Groovin’

Can you please introduce yourself?
I’m Nam and I’m a full-time graphic designer. I have a lot of hobbies, which include K-pop and dancing!

Cool! What has your journey been like as a graphic designer?
I graduated in Graphic Communication from NAFA and have been working in an agency for about seven years. Actually, when I first started out, I did a lot of work outside of graphic design like production, art, set design, editing, and motion graphics, but it was a good experience.

Yeah that’s what people are looking for these days, you have to be able to wear a lot of hats! You mentioned that you’re also into K-pop—when and how did you get into it?
I’ve been a fan since SHINee’s Ring Ding Dong era, but I stopped listening after the 3rd gen of artists debuted. I came back to it again in 2021 because my friend kept playing NCT’s songs, and that was how I got back into it.

Interesting! So which group is your current favourite and why?
NCT Dream! They had a concert and I managed to attend both days! (laughs) Beyond their music and talents, it’s actually their personalities that I enjoy. They’re more like comedians than idols, they’re extremely entertaining!

Do you exclusively listen to boy groups?
No, I’m also a huge fan of NewJeans, but unfortunately they’re currently on hiatus because of their legal battle, but I’m hopeful that they’ll come back. But way back in my first K-pop phase, 2NE1 was the original girl group that I listened to!

What made you briefly stop listening to K-pop?
I think that was a really significant period in my life. I was just starting my career, and I was also in a relationship, so there was a lot to juggle in terms of time management. On top of that, I couldn’t really afford to go for concerts. So it just felt like it was time for me to move on from K-pop.

With how fast K-pop is expanding, how do you feel about groups marketing themselves towards an American audience?
While I understand why they’re doing that, I do think that we’re slowly losing the essence of K-pop because of this. That’s why I appreciate those K-pop groups that stick to their style and are consistent with their sound.

Agreed! You also mentioned you dance! Do you do K-pop covers?
Yes, back in 2013, when I was still a Jay Park fan. But even then, it wasn’t necessarily K-pop, but general dance covers. That’s about it. But that’s how I also got into other genres of dance such as dancehall.

Tell us more!
I started dancing because of K-pop, and over time I met other dancers at the airport because that’s where we would usually practice. They introduced me to dance crews outside of that space, and eventually, I joined the dance club in poly. That’s when I really started exploring different genres. I tried waacking, hip hop of course, and a few others, but dancehall was the one that really stuck with me. I’ve been dancing since 2015, so it’s been 10 years now.

Currently, I’m also teaching dance weekly. While I don’t think teaching is exactly my calling, I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned—especially since dancehall is more than just movement; it’s a culture.

What’s one significant thing you’ve learned from dancing?
I feel like dance is a universal language—even if you don’t speak the same language as someone else. For example, when I go to places like Korea and join workshops, we all just dance together despite the language barrier. There’s this unspoken understanding, almost like we’re communicating through movement. Sometimes it even feels like a friendly battle, but everyone gets it. Dance really is a language in itself.