f(nation) Issue 1
The first f(x) magazine made for fans, by fans.
y r a s r e v i n n A d r 3 y Happ
Table of Contents
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Editor’s Note
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Meeting f(ans): How I Became an f(x) Fan
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iheartfx forums!
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f(x) News feature
We asked fans from iheartfx.com to tell us how they first started to love f(x). From their pre-debut teasers, to falling in love with Vic umma on We Got Married, we got all sorts of stories about how these fans came to love f(x).
feature
Happy 3rd Anniversary, iheartfx! This year marks the third year that iheartfx forums have been around! As a bit of a tribute, we’re showing you some highlights from the amazing projects they’ve done over the years.
Language Corner Fan Guide: SPAO feature
Editorial: The Growth of f(x)
In our first editorial, we have sparklypoga chart the growth of our favorite ladies! It’s a more critical look that what fans may expect, but even our girls (and SME) need some tough love every once in a while.
My Style Maknae Corner
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f(x) news
Editor’s Note Contributors Editor/Magazine Coordinator: drfaith101 @ iheartfx.com Editor/Editorial/Introduction: sparklypoga @ iheartfx.com
! s w e N g n i Break
our monthly round-up of all things f(x)
Contributors: darkesteyes @ iheartfx.com destined2bebossy NayNay05 Jessesca Foreveranoodle Language Class/Anniversary Message: spiceshoe @ iheartfx.com Translations: 0wonhee spiceshoe
Hello
Magazine Layout/Design: Mia (beloverly)
f(nation)!
Welcome to the opening issue of f(nation), a fan-driven project that is the culmination of years of love, support, and dedication to f(x)! We look at this issue as the first of many to come and, in concurrence with this idea, is our theme, which very much embodies the idea of a beginning. In this edition, you will find stories of how people first stumbled upon this awesome, quirky group they would come to love. You will also find analyses of how f(x) and its members have grown and evolved in these last four years. More than that, however, you will find exactly what you have been asking for; within these pages are a f(x) fan’s guide to Seoul, a basic Korean 101 lesson, fashion spotlights, game sections, and more. f(nation) really came to be from the desire of fans - you wanted more original content, more creative projects, and more ways of re-discovering and loving f(x); we wanted to find aninteresting and fun way to put this all together.
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The result is this magazine, a project that is both for fans and by fans. This is a project meant to be embraced by, and in itself embrace, all of the fandom, and because of this, we welcome everyone to participate in its making. In the future, we hope to add even more fan-driven works, whether through fanart, fanaccounts or fan-written reviews. If you do wish to contribute to us in any shape or form, please contact us via either e-mailing fnation.magazine@gmail.com or commenting on the iheartfx forum. Finally, we really wanted to bring something new to a fandom that often finds it hard to express itself. As we all know, being part of any K-pop fandom is a tumultuous journey and being part of the f(x) fandom is no exception. We hope that this magazine can become a source of not only new ideas, but also of cooperation, dedication and friendly interaction among all fans.
Help Wanted! Since f(nation) is brand new, we don’t have many contributors right now to fill our pages with awesome content. The good thing is that because of this, we’re looking for contributors of all kinds to make this magazine the best it can be! If you wish to help us out, we’re looking for the following types of contributors:
Luna and Kyuhyun Duet for ‘The Croods’ OST In their first duet, Luna and Super Junior’s Kyuhyun teamed in the OST ‘Shine Your Way’ for the animated film, ‘The Croods’. The music video was released on April 13th and features clips from the animated film as well as behind-the-scenes footage of Luna and Kyuhyun in the recording studio. The English version of ‘Shine Your Way’ is
sung by Owl City and Yuna, and the cheery tune and underlying positive lyrics are the perfect way start the spring. In a press release prior to the release of the music video, the pair asked for “much love for the movie as well as the OST”. Without a doubt, we here at f(nation) love the song! The OST is planned for a May 16th domestic release.
Financial News
Source:
writers graphic designers editors artists If you have any questions about what we’re looking for, please feel free to email us at fnation.magazine@gmail.com! Krystal Joins Instagram!
Disclaimer: This magazine is a fan-run magazine and has no intention of making any kind of profit off of distribution. Those contributing to the magazine are not paid and are not receiving any kind of monetary or other physical compensation for creating content for the magazine. Any photos sourced have been credited when need be, or are still retaining the watermark left by the original source. For any original image content featured, the appropriate note has been left, stating that no one is to use the images unless properly credited.
