C H O I S O O Y O U N G ;

Why is she your bias?

SooYoung, for me, has to be one of the most beautiful people I've known in my life. And I’m not referring to beauty that is bounded on mere physicality. I’m talking about her beauty as a whole. I tried my best to learn about her the moment I proclaimed myself a fan; and the more I knew about her, the more my respect for her grew.
At first glance, she may seem as a happy-go-lucky girl who hasn't got any problems in the world. Why should she? She's a member of one of Asia's most popular girl bands; she has a supportive family behind her back; and she has that gorgeous face and figure any girl would die for. But beneath the exterior, I wonder if anyone has ever wondered what might be hidden behind those smiles. Has anybody questioned what might be the reason behind the tears that seem to leak out nonstop whenever she cries over something that touches her heart? From the things I've learned about her, I have come up with a fair enough hypothesis that SNSD's Cheerful Princess doesn't have all sunbeams and sunshine kept securely in her closet.
For one, I see in her a girl b with insecurities. She thinks she's not pretty; she thinks only ahjussi fans like her; she thinks her cheeks make her ugly; she thinks she's too thin; she thinks she's not enough. To all of this, I think one factor could be attributed to the way she was raised.
It was once revealed in a show that her mother was actually expecting a boy when she was pregnant with Sooyoung. Thus, when she was born, her mother was slightly disappointed to see a "long, black, and ugly baby" as she, herself, quoted it. During her younger years, she was raised as a boy. Her hair was cut short and she was made to wear boyish clothes. And as if this isn't enough, SooYoung had to deal with the fact that she is the second daughter. In a typical Korean family, being the second child (more so being second daughter/son) connotes a lot of expectations. You are expected to do well. To follow the good example of your elder sibling, if not, to transcend it. You are always prone to comparisons and you have to constantly fight the idea of being the second best. In SooYoung's case, she had it a bit tough. Her sister is breathtakingly beautiful, talented, and well-mannered. It's almost impossible to be someone better.
But did she take it negatively? Did she rebel against her family? Did she hate her mother for telling how stubborn and hard-headed she is compared to her sister? Did she lament over the fact that her first birthday party was actually celebrated twenty years after she was born?
One word. No.
It amazes me how with all these, this girl could just look back at it all and laugh it off as if it's something easy. It's amusing to know that her bond with her sister is so strong that she could cry a river on the thought that it's been quite a long since they last saw each other. I find it astounding on how with the thought of her mother not really wanting her presence before did not taint the love that she felt for her parents. On how with all these things, she had remained a good daughter to them. She studied hard and graduated on high school on time. Not to mention that fact that she's already working at such a young age.
I believe that the effort isn't on her part alone, of course. After all, it's her family who played a huge part in molding her to the person that she is now. Her family seems to be a really happy family and one can see the love that binds them together.
Apart from the tricky family situation, I think SooYoung got her fair share of little insecurities on the field that she is currently moving right now: the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.
I read somewhere in this same forum a certain post where somebody said that the reason why SooYoung is her least favorite member is because she feels that she is jealous of the other girls. Hmmm... I don't know but let’s analyze the situation here.
Picture this; you've been scouted by one of the most renowned entertainment companies in Korea at such a young age. You got sent overseas at the age of twelve to work on a contract of three years under a musical group. The contract ended and you returned to your homeland. You occasionally do modeling stints, hosting jobs, and CF endorsements but then you were back on "trainee" status. After two more years, the company tells you, "Hey! We decided that after seven years of training, including the times you spent in Japan as a musical artist, its high time you debut here in your home country." So you get all hyped up because finally, it's here! The moment you've been waiting for so long. To take that "trainee" label off your back. But before you could jump for joy, the PD continues, "But here’s the hitch, you'll be debuting in a NINE-MEMBER GIRL BAND. And oh, you're SUPPORTING vocalist."
That must have been a blow.
It didn't really appear as a shock to me when SooYoung mentioned that she was surprised to learn that she'll be in So Nyuh Shi Dae. A girl band. A HUGE band. A band with NINE members. Nine different girls with different personalities. Some she's been friends with for a long time already and some she hasn't even met yet. Nine different girls each with their share of talent to show the world. Nine different girls who just happened to share the same dream. Nine means nine times the effort to do well, to not be outshone. To be as equally talented.
Had I been in her position, I might have quit. But did our girl lost faith? Did she lobby for a better offer? No. She took the challenge to start back at the beginning. To grow with the said girls, together. She took it as an avenue to continually be better in everything that she does. We have stand witness to her vocal improvements and even to her developed dancing skills. Similarly to her family situation, instead of taking things negatively, she turns the situation around and makes the best out of it. That is the Choi SooYoung I see. And that's the Choi SooYoung that earned my respect.
And look where these nine girls are right now. Five years after their debut, they're now making waves as one of Asia's most influential girlbands. The girls made it through all the controversies and mud slings. They emerged victorious. But not just as a mere idol group. Now, So Nyuh Shi Dae isn't but another girl band. Gone were the days of nine different girls united under one name. They have exceeded the bounds of being mere colleagues, they are now a family.
