Hi Hamkkeclan👋, you are welcome to the Hamkke’s chat room once again🙌.

I know you are excited to be here just as I am🫂. Today; we have an extraordinary guest who has captured hearts and minds with their incredible journey and achievements. Join me as we dive into the inspiring story of Pinkedianu.

Let’s get started🤝.

Author: What sparked your interest in Korean culture, and how long have you been a fan?

Pinkedianu: I got the awareness of Korea and South Korea’s existence when I was in Senior Secondary School (1) through my friends then. They were always talking about it and then I later learned about the Blackpink K-pop group and somehow; they became my favorite group. I also learned Taekwondo for a while and got the yellow belt🙅.

The first Korean word I learned was gamsahabnida (Thank you)🙇, and then the Korean numbering system. Although all these were about 5-6 years ago, I went all in in 2023/2024.

Author: What part of Korean culture interests you the most?

Pinkedianu: The Entertainment part interests me the most. Although I am a bit into other aspects, the entertainment part will always be my preference👌.

Author: What's your favorite K-Drama of all time, and what made it so compelling to you?

Pinkedianu: This is a very hard question🤔 because there are so many K-dramas that it's difficult to pick one. However, I am going to go for a recent K-Drama that compelled me to explore more, and that is Tale of the Nine-Tailed.

Author: Which K-Drama genre and trope does it for you best and why?

Pinkedianu: I like K-dramas with a mix of friendship🫂, and a bit of the supernatural like The Tale of the Nine-Tailed, and My Love from the Stars and I like dramas with comic relief as well😂. They all have a perfect blend of K-dramas.

Author: Do you love K-pop? Which K-pop group or artist is your favorite, and what do you love about their music or performances?

Pinkedianu: Yes, I love K-pop. My favorite group is obviously Blackpink😘. I discovered Stray Kids recently and they have my heart too. Then comes ILLIT and Baby Monster. However, I particularly fell for Blackpink because of Lisa. She’s my stan, her attitude and everything always makes me go ‘She’s that girl’ you understand? 😂😂

Author: Yes I do🤣

Pinkedianu: Their song is danceable, and relatable, and makes you feel like a Diva. I love Stray Kids because they are so handsome and my stans are Hyunjin and Felix; the Vampire and the Baby. 🌸

Author: Are there any Korean celebrities or public figures who inspire you, and what qualities do you admire in them? (Fandom and Stanship)

Pinkedianu: Yes, that will be Shin Hye Sun from Mr Queen.💙

Author: Why?

Pinkedianu: I don't know if it's okay to mention her accent, but she just feels real and like just a girl. She's just a girl💆, you know, that kind of thing. She's very expressive. I love how expressive her acting is. And oh yeah, I discovered she's dependable, sort of a philanthropist in real life. She goes around and does humanitarian work. So I think it's really beautiful. She seems like a really nice person. She seems very fun, she's hilarious and I love people that make me laugh. So that. That's a big up for her. I love people that make me feel emotional entirely😍.

Author: Have you attended any K-pop concerts or events in Nigeria or abroad? If so, can you describe the experience?

Pinkedianu: Ah, abroad. Amen. Yeah. In Nigeria. Yes. 🤭🤭

Author: 🤣🤣

Pinkedianu: I had some obstacles before I was able to attend but yeah, I did. The event was LG K Pop Fest. Yes. Which was earlier this year (2024). I participated in the competition. It was a competition, basically.

Author: What was it based on? 🤔

Pinkedianu: K-pop. Singing and dancing categories. The outcome of the competition was kinda discouraging. I got featured in one post because I think they covered the events and seriously; I got a lot of hate on social media😪.

Author: Why?

Pinkedianu: I have to admit, I was really anxious about being on stage🫣, especially with all the cameras and competition. But as I saw the other contestants backstage, I realized we were all in this together, and that anxiety can be a major obstacle, even with months of preparation. Unfortunately, my nerves got the better of me, and I was breathless as I rushed onto the stage. I was so tense that I didn't even think to ask the DJ to stop the music so I could start again. Instead, I just started singing, even though I was on a key that wasn't ideal for showcasing my voice. Everything felt a bit chaotic, but I decided to just have fun with it. Luckily, the audience was supportive, and they even tried to sing along, which gave me a boost of confidence. It was a relief to have such a positive response, and it helped me to enjoy the experience despite my initial jitters🥰.

Author: Wow! That was so brave of you, though👏.

Pinkedianu: Thanks. I forgot to tell you I won something. Although not in the competition, I won something on my outfit. Like the most Korean dressed🤸.

Author: That’s great. So do you have a favorite reality TV show?

Pinkedianu: I haven't really gotten into reality TV shows, but they seem entertaining. I've caught glimpses of them on social media, and they look funny. However, I haven't had the time to explore that world and find a show that I really enjoy. There is one lady who I think is an American-Korean lady, but I've forgotten her name. Maybe next year I'll have more time to explore reality TV🤔.

Author: Yeah, you should and you can check our website for recommendations😊.

Pinkedianu: Yeah, sure!

Author: What would you say about the Korean media and entertainment industry generally?

Pinkedianu: The entertainment media industry has brought a lot of attention to South Korea, allowing fans to explore and learn more about the country through their favorite idols. This has contributed to a significant increase in South Korea's popularity over the years. Prior to the rise of K-dramas, I'm pretty sure that not many Nigerians were aware of South Korea's existence. I'm saying this because, in a big world like ours, it's easy to be unaware of certain countries unless you've studied them in school, such as the Asian Tigers in economics class. Otherwise, it's likely that you wouldn't have known much about South Korea❤️.

Author: Yes, that’s true💜

Pinkedianu: I commend the South Koreans for their strategic move in the entertainment media industry. However, on a less positive note, I think that the K-entertainment industry, despite its appeal, can be overly glorified. This can lead to its top idols and personalities feeling suffocated, forced to conform to certain expectations, and behave in a specific way, almost like robots. While it's true that we enjoy the entertainment they provide, I personally think that this level of pressure can be overwhelming. I've noticed that some fans, both boys and girls, can become extremely dedicated and even obsessive, which is fine, but it can also be alarming. They can be quite extreme in their behavior, and it's almost as if they've lost sight of reality😏.

Author: I couldn't agree more. Yeah, that's true. I really hope they improve🥹.

Author: Thank you so much, Pinkedianu, for sharing your exciting journey and unique perspective with us. It's been an absolute pleasure having you on Hamkkechats😌😊.

Pinkedianu: Thank you for having me! This was so much fun, and I’m glad I could share my story☺️.

Thank you, Hamkkeclan, for joining us in exploring Pinkedianu’s inspiring love for Korean culture and entertainment. Don’t forget to stay tuned for more exciting conversations right here in Hamkke's chat room. Until next time, annyeong!👋👋