While her experiences as a Korean pop vocalist have helped to shape her portrayal of Sun Hi, “Make It Pop” does not directly reference K-pop and the songs featured on the series are performed in English. During the interview, she explained the incorporation of Korean culture in the show and its influence on the aesthetic of the set. “We don’t perform in Korean because it is not a K-pop show,” said Lee. “For one song, we did include the Korean word oma, which means mother. That is the extent that Korean language has been included in the songs. We have random Korean pop posters included in the set that serves as the girls’ dorm room. That’s how we have included the Korean culture background in the show.”
She continued to explain, “It is more Korean influence or inspiration than K-pop. I’m not sure if we will include any more Korean culture or language, in the next season. The show is purely K-pop inspired and Korean culture inspired.”
During her time spent in Korea, she competed on two seasons of MBC’s “Star Audition -The Great Birth” and released the single “8dayz” which featured Yong Jun Hyung. Even though she is currently working in Hollywood, she continues to have great appreciation for K-pop. “My all-time favorite group is 2NE1,” Lee said. “Recently, I have become interested in B1A4. I love their music and the fact that they write their own songs. They are such a great group and are all very good looking.”
The first season of “Make It Pop” did not include special appearances from K-pop idols but that does not rule out future opportunities. On May 1, Nickelodeon announced that “Make It Pop” would be extended for a second season.
She expressed her enthusiasm for the show and her desire to present messages to young audiences through the platform. “The cast and crew have been really sweet,” Lee said. “We’ve become one big, happy family. I feel really honored to be part of the project. I hope that the show continues to empower kids, in a positive way. Each episode has a very empowering message behind it.”
As the interview reached its conclusion, Megan Lee provided words of wisdom for young people who are interested in pursuing a career in entertainment. “No matter what happens or people say, keep believing in yourself and never give up,” Lee said. “Whether you want to become a singer, dancer or actor, always be confident in yourself. Have a very clear vision of your own path. My dream is to always inspire younger people in a very positive way. I really hope aspiring musicians or actors can look to me and will follow their dreams, without ever giving up.”
The first season of “Make It Pop” has completed its 20-episode run but the series is available for viewing on the Nickelodeon website and Hulu. Music performed by XO-IQ on “Make It Pop” is available for download on iTunes.