In this family, there are different roles that they play. And I do believe that SooYoung rightfully deserves her position as the group's speaker. She knows what to say and when to say it. For quite a number of times, she had put herself in place of the girls to save them. She took the blow of being called plastic when she gave thanks to the supportive SONEs during the Dream Concert. Her name almost always instantaneously comes up as a scapegoat during awkward situations. She puts herself on the front lines, whether it's her way to extend her minutes with the spotlight, I cannot say. But one thing I'm sure of, if there's one thing SooYoung would most likely do, it’s to sacrifice herself for the people she loves.
Hadn't she mentioned of how she wants Yoona to stop calling her unnie as a sign of seniority but rather to treat her as a friend? Wasn't she the one who first melted the ice princess that fateful day in 2001 when she asked her to be her friend? Why is it that no matter how she really wants to win, she would always give way for Maknae? Who brings out the dorkiest in HyoYeon? Who takes time to know about Yuri's five stages of anger and all the littlest details about her personality? How is it that even when she's about to eat cheeseburger miles away from Korea, she stopped and suddenly thought about Sunny just because the latter happens to like the food very much? Isn't she the one who specifically voiced out to Fany and Tae that if ever they're feeling down, they could do away with pretending to be tough because they could always, always run to her? Notice how she's close with ALL the girls? That's Family. Sisterhood. That's Love.
I remember one time SooYoung mentioned that she'd want to learn the guitar so she can sing "Goodbye Days" for her solo on one of their concerts. When she learned that Taeyeon gets to sing the song for her musical debut, did she feel a bit betrayed? No. Instead, she was one of the first people to send Taengoo a wreath of flowers proclaiming her support for her friend. I believe that the rest of the girls could make it big on their own and no one would be clapping as hard and shouting with pride at the top of her lungs than our girl here.
They say SooYoung is the personality of SNSD. I say she's more than just that.
Personality marks your disposition and attitude towards life in general but it is CHARACTER that defines who you are as a person.
SooYoung's character is honed out of years of experience. Of hard work. Of failures and of success. With all the everyday troubles this world can cook up with, she managed to take it all and make the best out of it. That certain character, that attitude, is a mirror of one of humanity's least appreciated traits. The world is harsh and there are instances that we lose hope to everyone around us. But I think that if there is something that all of us should at least try to hold on to, it's the trusting feeling that no matter how bad things can be, it would always bring out the BEST IN HUMANITY.
Whenever I hear about disasters, may it be man-made or natural, I do not immerse myself with the fact of assessing the gravity of the situation from the mortality rate. People live, people die. It's normal. Nothing unusual. I do not cry upon learning that 10 million people died or that a hundred thousand children were ruthlessly murdered or what. I do not tear upon the dead. I lament over the living. Those that were left behind. Those who were struggling to be alive. I cry when I see children, fathers, mothers huddled up in evacuation centers holding on for dear life. I cry over the fact that during the worst times, this humanity you most often curse would lend you a helping hand. You see volunteers helping the needy; countries giving out aids; people holding unto each other. There is the innate desire of humanity to live. On how even if we are bordered by the many differences in our race, skin color, language, culture, and what-have-yous, we are all mere specks trying to make a lasting impression in this vast universe. We are all trying to live and make the best out of this relatively short life.
This kind of trait, I see this mirrored on our girls. On how they braved it all to reach the place where they are now. See how they cry whenever they win an award? It should be something that is ordinary to them, but no, they still cry over every award as if it's the first time. That is because they know that these awards were the products of their sweats and tears. Of all the hardships. Of all the times they've been together.
And I pride myself on how the girls would never hesitate to hand the mic over to SooYoung for the acceptance speech. It's as if they completely trust with their whole life that she would say exactly what's on their hearts. Could it be because the girls themselves know that she understands because she's the one who perfectly fits the situation? Whatever it might be, it doesn't change the fact that Sooyoung rightfully deserves the role because the girls trust her with it.
Her concern for her fans, and people in general, her strong faith, her humility, and her inherent desire to be better. Her strong sense of purpose and her willingness to LIVE. To continue. To fight every battle until the end. She yearns for appreciation and she works hard to get it. She holds on to every single moment, no matter how small it may be, and carries it like a precious miracle. These are but a few of the million things that made me love her.
Sooyoung could have chosen another option but she chose to be where she is right now. And boy that was probably the best decision she has in her life. She has in her a loving family and eight additional sisters. Her insecurities might pop out at some point in time but I’m putting my faith in it that she would be able to get over it and learn to accept herself fully for who she really is.
She would always be the girl who got me into SNSD. The girl who turned me from an apathetic quasi-anti into a fan. And in loving her, she made me love all the other girls as well. She is brave, strong, and humble. The fact itself that she's younger than me but I look up to her, tells of how much respect I have in her as a person. I am doing my best to spread the love because I believe she deserves it all.
And so to answer the question, and to end this ridiculously long post: Why SooYoung?
Why not?

Happy Birthday, SooYoung! May you stay healthy and always be who you are through thick and thin. ♥

I don't own anything...found this on SOOYOUNG's FAN PAGE! 

CREDITS TO THE OWNER ^^