Legendary idol from the 90s, Eugene expressed her thoughts about K-Pop idols today.
Eugene was a member of the legendary girl group called S.E.S. The group debuted in 1997 with "I'm Your Girl" and became an instant hit. When the group split in 2002, Eugene worked on her acting career and earned respect for her impressive acting.
In the drama "A Hundred Year's Inheritance" that ended recently, Eugene portrayed a character named Min Chae Won. The drama was a big hit with a viewing rate of over 30%.
When she was asked talk about her secret to receiving great viewing rates, Eugene stated, "I don't expect anything when I start working on a project. It's great if it turns out well but I can't do anything about it if it doesn't. I think it is possible when the writing, actors, formation and a lot of other factors work well together."
Eugene commented on the SBS drama "The Secret of Birth" that features former girl group members Sung Yoo Ri and Lee Jin. Eugene stated, "It's nice to see that two members from the same girl group working together on a project. How fun would that be? They could talk about their old times and gossip while working together. I really want to act with members of S.E.S. too."
She also explained that she still keeps in touch with the other former S.E.S. members, Bada and Shoo.
Approximately 16 years have passed since the first generation of idol groups began to form. Some of the members of those groups have children and are living happily with their families.
When Eugene was asked to comment on the idol groups today, Eugene expressed her concern for them. She stated, "The system is different from back then and the idols themselves are very different from how idol groups used to be. It's definitely become very much more competitive. Everybody is so talented but they all have to compete to stand out among that crowd. Even the music trends change so constantly now that their songs don't last for over a couple of months. They seem so busy."
She also expressed her sadness for the idols that have to compete with other members in their own groups. Eugene also stated that it is better to be in a group but it's sad that idols these days have to compete with their own members.
Eugene stated, "Individual activities within an idol group have increased dramatically. We didn't have that during my generation. I think it is inevitable for them to avoid competition within their own groups. It's like the survival of the fittest of who performs better on TV shows. It's sad."
On the other hand, Eugene added, "Everything is global now. YouTube is a great advantage for artists to get popularity from all over the world. I'm jealous. At the time we never thought Japanese people would be so passionate about K-Pop."
Lastly, Eugene left a few words for the idol stars: "I hope they can all focus on what they truly feel committed to as well as figure out what they are talented at and work on it. They are all intelligent. I think they will all do well on their own."
