The Daebak Interns - About Us

Brianna T.

How did you get into K-Pop?

Even though I would see K-Pop music videos playing at boba tea cafes in my local area, it wasn’t until I watched The Try Guys’ K-Pop series on Buzzfeed’s YouTube channel, where my interest in the music genre had been sparked. After I watched that series in 2017, my journey to becoming a K-Pop fan began. Through that series, I fell head over heels to Big Bang’s “Bang Bang Bang” and EXO’s “Call Me Baby”. But a month into my K-Pop journey, my sister played a YouTube video that came up on her suggestions list, which actually turned out to be BTS’ “DNA” music video -- and from then on, our world was turned right side up! I always think of that day, where we watched BTS for the first time, as the best serendipity moment of my life. And throughout 2018 and even up until now, I have been discovering other idol groups that I became very fond of such as GOT7, NCT, ASTRO, and TXT, as well as other Korean artists such as EPIK HIGH, Eric Nam, and Kang Daniel.

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

What I love the most about South Korea’s culture is how they stay true to their roots and traditions, while also looking for innovative ways to become more modern to help better their society. For example, seeing BTS keeping up their streak of making major breakthroughs in the western music industry with their 2018 hit, “IDOL”, was nothing short of amazing. The fact that they paid tribute to traditional Korean music, while also keeping their own distinctive sound that differentiates them from any other artist in the world and that has made them global superstars, shows how much pride they take in being Korean, in addition to how their music is transcending how people view South Korea both as a country and as an entertainment industry.

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

I wanted to join The Daebak Company because I wanted to find a way to put my passions into work. I have been passionate about K-Pop for the past three years, and now that I am able to pour out my passions as well as share my love for South Korea’s popular culture, I finally feel like I am doing something worthwhile in my life. Being an intern at this company has been a very rewarding experience.

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

The open and welcoming environment that The Daebak Company has created for people who are true admirers of South Korea’s culture.

Olivia

How did you get into K-Pop?

For me, I consider myself a multifan. The first group I truly fell in love with, and is still dear to my heart, is EXO. They introduced me to Korean pop culture, and soon after, I had dozens of playlists filled with various K-Pop groups and artists on my Spotify. Through exploring the genre, I discovered BTS in early 2017 and they became my favorite group. These days I listen to various groups and artists such as ATEEZ, ACE, IU, Everglow, and Dreamcatcher, but the list is truly endless.

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

I love the history! I’m originally from Poland and I find it fascinating that Poland and South Korea have quite a similar history, especially during and post WWII. I like to describe both countries as distant cousins, haha.

And of course, the pop culture! My passion for K-Pop made me invested in other parts of South Korea’s popular culture such as TV shows (e.g., “The Return of Superman”), fashion trends, makeup brands, etc.

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

I followed Daebakbox’s profile on Instagram around the time the account was first created. Daebakbox and Snack Fever are well known products in the US K-Pop community, so I was excited to learn that a company that I am familiar with was searching for interns. I am always searching for ways to learn more about marketing, especially in Korea. My career goal is to work full time at a company here in Seoul, so I’m thankful The Daebak Company gave me a chance in reaching my goal!

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

The people! I think who you work with is the most important factor in any workspace as it contributes to the overall teamwork, as well as the success of the team. Everyone at The Daebak Company is so kind and helpful!

Hajin Yoo

How did you get into K-Pop?

My cousin introduced me to Girls’ Generation when she visited me in America. I still remember watching “Into the New World” for the first time and being totally entranced!

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

Aside from the food (which is a big one), South Koreans have this idea of “Jeong”, which I love. It’s hard to translate, but “jeong” is the line that attaches people. It’s this really intimate kindness that radiates from Korean people.

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

My Korean-American identity is extremely important to me. The Daebak Box’s mission is to help spread Korean culture, its history, and the country’s traditions around the world - which is an idea I couldn’t pass up.

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

The amazing team I get to work with!

Torng Lim

How did you get into K-Pop?

I first got into K-Pop by watching K-Pop dance covers and by learning SHINee's choreographies.

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

I love the ability to travel anywhere efficiently and quickly. Every stop is a new place to explore.

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

I wanted to join The Daebak Company because I wanted to put my love for Korean culture and language to use, and to share with other people the types of experiences that I had in Korea.

