(^ BoA linking arms with her older brother Soonwook at their older brother Soonhwon's wedding back in early May 2009)
The story of 3 siblings strongly united by music.

Singer BoA has made her comeback to the Korean music industry after 5 years. After having debuted at a young age, in the blink of an eye she has become a musician who is in her 10th year, and after taking a venture with an extreme transformation she has once again lived up to her fans’ expectations and is receiving passionate love. In particular, this album is drawing more attention with the participation of her older brothers, pianist Kwon Soonhwon and music video director Kwon Soonwook. I am curious about the 3 siblings, who are each spreading music appreciation in their individual paths.

Little sister BoA of whom he’s proud, was a dancer like none other since she was young. He has two younger siblings. Music video director Kwon Soonwook (30) and BoA. They are for certain living through music. In particular, BoA has now become a top star who has moved beyond Asia and is garnering worldwide attention. Older brother Kwon Soonhwon is incredibly proud and boastful of that little sister.


Ever since they were young the 3 siblings were always joint through music. But by no means were they brought up with a particularly musical background by their parents. Instead, they received rewards and freedom accordingly when they perfectly carried out duties given to them.

“At the time there weren’t many ways to play. I didn’t particularly like recreational activities and back then computers weren’t that widespread. So watching TV and listening to music was everything for me, my younger brother, and BoA. In particular we all liked music so we would sing along and dance. When group ‘Fire Engine’ released songs the house would be in chaos with us dancing (laughter).”

BoA, who specialized in the gayageum (t/n: a traditional Korean instrument) as an elementary school student, loved music and dance like her older brothers. Her coming to debut as a singer began with the 3 siblings’ love for dance. However, contrary to existing belief, she wasn’t recruited when she followed her older brothers to an agency’s audition.

“Truthfully, my younger brother was the leader of a dance team at the time. He dances very well, you see. He’s won 1st place in a dance competition before. So my younger brother and I and BoA, the 3 of us went to a dance competition together and after my younger brother danced he said that his little sister is a good dancer too and introduced her, so BoA went up on stage and danced as well. And it was then when a representative from SM Entertainment who was there saw and recruited BoA."

Afterwards BoA began to receive intensive training during her 5th year of elementary school and spent her life as a trainee, and debuted at the young age of 13. Kwon Soonhwon says that there are times when BoA feels like an older sister rather than a younger sister. Having separated from her family early she must have undergone many hardships, but his younger sister always remained strong in front of her older brothers.

“Rather, I learn from BoA as I watch her. Maybe it’s because she entered society as a young teen but she sticks to her word no matter what and is perfectly punctual. There’s nothing to find fault with. No matter what obstacles she faces with the tasks given to her, she always carries through assertively. Ever since she was young she spent her life with people who are at least 10 years older than she is so I think she became aware of the world.”

However, he frequently feels heartache. Many times he has felt regret and sadness for his younger sister who was unable to receive all the abundant love like everyone else as the baby of the family as she flew to and from Japan and the U.S. and given the burden of having to endure everything alone. When it was decided she would go to Japan not long after her Korean debut, he was moved to tears as he brought his little sister to the airport.

“There was a time when BoA was injured ahead of her entry into the U.S. in 2008. She had surgery on her arm and everything was in a frenzy. In the midst of all that the press conference couldn’t be canceled and I saw her attend it, and she was in so much pain and it was so difficult for her… But what was even more upsetting was that malicious comments like ‘You could just get anesthetized and simply set the bone for something minor like that, what are you coming out bandaged for’ were being written by netizens about that sister. I saw just how much my younger sister suffered the day before the press conference. The netizens were so heartless and I hated them.”

Although her older brothers weren’t able to be by her side often, BoA attained success as she received their encouragement and support. So as she celebrated her 10 year anniversary, she had her older brothers participate in her 6th album 「Hurricane Venus」 which she released in Korea after 5 years.

Kwon Soonhwon was responsible for the piano accompaniment for the song “Don’t Know What To Say” and Director Kwon Soonwook produced the music video for “Game,” which was the first piece to be released. Kwon Soonwook had produced music videos for Seo Inyoung, Seo Youngeun, Poppin’ Hyunjun, Kim Miyeon, Acoustic D, Sori, and many singers by that point.

“BoA proposed the idea first. Asking how it would be if we participated in this album together. Because my little sister is such a huge star, I felt that I’m still lacking to be helping or participating in the album production so I just said I was thankful that she would even say that, but then I thought it would be specially meaningful to do that together with my younger siblings. Because it’s my little sister’s album I wanted to do better than usual so I put in extra effort and concentrated more.”

After the interview Kwon Soonhwon played the music included in BoA’s album for us and smiled happily. He said that he felt it was more precious and heartwarming because it’s none other than family, and playfully complained that he felt regretful about how difficult it is to see his younger sister because she’s too busy. However one could feel the heartwarming familial affection they, who are already one as siblings, share as they protect one another. It was a summer afternoon when one could feel warm strength emitting even from a cold drop of rain.

==============

BoA's older brothers: Kwon Soonwook (30, left), Kwon Soonhwon (31, right)






original article: 레이디경향 (lady.kahn.co.kr) + uriboa
translations: live laugh love @ soompi