THE KID WHO LOST HER SMILE

There is a confusion, or a debate in my mind, on how I should entitled this essay of mine. Whether I should put idol on it or not. But Sulli, is not only an idol. She is many things. I appropriately put kid, rather than idol. For Sulli was still rather young, when she passed away.

I am not an avid fan of her, neither of her girl group f(x). And I have not watched any of her dramas. It’s just when I heard the news, that she suddenly passed away, there is this feeling of sadness, and I can’t pinpoint the right word in English, but the Tagalog word is panghihinayang, in her passing. She is still very young, 25 years old. She still has alot of potential.

Although she was more famous for being a member of a girl group f(x), Sulli or Choe Jin Ri was first an actress, when she was still a child. In her teens she became a member of the said girl group. In that period. Pictures, videos, capture Sulli’s smile, it was bright and sincere.

But then, Sulli suddenly dated Choiza, a member of Dynamic Duo, a rap group. And she was heavily criticized for it. Resulting on her leaving the group. Their relationship didn’t last and broke up. Ever since then, Sulli’s smile was not that bright and sincere anymore.

Before her death, a suicide and an suicide attempt happen among her colleagues. One is Jong Hyun, who died by briquette poisoning. The other was of Goo Hara. Sulli even attended the funeral of Jong Hyun. But there was no signs of things to come.

Then just before that, f(x) finally disband. One by one they leave the group and SM, starting from Amber, Krystal, Luna, and Victoria. Only Sulli, didn’t leave SM and stayed. I even commented on an article, that only Sulli will stay, and they will all leave. And she did stay, and can’t ever more leave.

I will not try to defend her, and her actions, that has led to the criticisms of her. One is because I don’t entirely know all the details. And the one’s that I know, I just can’t agree with her too. It’s true that not wearing a bra, is a healthy practice for girls. But picturing yourself without one, is not right. But some of the words, thrown at her, were just really bad, and K-netz are the worst bashers in the world. They are very cruel and savage. That is why some K-celebrities, dont have any social media sites, just to avoid being hurt by comments.

Another thing that I don’t like about the K-showbiz, is that they have to hide just to date. I remember Lee Sang Yeob, when she was with her former girllfriend, who is not with him anymore, apologizing to his fans, that she dated someone. Sulli dating, was the start of her ordeal of harsh comments. Hope that will not continue, and celebrities could freely date, whenever and to whoever they want.

Although the title says that she lost her smile. Its not the only thing she lost. We lost her entirely. Annyeong Sulli Ya! 안녕 설리 야

NOTHING LAST: THE SONG-SONG DIVORCE

First, I will quote a conversation of Tyrion and Varys, in the first episode of the final season of Game of Thrones, Winterfell.

Tyrion: Our Queen respects the wisdom of age

Varys: Of course she does. Respect, is how the young keeps us at a distance, so we don’t remind them of an unpleasant truth.

Tyrion: What is that?

Varys: Nothing last.

And it didn’t last. Just this Saturday, June 29, 2019, it was reported that Song Joong Ki filed for divorce against Song Hye Kyo, which is somehow weird for me, in many aspect. Why is it Song Joong Ki that filed it, and not Song Hye Kyo? For usually, the one who has endured the problem, was always the one who filed for it. And usually, in relationships, most of the time, men are always the problem. So, why is it Song Joong Ki? Was Song Hye Kyo the problem? I don’t know, and we may never know. Further developments will surface about this story, so I will wait for it.

What I don’t like about it, is the blame game that happens, that implicates people, that we are not sure of involvement. Even the dead.

First was Kim Joo Hyuk, who is already dead. He died a day before the couple wedded, so Song Joong Ki, goes to the funeral after their wedding ceremony.  Some said it was bad luck, that he goes to his friend’s funeral. First of all, stop with your unfounded superstitious beliefs! It’s not because of that. Kim Joo Hyuk, did not chose to die that day, and Song Joong Ki was just being a good friend, or a colleague. I find that comment, very disgusting.

Second was Park Bo Gum, being the third party that cause the split. Although we can’t deny the chemistry they have on the drama Encounter or Namja Chingu/Boyfriend, I don’t think that Park Bo Gum will jeopardize his blossoming career, by being involved in an affair with Song Hye Kyo. And he and Song Joong Ki are friends, and I also don’t think he will betrayed him over her.

And when could be a better timing for this happen, as GMA Network was just about to launch the remake of Descendants of the Sun. In which was criticized, for the actors in the Philippines that will go for the role, that the former Song-Song had in the original, are thought to be not worthy of the role by the fans, of the original drama. One is not that famous, the other was a famous actor, but an actor who people was fed up, because he always stars on drama that the network ever produce for years. It’s not his entire fault, it’s because GMA lack talents compared to it’s rival ABS-CBN. This is because of the exclusive contract nonsense, that GMA started with the late German Moreno. But because there was a news, that the network are losing profits, and might go under. Many talents jumped fence, and now they lack actors, and lose one for work safety negligence. I don’t know how the Song-Song couple split might affect the remake, for they are connected in a way. But as they say, bad publicity is still publicity.

There are claims that the cause of the split was, as the reports said, and I quote, difference in personality. Which someone pointed out, commenting to the news, you are two different individuals, of course you have difference in personality. It’s a lame, standard excuse, everytime there is a divorce in Korea, just like in dating break-ups, with the excuse of because of their busy schedules. They have deeper reasons for doing it, that they don’t want to disclose to the public. Because, if you really love each other, difference in personality can be overcome, busy schedules can be overcome. So, it’s a lame standard excuse, to cover up the real reason, that they don’t want us to know, and we don’t have any right to dig.

Although many was shocked that the former Song-Song couple divorced. I have somewhat saw it coming. Superstar marriages, most of the time fails. Both of them are still high value actors/celebrities, who everyone seeks for new dramas, movies, product endorsements, etc. Song Joong Ki is on a Netflix series, Arthdal Chronicles, and Song Hye Kyo was on Encounter, a tvN Drama. What I am saying is, maybe both of them still can’t give up, or at least rest for a while their careers. There are other superstar marriage that had happen in Korea, Kim Tae Hee and Rain, but Kim Tae Hee, rest for a while to have a baby. And she and Rain are still married. For a superstar marriage to work out, one has to give up, and rest for a while their career for their marriage. The other thing for a superstar marriage to succeed is, one is a superstar, and the other is a private individual or a not that famous celebrity.

Although I expected it, I had hope that they last until the end of their lives. But the fairytale is now over. Who is at fault? We may not know. But it is not because Song Joong Ki goes to the funeral of Kim Joo Hyuk after their wedding ceremony, nor it was Park Bo Gum. Park Bo Gum even attended the wedding ceremony, I don’t think he will ruin them for Song Hye Kyo. If we were to blame anybody, narrow it down to the two persons involved, Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki. But as I said earlier,  usually the one who sought the divorce, is the one who endure the problem. Song Joong Ki, is the one who sought the divorce. Maybe Song Hye Kyo really is the problem. Although in relationships, it takes two to tango, so as in break-ups. We still don’t know many things surrounding this divorce. Let’s wait and see what happens.