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

Being able to meet people from around the world, as well as learning how to grow by having constructive feedback.

Norma Sorto

How did you get into K-Pop?

I got into K-Pop in the summer of 2015. It was sort of like a happy accident that turned into an appreciation. During 2015, there were a lot of K-Pop artists that released music. One of the first K-pop groups I got into was Girls’ Generation. I saw their “Lion Heart” music video and I instantly fell in love. I started to look for new groups to listen to and I found BTS. I got into them when they were promoting “I Need U,” and the rest is history. As time went on, I became a fan of K-Pop in general. My top five favorite groups are BTS, Red Velvet, Loona, Blackpink, and Twice.

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

What I love the most about South Korea’s culture is that it has become a global phenomenon. South Korea’s culture has a lot to offer, including K-Pop, K-Dramas, K-Beauty, and K-Food. South Korea’s culture also brings people together from every background.

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

I joined The Daebak Company to learn more about South Korea’s culture, and to connect with people worldwide. I wanted to find a community where I can express my appreciation for Korean culture, as well as find a way to grow as a writer.

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

Community! I love how the company is diverse and community-oriented. Even though I can’t visit South Korea, it is still fun to be a remote intern. As an aspiring journalist, I learned a lot about being a blog writer at The Daebak Company. It is also essential to have the ability to connect with your co-workers and ask a lot of questions. I am thrilled that I can work for a fantastic company.

Donna Soune

How did you get into K-Pop?

In high school, my friends and I really liked the choreographies that K-Pop groups had, so we would copy little parts from their choreography and dance around together. The most influential songs were “Wedding Dress” by Taeyang, and “Ma Boy” by SISTAR 19.

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

Korea’s culture is very rich, and I loved visiting the museums as well as exploring Seoul, when I was there! I’d have to say though, Korean FOOD tops it all for me!

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

I believe in the mission statement of The Daebak Company: “To inspire, empower, and unite the global Hallyu community by delivering the best (and "daebak") experiences while promoting Korean culture.” I have met so many people who are now my closest friends because of our love for K-Pop and Korean culture. Korean culture is beautiful and I just want to share it with as many people as possible!

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

Being a part of a diverse team that shares the same interests! We all come from very different backgrounds, but we are able to connect with each other because all of us have a genuine love for South Korea and its culture!

Farah

How did you get into K-Pop?

I got into K-Pop quite late compared to my friends. I was pulled in by Secret's “Shy Boy” and “Starlight Moonlight”, and then I discovered EXO during their Growl era and I never turned back.

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

They're so rich in history that you'll never stop learning. There's always something to discover, and Koreans are very warm-hearted.

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

I love the idea of sharing the things I love with other people, and I hope that everybody gets to experience a piece of Korea through our company’s products and the experiences we get to share.

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

The lovely people! Everybody believes in the things they do at this company, and it's such a joy to be working alongside them.

Jenna

How did you get into K-Pop?

I got into K-pop by watching The Try Guys on YouTube. They did a series on Korean culture, and they also reacted to K-Pop music videos. They reacted to Girls’ Generation, BIG BANG, EXO, 4minute, and GOT7. This was the only Try Guys video I did not watch at the time, and I thought I’d give it a shot. I ended up loving the songs by BIG BANG, EXO, and 4minute by the time their reaction video had finished, and after I added it to my Spotify playlist, I went down the rabbit hole from there and started listening to more K-Pop songs!

What do you love the most about South Korea’s culture?

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to pinpoint one specific thing that I love about Korean culture. But I will briefly state that I love how people in South Korea use honorifics, I love the entertainment and pop culture in South Korea, I love Korean food, and I especially love how the country is both beautifully traditional and modern.

Why did you want to join The Daebak Company?

I joined The Daebak Company because I love Korean products and I wanted to be part of a company that was participating in the Hallyu Wave. I also love what The Daebak Company was striving to do as a company, and I wanted to be part of that greatness.

The best part about being a Daebak intern is…

Meeting people from all over the world, and learning so much about the marketing and business side of the company. Interns not only write blog articles, but they help with building ideas, suggesting products to sell, creating social media content, and so much more. The Daebak Company has interns getting involved in a variety of projects and it helps all of interns grow professionally.