Much to the surprise and excitement of many, f(x)’s maknae has opened an Instagram account! On April 9th, Amber took to Twitter to confirm that Krystal was now on the photo-sharing site. It seems that many had followed Amber’s “follow the princess on insta” advice because in under a week of joining the site, Krystal has gathered a cool 176,351 followers. “KJUNGXOX” so far has proven to be good at uploading cute pictures and if you haven’t already, go follow our princess!
- f(nation) staff
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f(x) news Amazing f(x) Much to the delight of f(ans), it was announced on the 8th April that f(x) was heading to New Zealand to begin recording its new reality series. Many of the details remain under wraps, including the scheduling and timing details, but this has not prevented expectations from soaring high. Considering ‘Amazing f(x)’ will mark f(x)’s third reality show, and
the first since Amber’s return, fans are looking forward to what hijinks the five girls will get up to. With a video of Krystal and Luna emerging online on the 12th, excitement has only continued to grow. iheartfx will keep you up-todate as more information regarding the show is released.
Source:
MyDaily
via
SXSW f(x) became the first KPOP act to appear at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas back in March. The group was invited to headline an event sponsored by the Korean Creative Content Agency. Performing fan favourites ‘NUABO’, ‘Pinocchio’, ‘Hot Summer’ and ‘Electric Shock’, f(x) charmed the audiencewith an energetic and enjoyable performance. Resident crowd rouser Amber jovially interacted with the audience in English with the occasional ‘사랑해’ thrown in.
Nate
New Choreography? Sohey Sugihara and Kevin Maher teased fans with photos of f(x) in a studio rehearsing for their new song. Between them, the pair have worked with popular artists such
Funny or Die f(x) joined ‘Pitch Perfect’ and ‘Twilight’ star Anna Kendrick in web-comedy series ‘Funny or Die’. The video, released on March 28, followed Anna on her quest to become a K-pop idol. Joining f(x) appeared to be more difficult
than she initially anticipated, but she soldiered bravely through. A few failed dance steps, hilarious mispronunciations, cup demands and pink wigs later, Anna officially became the sixth member of f(x). You can watch the video HERE.
Source: Billboard
as Britney Spears and Justin Beiber. The girls of f(x) flew to L.A following their appearance at SXSW and have been working with the choreographers on an unnamed song. We hope we get to see the new choreography soon!
Sulli Becomes Endorsement Model for Jardin’s Cafe Real Ice Coffee Do you like coffee? If not, could Sulli possibly change your mind? The representative of Jardin, a corporation specialising in coffee, commented that Sulli’s healthy and lively image will attract those in the workforce and college demographics. Congratulations to Sulli on her new endorsement - we can’t wait to see the adorable pictorials that will surely follow!
Source: MyDaily via Nate
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Although the stage was a lot smaller than those of the weekly music shows and the SM Town concerts, Amber was able to summarize the experience perfectly: “I think SXSW is a must for K-pop idols. It’s a must because it is such a different venue. K-pop idols are used to big stadiums. It’s the intimacy with fans that makes it special. It was a crowd of people that were curious about K-pop along with K-pop fans. SXSW definitely broadens horizons”.
Sulli’s Birthday Sulli celebrated her 20th (19th) birthday on March 29th. Updating her me2day with an adorable series of pictures with her little brother, Sulli thanked fans for their congratulations. Fans banded together on Twitter to trend #HappySulliDay starting from 12am KST.
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f(x) news
Sulli’s Cell Phone CF with SNSD’s Yoona Joining representatives from Super Junior, Girls Generation and SHINee, Sulli became a representative for SK Telecom’s LTE Service. The label-mates will come together to introduce ways of giving, receiving, making and sharing data through CFs depicting humorous stories. A CF featuring Yoona and Sulli has already been released and we here at f(nation) cannot wait to see the new unfolding stories! Congratulations to Sulli for adding another endorsement deal to her collection!
10 Corso Como SM Entertainment partnered up with label 10 Corso Como to celebrate its fifth anniversary. The collaboration includes a compilation album featuring the remixes of five SM artists, f(x) headsets and a 40-page spread in W-Korea. On March 28th, f(x) attended the fifth anniversary launching party in Lotte Mall, Seoul. You can find the W-Korea spread below.
Victoria Featuring SHINee for High Cut
Images from W Magazine Korea
From top to bottom: Amber, Krystal, Luna, Sulli, Victoria
SHINee and Victoria teamed up once again! Regretfully filling in for the injured Jonghyun, Victoria took part in a rather mature and sophisticated photoshoot for High Cut. In the corresponding interview, Victoria impressed the SHINee members with her proficient Korean (a stark contrast from the “Replay” recording days) as she reminisced about their earlier days. The full shoot with Victoria can be located on the iheartfx website!
