Once living a life consisting of flashing lights, screaming audiences, and adrenaline-filled backstage rushes, former K-pop idol Lovelle Chung — who performed under the stage name “Gia” — now walks the halls of Burlingame High School, blending into a world far removed from the stage.
From a young age, Chung had a passion for dance and singing. She trained competitively, practicing ballet at the San Francisco Ballet School. In addition to her experience performing, she is also fluent in four languages: Chinese, English, Indonesian, and Korean.
“Dance was like my life back then, and it taught me a lot of discipline and stage presence,” Chung said.
Growing up in the United States, Chung’s childhood friends were happy for her when they discovered that she had moved to pursue a career in K-pop.
“Lovelle and I both went to College Park Elementary School, and we grew up together. I found out that she moved to Korea through my parents, and when I heard that, I was actually really surprised and super proud of her. I was shown some of her dancing and singing, and that she was following her passion, which I think everybody should do,” said Ryan Kung, a senior at Carlmont High School.
Making the decision
Chung first moved to Seoul, South Korea, in 2020 to pursue her career at the age of 12, mid-seventh grade. After receiving a call from Star Museum (SM) Entertainment, she decided to pursue the opportunity due to her love for entertainment and her desire to be on stage.
“I wanted to take on a new challenge that combined singing, dancing, and storytelling. I felt like it was kind of the perfect mix of everything I loved about the arts. I wanted to connect with my culture and see how far I could push myself creatively,” Chung said.
Despite often missing her parents, friends, and loved ones, Chung was still excited about the significant change.
“I tried to stay strong because I believed it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That’s why I wasn’t really scared in the beginning, because I thought I was really passionate about what I was going to be doing there,” Chung said.
Not only did the move impact Chung herself, but it also affected the people surrounding her, including her competitive dance teacher, Heba Fayed.
“I was very sad, but I was convinced that that was the best thing for her future. It’s an amazing experience. It made her braver, gave her more opportunities, taught her to be self-sufficient in so many different ways, and gave her more experience in life,” Fayed said.
The history of K-pop
K-pop originated in South Korea, drawing inspiration from a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, rap, hip-hop, and R&B.
According to the Los Angeles Film School (LAFS), the genre first appeared in the 1950s, as the Kim Sisters made their careers in the United States. They were a small trio of Korean-born pop stars who knew no English, yet they became famous in America despite the extreme language barrier.
The group gained popularity through their emotional songs and performances. Since they didn’t speak the language, they sang songs that were entirely in English, phonetically, further contributing to their fame.
In the 1990s, K-pop continued to evolve, with the emergence of its first boy band, Seo Taiji and the Boys. The band revolutionized K-pop by merging Korean and American music. Combining this new style with entertaining choreography, the group gained an extremely large fan base and is recognized as the first-ever K-pop group to achieve this level of success.
Heavily influenced by social media, the third generation of K-pop, which began in 2010, marked a significant rise in the genre. Reaching mainstream audiences in the United States and around the globe, its growth led to the spread of Korean culture worldwide.
Young kids in pop culture
The rising popularity of K-pop not only sheds light on the genre but also on the industry stereotypes children are expected to follow. Children in the K-pop industry are often pressured to conform to specific standards through public relations (PR) materials. The industry continues to grow over time, using conventional representations of children that categorize them in a certain way, despite their differences.
“If a lot of attention gets drawn to a child, maybe they can question themselves, their upbringing, if they look different from other people, it could raise a lot of questions. It can make them feel a little bit insecure if all eyes are on them, so I definitely think that has a pretty big impact,” said Nicole Whitmore, an associate marriage and family therapist at Gabrielle Thompson (GT) Healthcare.
Many stereotypes within the industry, such as a high-pressure environment where children are subject to intense scrutiny, have emerged. YaleNews mentions how these stereotypes can have serious consequences for how people perceive individuals of different races, ethnicities, genders, and national identities.
“The pressure was constant, both before coming to Korea and during my stay there. I was continuously compared to others, and I felt like I had to be perfect all the time, both in dance and my training,” Chung said.
According to Sage Journals, children in the K-pop system endure demanding training. Extensive training expectations means being forced to learn a wide variety of skills, including acting, modeling, media use, and languages, such as Korean and English. In addition, one’s physical appearance is also managed, with idols being subjected to strict diets and often being pushed to undergo cosmetic surgeries. As a result, many develop and suffer from eating disorders, alongside other stress-related conditions.
“The most challenging part was probably dealing with all the criticism and the lack of freedom. Every detail from how I looked, or how I spoke, was controlled,” Chung said.
Due to their high demand, management companies often view child idols as a quick way to earn money, leading to the heavy commercialization of these children. One effect of this is the prioritization of “professional” training, which heavily affects their social lives.
“The training took up almost all my time. There wasn’t much room for school, hobbies, or even hanging out with my friends on the weekends,” Chung said.
Chung’s transition to South Korea
While Chung was pursuing her career in Korea, she attended an international school. The competitive and often toxic environment made adjusting difficult for her, as she was surrounded by peers who were heavily focused on their academic pursuits, with many aiming to gain admission to the Ivy League or other similarly prestigious institutions.
“I definitely think culture plays a really big role, the culture shock, and just the way that you live life so differently in different countries. Especially being 12, you grow up a certain way, and then you’re in a different country, and you have to adapt to their standards and their life, learning new roles and skills,” Whitmore said.
Chung felt increasingly alienated in Korea due to the high beauty standards and differing cultural environment. For a while, due to the insecurities she had developed from working in the industry, she started to lose her sense of self.
“I would cope to the constant comparison by reminding myself why I started, that I love music and performing. Over time, I learned to separate the industry’s expectations from my own sense of self-worth,” Chung said.
After the K-pop career
In 2024, Chung decided to move back home as her mom suddenly fell ill. Now, Chung is a senior at Burlingame High School. Participating in activities like choir, her school’s varsity cheer team, and volunteering outside of school, Chung has had a relatively easy time readjusting to life in the United States.
“I feel like America is a lot more accepting and inclusive, and it helped me understand that being authentic is more important,” Chung said.
Despite the immense pressure of her K-pop career, overall, Chung is glad she took the opportunity.
“I don’t think I regret it. It taught me a lot about resilience and discipline — what kind of person I want to be. If I could do anything differently, I would have spoken up for myself more and maybe trusted my instincts to move to Korea sooner,” Chung said.
According to Chung, her life in the United States is much more balanced and better for her mental health. Now that the industry standards are no longer judging her, she has the freedom to do things she enjoys.
“She’s now a responsible adult on so many different levels. She is the most down-to-earth person I’ve known. She doesn’t treat it as if it were a big deal. Becoming a K-pop star didn’t really affect her life or her personality,” Fayed said.
