Becoming a K-Pop star is no walk in the park. It involves years of preparation, and only the best and the brightest survive. If a singer or dancer manages to make it into a group, it is no guarantee of success. Getting noticed among other members can be quite difficult, and talent alone is not enough to stand out.
When an artist does have true talent, we can only hope their stars will shine, sooner or later, as in the case of these four incredibly gifted vocalists from popular K-Pop acts Super Junior, Secret, 2PM, and Sistar. These four pack quite the vocal punch and 2012 may just be the year they shine above the rest.
Kim Ryeowook (Super Junior)
Sports KoreaOn paper, Ryeowook seem to have everything: razor-sharp jawline, cheekbones to die for, a hard-working ethic, and, of course, the amazing voice that has made him one of Super Junior's three main vocalists (alongside Kyuhyun and Yesung). The humble vocalist always seemed content to fade into the background, letting members with "on-cam" personality like Heechul or Leeteuk, or looks like Siwon or Donghae, shine. But it seems SM Entertainment is ready to throw the otherwise talented Ryeowook into the spotlight, thanks to his new KBS Cool FM "Kiss The Radio" DJ gig and an irresistible, scene-stealing performance of Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" at the "Super Show 4" world tour. (If you haven't seen the fan cams of this performance, you must see it. If you thought Siwon had abs...) It appears the wallflower Wookie of the past is ready to blossom into full manhood.
Song Ji Eun (Secret)
Sports Korea2011 was a breakout year for TS Entertainment's resident girl group, Secret, yet lead vocalist Song Ji Eun appeared to gladly let fellow members Hyosung, Sunhwa, and Zinger, take the lead. At first glance, Ji Eun lacks the sexy dance talent of leader Hyosung, the sassy appeal of rapper Zinger, and the aegyo prettiness of Sunhwa. But what Ji Eun lacks, she makes up for with that melodious, instantly recognizable voice. After earning a #1 radio hit with her solo single, "Going Crazy," holding her own in a breathtaking vocal performance of Beyonce's "Listen" opposite Sistar's Hyorin and Davichi's Minkyung, and now, a new single, "It's Cold" from the OST of the SBS drama "Please Take Care of Us, Captain", Ji Eun's talent is definitely not a secret anymore.
Kim Junsu (2PM)
Sports Korea2PM main vocalist Junsu, whose many skills include songwriting, poetry, dancing, and, of course, that smooth, rich voice, is not exactly in the most enviable of positions. Fellow 2PM member Nichkhun always gets the girls going, while dancer Chansung, rapper Taecyon, and vocalist Wooyoung have scored high-profile acting roles, with the latter two involved in the KBS hit musical drama, "Dream High." Together with Junho, Junsu has not been the main attraction of 2PM even with his key position as lead vocal. Still, Junsu is a true talent having bravely released a solo digital single entitled "Alive" last October which quickly rose to number 1 on Cyworld. He has also been involved in the group that sang the G20 Seoul Summit campaign song "Let's go". Junsu is currently suffering from the death of his father from a massive heart attack. Despite this sad turn of events, though, Junsu's fans are sure to support his upcoming activities including a prominent feature in "Dream High 2."
Hyorin (Sistar)
Sports KoreaHyorin, the leader of Starship Entertainment's top girl group Sistar, has typically taken a backseat to fellow member Yoon Bo-ra. Hyorin possesses arguably one of the most powerful female voices in K-Pop but it seems that Bo-ra's good looks and equally stunning "rap" performances have made her the most popular out of the four Sistar members which also includes Dasom and Soyu. It is good that these days Hyorin has come out of Bo-ra's shadow, thanks to a series of unforgettable performances on KBS 2TV's "Immortal Song 2". Hyorin also reaches a new career high with her casting as "Nana" in the teen musical drama "Dream High 2." Suffice it to say that fans will definitely be telling Hyorin, "You go, Sistar!"
Catherine Deen blogs for Yahoo! Philippines OMG! She lives, eats and breathes Korean music, cuisine, telenovelas, and pop culture. Follow her on Twitter @cathsdeen.
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