Krystal and KARA’s Jiyoung at SKK University Event On April 16th, Krystal and KARA’s Jiyoung supported their fellow Sungkyunkwan students by distributing support packs containing refreshments and study books. Despite the rather strong wind, both girls appeared to be in good spirits. Laughing and chatting away, the two members of the 94 line, once again showed off their close friendship. We here at f(nation) wish them and anyone else either starting university or approaching the end of their term, GOOD LUCK!
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f(x) news
meeting f(ans)
Krystal + Adidas for Vogue Girl For the latest edition of Vogue Girl, Krystal teamed up with Adidas for an athletic inspired pictorial. Decked out in colourful sports apparel, Krystal demonstrates a few basic stretching techniques that can be attempted by anyone. Posing alongside her fellow models, Krystal charms readers through her effortless chicness and prettiness. It’s been a while since we’ve been treated to athletic-Jung but this pictorial definitely made up for it! The latest issue of Vogue Girl is now available!
How I Became an f(x) Fan e here at f(nation) magazine thought that for W our first issue it would be a great idea to reach out to f(ans) and ask them how they came to love f(x). We were lucky enough to get some wonderful responses and so we’re sharing them here for our readers to see. We would like to thank the f(ans) who sent us their stories and we hope you all enjoy reading them! - f(nation) staff
Foreveranoodle’s Story It wasn’t until 2010 that I developed an interest in kpop. I was first introduced to 2NE1 and after enjoying their releases, I decided to search around on YouTube for any potential additions to my newly created kpop playlist. The very first f(x) music video that I remember watching was ‘Lachata’; it had a cool dance and a catchy hook - everything that I look for in a song. Naturally, I hopped around a huge amount of f(x) related videos, from music videos to fancams of live performances to variety appearances, and I was quickly won over. Their charms, the cuteness and their funky style continually affirm that I made the right
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decision in becoming a f(x) fan. I think what really makes me enjoy f(x) is the group’s genuinely odd and goofy personalities. It’s refreshing and enjoyable to witness. They are down to earth and just really adorable. I am glad to consider myself a “nameless” f(an) and continuous supporter of f(x). Here’s to many more wonderful memories to come and cheers to a (hopefully) awesome 2013 comeback!
Many f(ans), like foreveranoodle, first fell in love with the catchy pop hook and fun dance moves from f(x)’s La Cha Ta. During a year when many girl group debuts included the likes of 2NE1 and 4minute, f(x) won over many fans with not only their music, but their dorky and down-to-earth personalities.
- foreveranoodle
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forum spotlight
NayNay05’s Story I became a fan after watching live performances of “La ChA TA” and “NuABO”, which really captured my attention. I enjoyed watching f(x)’s stages, and the group’s dance routines are always great. Eventually, I fell in love with their personal style. Like many, I watched ‘We Got Married’ and that was the official beginning of my girl crush on Victoria. I just loved the way she interacted with the girls when they appeared on the show. I guess my process was a little backwards, but after that episode I went searching for more interactions between the members. This was when I discovered Koala! It was a hilarious series and their antics still bring tears to my eyes when I reminisce. As much as I loved their variety appearances, however, it was their ballads that firmly secured me in their web. I love that f(x) is diverse. The girls have many
different styles and whether they are cute, sexy, dorky or fierce, they pull it off with an ease that never feels anything less than f(x)-like. Each member is awesome and I like them all for being true to themselves.
- NayNay05
f(x)’s second tv show, Koala, featured f(4) travelling all over the world in order to both learn about other cultures and share Korean culture. Unfortunately, Amber could not participate due to her ankle injury. All the more reason for us to anticipate Amazing f(x)!
Jessesca’s Story My journey in becoming a fan of f(x) is like how buses take the long route home. The Jonas Brothers was actually the group that marked my entrance into the world of K-pop. How, you ask? Well, it all started back in 2009, when the Jonas Brothers had Bieber-style fans and the Wonder Girls had just arrived in America. This was during my pre K-pop days, when I knew little about K-pop and less about this Korean group called the “Wonder Girls.” However, since they were opening for my favorite group, I thought, “If the Jonas Brothers like them, they must be awesome.” I was right - I looked up their title song “Nobody” and instantly fell in love. This was the start of my winding, somewhat bumpy, and surprisingly interesting bus ride to K-pop. My next stop was Big Bang, and it was here I began to really go through all their songs, even searching up English subtitles to sing along. It was at 2PM, however, that I began to watch variety shows and my bus took the first exit to the nearest rest station called, “We Got Married.” If this was the pit stop, being introduced to Victoria through this show was that amazing restaurant, spotless bathroom, and refreshing stretch right before that final home stretch. It was this in-between place where I tentatively met the group f(x). Little did I know, this would become a never-ending journey of amazing scenery, the occasional rocky road, incessant frustrations, and the best entertainment ever. If Victoria was awesome enough in WGM that she slowly took up all my attention, then her group had to be as well, right? So I
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headed straight from the transfer to my destination: f(x). My first stop on this road? Discography, of course! I have to admit, this was a rough first leg of their journey. When first listening to their songs, I didn’t immediately fall in love with them. This wasn’t like the other K-pop trips I had, with typically catchy songs I could quickly get into. This was a trip that was slightly odder, with a few more jerky turns than usual and a couple of stops I didn’t quite recognize. However, I quickly began to head to the NuABO stop. With the quirky chants, easy “na na na na” chorus and dance moves everyone in K-pop seemed to be able to do, I was instantly hooked. It was here I truly, and immediately, became a “Nameless.” Home is where the heart is, after all, and despite the crazy journeys we f(x) fans go on, there’s always five amazing girls waiting for us at the end. Oh, and the rest of the journey, you wonder? Well, as they say - the rest, my dears, is history.
