CGS Alum Tiffany Kim Puts Stardom on Hold for BU
Before applying to Boston University, Tiffany Kim was a star on the rise in South Korea. At 16, Kim left her home in San Francisco to audition for television show K-pop Star, an American Idol type show which takes place in Seoul, South Korea.
According to an interview published on BU Today, Kim says that growing up watching K-pop music videos, she was fascinated by how each song was “a total work of art,” blending choreography, lighting, clothes, and other production elements. Although Kim only sang in her room for her own enjoyment, she decided to take a chance, and audition to become the next BoA, a star billed as the “Queen of Korean pop.”
After spotting an ad for the show, Kim auditioned, passed the preliminaries and advanced to a televised audition in South Korea with three celebrity judges—including BoA. Her rendition of “Fallin’” by Alicia Keys ultimately won Kim a spot on the show.
For Kim, this was a complete shock– going from singing in her room for her own enjoyment to now singing for millions of viewers at home. According to Kim, the competition was exhilarating and challenging: “It was pretty difficult competing against people who’d had so many years of experience.”
Ultimately, Kim earned ninth place on the show, but was eventually signed by Starship Entertainment. Even though she was suddenly an overnight sensation, Kim kept up with her studies, and applied to BU. Now an economics major, she doesn’t regret the decision.
Now a Junior, Kim is not sure when she will make her return to the K-Pop world, but plans on earning her bachelor’s degree first. Even though her return to K-Pop is still up in the air, Kim does know one thing for sure, and that is: “Once I find a passion, I pursue it to the best of my ability.”
Be sure to check out BU Today’s full interview on Tiffany Kim at http://www.bu.edu/today/2017/k-pop-star-kim-na-yoon/