YG
CL's contracted expired last year, and she seems to be promoting similarly to Minzy, in that she's promoting independently, and has probably set up (at least temporarily) a company around her and her team.
Bom initially remained with YG even after her contract seemingly expired, taking part in their goodbye song, but then got dropped unceremoniously in 2017 after a public back and forth in which she claimed she had signed a contract with YG subsidiary The Black Label and the insisted that no such thing had happened. After that she was approached by some people wanting to form a company around her, so she signed with them.
So, they have been snapped up by other companies...they just had YG messing with them and stringing them along for far longer than any of them wanted.

[myxlittlexporny.livejournal.com]

Tragic. Thanks for all the info! I kinda wanna watch Queendom just because of Bom. Do you know if it’s worth it? (Sorry lol)

[adenar.livejournal.com]

I would really recommend Queendom, though I imagine it'll hit differently since AOA Jimin's bullying issue (at one point she even has a brief solo stage). The stages are really good 9/10, and the interactions between the girls are really wholesome. Any attempt at drama is played off as a joke/one of the MCs trolling basically, and it's nice. Bom is not my favourite performer in it - her being solo makes very plain the faults and weaknesses in her technique and vocal stylings - but she's absolutely one of the hearts of the show, she's simultaneously chaotic neutral and also an absolute sweetheart. My favourite performance of hers is probably her second one, but there's also a lot of wholesome footage of her befriending the other idols and eating corn, lol.

[soyunatetera.livejournal.com]

After Bom's situation with the medication prescription, YG simply made no effort, handeled the issue horribly and since they had to put all the effort in the mens scandals of the company they put none into Bom's situation, which is really messed up considering Bom probably still feels guilty and she clearly is the most emotionally unstable in the group

[myxlittlexporny.livejournal.com]

Ooooh yes I completely forgot about this. They really did her dirty :( poor bommie

[adenar.livejournal.com]

It was a really tough time to be a Minzy fan because a) she was, clearly, really hurting from it and wasn't necessarily reacting in the best way towards her fellow members, that's true, and it was tough to see her so down, and b) even while a lot of people empathised with why she left they still were really eager to criticise her for any perceived slight towards YG or anyone, and c) some people were just really happy to have someone to throw some shit at. I'm really glad she's being more open now about how the hiatus affected her mentally and how much affection she has towards the members, and they're all talking about each other and wanting to promote again now that they're more free.

[soyunatetera.livejournal.com]

I'm guilty of that actually
At the time I really sympathized with minzy and for some stupid reason I can't understand myself right now I was angry at CL because to me she was clearly YG's fave, he only cared for her solo career and gave up on the rest of the group, little did I know that he gave up in all of them. I feel bad now, CL and all of them loved the group, I'm sure that if it wasn't for YG mismanagement and misogyny, they would still be singing together and as solo artist. That company made all of them suffer in the last years of the group

[volume1995.livejournal.com]

2ne1 was one of my first, if not the actual first, girl groups I've ever really loved and regularly followed. 2ne1tv and the other variety show appearances were my go-to when i was bored or wanted to watch something without having to pay attention all the time, cause the girls were a lot of fun.

yg really really really screwed them over, for no good god damn reason and ill never forgive him for that. i hope blackpink jumps ship in 2023.

[myungung.livejournal.com]

their trajectory always makes me sad, because they really could have achieved much more and they were (are?) already huge. it's always nice to see friendship prevailing, and I just want the 4 of them to be contented now after all they've suffered under yge.

i'm so ready for sandara to leave YGE and have more variety/drama appearances. my only worry would be whether big companies would be willing to take her in.

[adenar.livejournal.com]

i feel like dara has a really good chance of getting picked up. she's now an established mc, but she has such a long career spanning back years before 2ne1 (and is still very loved/respected abroad) that an entertainment company would be foolish not to offer her something. I don't think they'd take her on as a singer (though would probably be open to supporting a reunion as long as they got something out of it) but I can't imagine they wouldn't take her on as a personality.

[aeries-amethyst.livejournal.com]

It warms my heart to know that there is still a lot of love between the members after all these years. I don't think a reunion is impossible. 2NE1 could have still been together and slaying if YG didn't mismanage them. These ladies deserved so much better than the hand that they were dealt.

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Watching them cry was so tough. They really deserved better.