- Jessesca
y r a s r e iv n n A d Happy 3r ! m u r o f ) x ( f t r a ihe A
pril 9, 2013 may mark the third year of our forum’s existence, but as a team we’ve been around for much longer than that. Ever since the end of 2009 (the year of our lovely girls’ debut), iheartfx.wordpress.com has been the fastest f(x) multimedia-updated source for fans all around the globe. It had been the most well-known blog for the f(x) fan community when this small group of dedicated people decided that they wanted to build a larger, friendlier community where fans alike could share their many thoughts, ideas and comments (read: a place with more people to spazz with). The number of staff has now multiplied, and so has the community. Even f(x) has heard of
us -- iheartf(x)’s first mini project was delivered directly to Sulli, Luna has been seen wearing the watch we hand-picked, and several pictures of our specially made munnies were spotted in several different f(x)’s haunts. Over our three years, we have established a number of strong and important connections with f(x) fansites scattered worldwide, with whom we have been able to deliver the best support possible for the girls. We pride ourselves in our complete and up-to-date multimedia vault, which includes pictures, videos, and the ever-anticipated subs. Our dedicated team has always enjoyed spreading the f(♥) as best it can, and we warmly welcome new members at any time.
In order to celebrate iheartf(x)’s anniversary, we wanted to share with our readers images of the gifts the forum has sent the girls over the years.
From message books to dolls, the forum has had its amazing contributors deliver incredibly creative works to gift to f(x). We hope you enjoy looking back on these projects as much as we did!
We would like to use this opportunity to especially thank all the members for their support and contribution to this community; be it a simple thanks, a posted fanaccount, a thread of fanfiction, or an attempt in translation, we are always thankful. We’ve said it once on the classic Heartbox, but we’ll say it again: we’re nothing without the members of the iheartf(x) community. Lastly -- despite the fact that we’re still nameless -- we all know that we heart f(x)! Spread the f(♥), the iheartf(x) team
Victoria’s role as one-half of the wildly popular “Khuntoria” couple on MBC’s We Got Married saw an increase in people discovering f(x). This increase in popularity helped secure their first music show win during their Pinocchio promotions. First Anniversary Project: The Message Book, Playing Cards & Jenga The 2010 1st Anniversary book compiled messages from our international members congratulating f(x) on their first successful year as a group. Wanting to do something slightly different, we had each message perforated so the members could take them out, keep it with them and stick them anywhere they choose. Long airplane rides can be really boring, so iheartf(x) came up with the idea of making customized iheartf(x) playing cards for the group to enjoy while traveling to cement its title as Asia’s pop dance group. 100 words that we associate with f(x) were also permanently inscribed onto Jenga Blocks.
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forum spotlight Even though the tower might crumble, we fans are always there to remind you that we love and support you. Besides, why play with ordinary blocks when iheartf(x) ones exist?
Christmas Theme First Mini Project - Message Book & Luna’s Birthday
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Back in 2010 we had a wonderful Christmas-themed series! Please do not edit or alter these for personal use. If you redistribute or post elsewhere, please give credit to iheartfx.com! Thank you!
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forum spotlight
language corner
Munnies
Pororo’s Multilingual Style
iheartf(x) collaborated with DCfxgallery and other Korean sites for f(x)’s 2nd anniversary back in 2011. Along with a donation and message book, we also started the Mini Munny Auction project. WILDBEAT (one of our talented designers!) worked really hard to make these awesome f(x) munnies for the girls. We hope they love them as much as we do!
