What does it take to be a professional singer in South Korea? 

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On stage, these Kpop idols capture our attention with catchy songs and amazing choreographies, but what about off-stage? Behind the cameras and away from the stage we see another side to these idols, people who are just human. 

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But what lies beneath these professionals are qualities that contribute to their success, characteristics that help them push themselves to become better performers, singers and people every day. 

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In this post, we will cover some key traits they possess to help them on their journey to stardom. Many of which are characteristics that are learnable and something we can all possess.

PERSEVERANCE: Strive for Your Dreams 

Constantly practicing, singing, and learning, these idols are often working hard to prepare for the next performance, appearance, and album. 

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Kpop idols are some of the most hardworking people you will meet in the industry. Their schedules can be difficult, and despite the time crunch, they don’t give up. 

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This trait is especially important at the beginning stages, the start of their trainee days. Those that aspire to become Kpop idols have to undergo extensive hardcore training for an indefinite period, for a chance to debut. Training sessions often include vocal, dance, and even language classes if they do not speak Korean. This intensive schedule demands time and effort, causing many young trainees to drop out of school to pursue their dreams. 

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TWICE’s Jihyo, the leader and vocalist of the South Korean girl group began her training at a young age of 8 years old and trained for 10 years before she debuted as a Kpop idol! Like her, the dedication and perseverance of these idols and trainees alike are admirable as they put in countless hours to perfect their skills and achieve their dream.

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MANNERS AND HUMILITY: Be Kind and Keep Learning

Despite undergoing years of trainings, it does not guarantee debut, much less fame. Even after their debut many Kpop idols may fail to get recognized by the public and eventually lead to them disbanding and going back to square one. 

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This is not uncommon in the Kpop industry. 

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Both trainees and idols know that they may or may not have the chance to go on stage, therefore, they make sure to be grateful and thankful for every opportunity, as well as to every person who has helped them in this journey. They continuously learn and practice daily to improve themselves from yesterday.

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From the managers to their fans, they thank them for their support after each performance or in their daily lives. Here are some examples of idols being kind to staff behind-the-scenes. Many junior, newly debuted Kpop idols also show respect to seniors in the industry as they learn from one another. 

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Being kind and respectful to others while remaining humble and courteous is a trait that allows them to grow and gain public approval. 

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PASSION AND MOTIVATION: Love What You Do

Love the music and love the stage. It can be that simple. 

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When you’re passionate about something you go to infinity and beyond to achieve your intended goal. For Kpop idols and musicians that is the joy of music, whether it is singing, dancing, rapping, or being in the spotlight. 

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Passion acts as a strong motivator, a reason for these idols to continue even in stressful times. 

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What is music to you? 

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The traits we mentioned above are not the only characteristics that will lead to success, there are many others out there that are just as important. 

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Remember, everybody is unique, and the idea of success can vary per person. You may be great at one area but lacking in another, and all it means is that there is always room for improvement. 

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All in all, the road to success is not an easy one but with perseverance, kindness, willingness to learn, and passion for music, it will help you along the way.

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