“The idol industry is a phenomenon. The entertainment industry in itself is an incredible influence on the minds of the masses, but from what I’ve observed and experienced as a fan and an outsider in the world of idol entertainment, this is different.”

“You’re not even Korean,” he pointed out. “What would you know about the industry, the culture?”

“The fact that I’m not Korean proves even further how much of an impact it has,” she said. “Growing up in America, where most of the mainstream culture was American…yet K-Pop still connected with me, wielded an incredible amount of influence over me that I couldn’t find anywhere else. Why?”

“Maybe some people are more susceptible than others.” He finally drew his eyes away, glanced out the window at the streets of Gangnam, where the afternoon sun was slowly setting in the sky. They watched it for a moment, the pretty colors playing out, until finally he took a deep breath and turned to face her again.

“We’re just people, Miss Nguyen. Just people who sing and dance.”

“I know that.” She said. Quietly. “Yet, why does it always feel like more?”