By spiceshoe (iheartfx.com)
When diving into the fandom, Korean is always a big deal, especially if you’re still unfamiliar with the language the fandom revolves around. But worry no more! Our special language corner is here to save your day. Provided below are basic conversational phrases you’ll hear a lot. Also, since this is Invincible Youth Although it came to an end, the memories and laughter the show brought us are ever-lasting. In appreciation of the girls’ hard work and in an effort to give back, we at iheartf(x) made personalised hoodies as a remembrance and celebration of their time on Invincible Youth!
iheartf(x) Forum Valentines
Basic Phrases 안녕하세요 - Annyeong Haseyo - Hello (Formal) 안녕히 가세요 - Annyeonghi gaseyo - Goodbye (Formal; said to the person who is leaving) 안녕히 계세요 - Annyeonghi gyeseyo - Goodbye (Formal; said to the person who is staying) 안녕 - Annyeong - Hello/Goodbye (Informal; said to friends or close people around you) 감사합니다/고맙습니다 Gamsahapnida/ Gomapseubnida - Thank you (Formal) 고마워(요) - Gomawo(yo) - Thank you (Informal)
SXSW f(x) performed at SXSW in March 2013 for the K-POP Night Out Showcase. iheartf(x) made sure to send out a clear message of love and support for the girls through the free distribution of pearl periwinkle balloons at the venue.
죄송합니다/죄송해요 Joesonghapnida/ Joesonghaeyo - Sorry (Formal) 미안해(요) - Mi-anhae(yo) - Sorry (Informal)
How to Introduce Yourself To say “Hello, I’m f(x)’s American fan”: 1. Start with “안녕하세요 - Annyeong Haseyo Hello” 2. And then use “저는 - Jeoneun - I am” to
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Addressing People
an f(x) special, additional f(x)-related words will be added to this awesome list. If you’d like to learn 한굴 ‘han-gul’ (the Korean alphabet), there’s a helpful post on the forums to help you out.
Format: Word in Korean - Romanized Word Translation (Extra information)
Other Words/Phrases
언니 - Unnie - Older sister (Said by a girl to someone older than her. Krystal calls Jessica “unnie” because Jessica is her older sister. Sulli calls Tiffany “unnie” also, even though Tiffany isn’t her real older sister)
짱! - Jjang! - The best!
오빠 - Oppa - Older brother (Said by girls. Minho is Sulli’s oppa because Minho is older than her)
애교 - Aegyo - Cuteness/charms
형 - Hyung - Older brother (Said by boys to older boys. Amber likes to playfully refer to the boys in SM as “hyung”) 누나 - Noona - Older sister (The SHINee boys call Victoria “noona” because Victoria is older than them) (남/여)동생 - (Nam/Yeo) Dongsaeng - Younger brother/sister (Usually people just say “dongsaeng”. Use nam (boy) or yeo (girl) when you want to be specific) 선배(님) - Seonbae(nim) - Senior (SHINee is f(x)’s senior) 후배 - Hoobae - Junior (EXO is f(x)’s juniors) introduce the subject 3. Then add your nationality here. America = 미국 = Miguk. You can do a quick Google for the name of your country in Korean. 4. f(x)의 - f(x)-ui - f(x)’s
대박 - Daebak - Big hit
막내 - Maknae - Youngest (amongst the group; Krystal is f(x)’s maknae) 바보 - Babo - Stupid/idiot (In Korean (and most Asian countries in particular), it is not rude to say babo unless the tone says so. It’s normal to pick around with friends with that word)
사랑해(요) - Saranghae(yo) - (I) love (you) (Literally, it’s the verb “to love”. If you want to say “I love f(x)”, just put “f(x)” in front of the phrase and you get “f(x) saranghaeyo”)
화이팅! - Hwaiting! - The Korean version for “fighting!” (Since Koreans don’t pronounce the letter “F”) 열심히 하겠습니다! - Yeolshimi Hagesseupnida - (I/We) will work hard (Subject depends on the speaker) 눈웃음 - Nun-useum - Eye-smile 아싸 - Assa! - Hooray!
So, together, to say “Hello, I’m f(x)’s American fan”, it’s: 안녕해서요. 저는 f(x)의 미국 팬이에요. Annyeong haseyo. Jeoneun f(x)-ui paeniyeyo.
Miguk
5. 팬이에요 - Paeniyeyo - Fan.
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fan guide: spao
f(nation) editorial
Located in the busy shopping district of Myeong-dong, SPAO is a must-see destination for any f(x) fan visiting Seoul. While not everyone can meet f(x) in person, anyone can go to SPAO and see their larger than life advertisements of SM artists. Since f(x) joined label-mate Super Junior last year as the promotional models for this Korean clothing band, the girls’ faces can be found on posters, videos, shopping bags and wall displays throughout the store. And, unlike in concert venues or some other f(x)-oriented areas, it’s fine to take pictures at SPAO. In fact, there are even specially marked “Photo Zone” spots where customers can take selcas beside a floor to ceiling image of their idol. Although the staff rearranges the store every week, there should always be something at SPAO for an f(x) fan to ‘spazz’ over. SPAO has several stores across Korea, but the Myeong-dong branch is probably the biggest. There are three floors which feature women and men’s clothing as well as accessories. Targeted towards younger people, the brand offers a range of casual outfits in an assortment of bright rainbow colors. SPAO carries all the basics at low prices, with the cheapest pair of socks starting at ₩3,900 ($3.50 USD) and the most expensive men’s jacket topping out at ₩129,000 ($116.50 USD). The combination of the simple designs and the affordability makes it really tempting to buy a single item, like shoes, in more than one color. However, foreigners should note that Korean clothing and shoe sizes are different than in other countries. It can sometimes be difficult to find shirts in Large or Extra Large, and women’s shoes above size 255 (US 8.5, Europe 39) are almost nonexistent. In a neighborhood overflowing with tourists and street vendors, where faces of K-pop appear at every turn to distract you, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. However, it’s fairly simple to get to SPAO: simply take the subway to Myeong-dong Station and leave through Exit 6. Head left out of the exit and pass by Uniqlo. Turn left at the first intersection by Nature Republic. Walk straight for a short distance and SPAO will be on the left, next to Smoothie King. TIP: Be sure to stop by one of the half-dozen Etude House stores in Myeong-dong, as well as the SM EverySing that’s on the fourth floor, directly above SPAO. LOCATION: 24-23 Chungmuro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (Myeong-dong Station, Exit 6) Hours: 11:00AM - 10:00PM (Monday Thursday), 11:00AM - 10:30PM (Friday Saturday), closed on Sunday
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For other store locations and hours, go to www.spao.com
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. . . o t e d i u G Fan
By darkesteyes (iheartfx.com)
Left: SPAO has five levels, including a play area where customers can sing along to their favorite SME song in the Every Sing area. Below: SPAO’s SM Every Sing area advertised from the street.
Left and below: Advertisements featuring f(x) and members of Super Junior lure customers in from the streets and can be found throughout the store.
Below and bottom right: SPAO’s basics are available at many price points. From inexpensive to moderately expensive, they have a wide variety of items for customers to choose from. The only downside is the lack of sizes, especially for tourists from the US and Europe.
The Growth of f(x)
By sparklypoga (iheartfx.com) f(x) at their debut showcase. Photo via Daum
f(x) debuted on September 5, 2009 as the newest group of label giant SM and little sister to numerous K-pop idol legends. It is no surprise that their teasers were met with a lot of anticipation from people allacross the board and SM didn’t disappoint with the hype, labeling f(x) as “Asia’s Pop Dance Group”. However, 2009 was also the year of some of the biggest girl groups we know today and f(x) came in late facing heavy competition. With both these exceedingly high expectations and the pressure to beat out all else, “LA chA TA” was perhaps a different introduction than what some may have expected. The song itself was catchy and the music video served as a fresh companion to it, showcasing multiple fun sets, a somewhat eclectic sense of fashion, and a choreography full of the interesting formations f(x) would become known for. f(x) was a strong group with capable dancers and vocalists, and their debut song was solid. It was a step away from the “CUTE” that had dominated girl groups of previous years, but that was exactly the problem - it was only a step away, when many other debuting girl groups had taken entire leaps away. When placed next to the powerful and fiery debut of 2NE1, a girl group from another label giant often considered a rival of SM’s, “LA chA TA” was good but not good enough. Ultimately, it didn’t make the impact that was necessary to launch f(x) into that next “it” group.
take a careful build-up of strong material even when paired with an already strong group. f(x) had the potential to do much more, but in the following months and years SM gave this potential little to work with.
Just a month after their debut in October, f(x) came out with electro-pop single “Chocolate Love”. On one hand, this was a somewhat strategic decision by SM: use a song by Girls’ Generation and rework it, because if one song is popular then another version is sure to be, right? Unfortunately, something like this works just as well as a double-edged sword because
it will inevitably lead to comparisons and clouded judgments. What f(x) needed at this point was something to set it apart, to carve the group its own niche separate of that of its SM seniors, and to show off to the world. “Chocolate Love” did manage to show off f(x)’s maturity and sound, foreshadowing the image it would one day come to conquer, even if it didn’t make the waves SM might have wanted it to. It was song that meant people would keep an eye on f(x)— after all, their talent wasn’t something that was easy to forget. And so, just one month later on November 9, we were met with f(x)’s first single album, “Chu~♥”. This song is perhaps the official beginning of what I call SM’s utter confusion of what to do with f(x). Without a doubt, lead single “Chu~♥” was a curious and somewhat lackluster step that did nothing to cement f(x) as either “Asia’s Top Dance Group” or the next “IT” group. What we got with “Chu~♥ ” was a song with an intense identity-crisis; it tried to juggle “cute” and “cool” with its overly cute sing-song chants, aggressive synths and
Perhaps it was the years it had been since SM had launched a girl group, because the company seemed to have forgotten the age-old adage: “Rome was not built in a day.” Very few groups, whether from SM or otherwise, become “it” groups upon their debut; popularity is one thing, legendary feats are another. Lasting hits and legends take work and
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f(nation) editorial then this odd rap right in the middle of it. This confusion was echoed in the choreography, which tried to make hip but cute moves and only succeeded in a confused mix of shakes and acrobatics. After the fun music video of “LA ChA TA”, the music video for “Chu~♥” seemed childish in comparison. Calling it a horrible song is an exaggeration, but calling it a horrible choice of a song at that time is not. Two months into f(x)’s debut, there were many still curious about the group, expecting a lot from this skilled combination of talents. “Chu~♥” was a confusing pick that was enough to turn some people completely off, when it should have been a song and a single to end the year with a bang. I know many fans will meet my judgment with protest and disagreement, arguing that f(x) would soon become a
popular group and that “Chu~♥” was hardly a bad song. f(x) would indeed come to be a fairly popular group and sure, “Chu~♥” wasn’t necessarily a failure. Of course, this in part had to do with the lasting impression f(x)’s September 2009 showcase had left on many minds, showing that this group had something many others didn’t - talent. However, for a group that debuted with such intensely high expectations and a title of “Asia’s Pop Dance Group,” SM’s introductory choices for f(x) seemed to pale in comparison to its hype.
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It was into this atmosphere that f(x) came back with their first mini-album, “Nu ABO”, in May of 2010. The song “Nu ABO” made a point in that it gave f(x) a Sound. It was undoubtedly electro-pop and funky, which are both aspects f(x) has become known for. The choreography had returned to showing off the interesting formations f(x) had started with and had the addition of catchy moves that almost anyone could imitate. The song, itself, was also fairly popular, and few couldn’t resist singing along to the repetitive “na na na’s”. Even the fashion had developed a new, bolderimage and the music video echoed this in its interesting angles, edgy haircuts, and fun, mirror-like closeups. All of this, however, does not change the fact that this song was once again a mass confusion of heavy beats, high-pitched chants, and sparse actual singing. Today, we’re used to this oddness from f(x), but the difference between then and now is not only how we view the group, but also the execution of the songs. “Nu ABO” wasn’t executed well in any sense, and “Mr. Boogie” did little to change anyone’s mind. Of course, it didn’t help that it was with this mixed bag of impressions that f(x) went into an almost one-year hiatus. In this one year, f(x) managed to keep itself on the forefront of peoples’ minds through varied and countless individual activities. From mid-2010 to April 2011, we saw the members in various variety shows, sitcoms, and live performances. However, other than the occasional OST release by Luna and Krystal, there was little sign of musical activity from f(x). Unfortunately, the rest of K-pop was quite different and there was an explosion of new groups, comebacks, and hits. This was the atmosphere that f(x)’s first album, “Pinocchio (Danger),” found itself in when it dropped on April 20, 2011.
Out of all the lead singles f(x) released by that point, “Pinocchio (Danger)” was the best. It carried much more strength than previous releases, even if it was somewhat plain in its repetitiveness and showed little of their actual talents. Although the song was far from solid, and the album itself saw a repeat of “Chu~♥’s” identity crisis, it firmly set into place f(x)’s niche and place within K-pop (offbeat, quirky, and somewhat bizarre). It also gave f(x) something important to show SM: wins. Lots and lots of wins, in fact, because f(x) didn’t just win for the first time ever in weekly music shows — it won a total of eight times throughout the promotional period. This strength and position was carried through to f(x)’s June 14 release of “Hot Summer”. The fact that “Hot Summer” was a cover of a popular song by German band Monrose, that it had been a cover of a well-known song, meant that many fans were somewhat wary for this release. However, “Hot Summer” grabbed onto the strength of “Danger” and went much further with it to give us a catchy, addictive, and sexy song that carried with it its own f(x) taste to set itself apart from the original. It had the heavy synths, strong electronic beat, and bright chorus we expected from f(x), but with a coherence we hadn’t seen before that made this song undoubtedly enjoyable. Also, we had finally stepped away from the cutesy, sing-songy chants that had dominated f(x)’s lead singles since “Chu~♥”. “Hot Summer” was fun and the girls’ live performances showed this. Their choreography may have stepped back a little, but the odd “wipe-sweat-shake-leg” dance was distinctive enough to at least catch attention and did little to diminish the overall, positive effect that this song had for f(x). It was a good song to end 2011 with, especially considering we had to wait another entire year for the group’s next release. After this period of anxious waiting, with yet another wave of solo projects in between to hold our interest, f(x) greeted us with its most powerful work yet on June 10, 2012.
“Electric Shock”, without a doubt, appeared as a culmination of all that f(x) has made theirs - from quirky lyrics to odd chants - except it did this so much better than any other song of theirs had before. The teaser introduced the song as something with a powerful bass and interesting beat behind it, and the song itself didn’t disappoint. This lead single was everything lead singles “Nu ABO” and “Pinocchio (Danger)” tried to be, but in a much more interesting and upbeat way. The strong beat and synths were steady but not boring, thumping aggressively as they expanded and lessened as needed to complement not only the girls’ singing but also their chants throughout. The edginess of this bass-driven beat meant that this song was energetic and fun, rather than repetitive and dull. When listening to “Electric Shock”, you can’t help nodding along and moving because it’s just that awesome. The dance was full of the clever formationsand intricate position changes that f(x) masters like no other group, and even SM’s persistent boxes in the music video could do nothing to take away from this song. I’m not saying this song was epic, but I am saying this song was exactly what f(x) needed to confirm its talents as a leading girl group. With “Electric Shock”, f(x) told the world it deserved to be noticed and through the rest of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, we’ve seen this. Something most evident by their recent performance at international music festival, SXSW, and their collaboration with actress Anna Kendrick for Funny or Die. Despite its struggles, f(x) has been a group that worked with the little material it was given and even less direction to stand powerfully within the K-pop craze. The group has even managed to step out of the shadow of its SM seniors to carve out a different niche and identity from before.
f(x) has grown in talent, strength, and confidence to show us a group that can be called a contributor to the Hallyu wave and K-pop itself. Not only that, f(x)’s group dynamic and unique personalities have stayed strong throughout it all. With 2013 less than halfway through and many more years to come, fans of f(x) anxiously await the next release this electro-pop group will bring.
Editorial Note: We at f(nation) magazine understand that the editorial presented was full of what many consider unpopular opinions, or even viewpoints that shouldn’t have been in a fan magazine in the first place. We would like to point out that the writer of this article is fully aware of the opinions she presents and goes so far as to state in the article that she is aware of this. Due to this, we kindly ask our readers that should they disagree with the writer’s
opinions to not attack the writer or the magazine. In fact, some of the staff members of the magazine disagree with some of the opinions in this article. We decided to have it in the magazine because we felt that while we love f(x) and all that they do, they (and SM) are not free from criticism and we feel that fans are allowed to voice opinions that are not always positive. If you do disagree, feel free to use this article as a way to start a respectful conversation on the group and SM Entertainment.
Wanna write for us? Got an opinion on f(x)? Or do you just love to write about your love for f(x)? Let us know! We’re always looking for fans to contribute their views via articles for the magazine. If you’re interested, please e-mail us at fnation.magazine@gmail.com.
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my style
Get This Look!
f(victoria)
“Playing With Black”
Daisy Boyfriend Cardigan, $31 USD
Jenell Leather Panel Studds Bodycon Dress, $43 USD
Hologram Platform Pumps, $38 USD
f(amber) Sparkle & Fade Contrast Collar Pocket Shirt, $69 USD
Solar System Muscle Tee $17 USD
Black Zip Side Supersoft Skinny 7/8 Jeans, $26 USD
Paris Charm Bracelet, $9.50 USD
f(luna)
Shimmer Show-Stopper Sequin Headwrap $4.50 USD
f(sulli)
Criss Cross Leatherette Belt $10 USD
Natalie Statement Necklace, $23 USD Star Wars Battle Skirt $40 USD
Ivory Victorian Blouse, $46 USD
f(krystal)
Basic Trench Coat, Pull & Bear, $62 USD
Bershka stud detail shorts, $40 USD Moda In Pelle Intricate Platform Heels, $108 USD
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Long Sleeved Polka Dot Shirt, Forever 21
Keds Black Champion Plimsolls, $46 USD
Black Chiffon Skater Skirt
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maknae corner
Game Time
with the maknaes!
word search
crossword
spot the difference Can you spot the difference between the first image and the second one? Hint #1: There were FIVE changes made to the second photograph. Hint #2: ONE change has been made per member.
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