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Ex-2PM leader missed Korea

By Ines Min
Staff reporter

Ousted 2PM leader Jay Park is still making headlines a year after an incendiary Internet controversy. Now, nine months following his unexpected flight to the United States and fall-out with JYP Entertainment, he's back in the news ― but this time, fans are all ears.

Park recently gave Yonhap News Agency his first media interview since the incident, at a Gangnam recording studio.

"I'm glad to be in Korea. I really wanted to come", said the 23-year-old who, according to Yonhap, appeared uncharacteristically thin and pale. He returned to Korea last month to begin filming for the upcoming "Hype Nation 3D".

"I spent my time in the United States b-boying. I was really thankful that a lot of fans came out to meet when I arrived at the airport", Park said, referring to the roughly 1,000 followers that showed up to greet him. "Uploading videos onto YouTube of me singing and dancing during my stay here has been on behalf of my fans".

"Hype Nation 3D" follows the story of American and South Korean b-boy teams competing in a dance competition. Park will play the leader of his real-life b-boy crew Art of Movement.

"I'm practicing my script in Korean and English, but the Korean dialogue is easier to memorize", Park admitted. "This morning I practiced dancing with Jang Kyung-ho (leader of the b-boy team Gambler) for four hours while doing a script read through ... Since I'm a b-boy anyway it isn't that hard, but since this is my first time acting it's taking a lot of hard work".

Last month Park, along with hip-hop group B2K, the local all-girl RaNia crew and AOM, shot for four straight days to capture one of the movie's most climactic scenes.

Busy as he is, Park recently signed on with the U.S. company Digital Media Wire (DMW) to manage his affairs. He said that he hasn't yet thought about signing with a Korean entertainment agency.

The former idol's singing career has also yet to stall. He recently worked with hip-hop artist B.o.B., lending his smooth vocals to the special edition of the hit single "Nothing On You".

"It was a great opportunity and very much an honor for me", Park said about the collaboration. Additionally, he has already recorded four songs for the film's original soundtrack.

R&B/hip-hop producer Terry Riley has announced that if the song "Demon" is included in the film, it will be released as the first single in both the U.S. and Korea. For the other songs, Jay Park worked with such names as Snoop Dogg, T-Pain and even Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

A public relations official noted that if more songs are released in the U.S., it could pave the way for an official album debut for the Korean singer.

When asked by Yonhap if it was difficult abandoning his fans when he left 2PM, Park simply gave a bashful, nervous laugh, choosing instead to save his words.



재범, "한국 그리웠다 .. 팬들 고맙다"

2PM 전 리드멤버 박재범은 '한국 비하 논란'뒤에도 화제가 되고 있다. 소속사 JYP 엔터테인멘트와 계약을 끊은 뒤 시애틀로 건너간 9개월 만에 재범은 언론과 팬들의 중심이 되고 있다.

재범은 최근 연합뉴스와 강남의 한 녹음실에서 '비하 논란'후로 최초의 인터뷰를 했다.

핼쑥하고 야위어 있었던 그는 "한국에 오니 너무 좋다. 무척 오고 싶었다"고 말했다. 그는 영화 '하이프 네이션 (Hype Nation 3D)'을 촬영하기 위해 지난달 입국했다.

그는 "미국에서는 비보잉을 하며 시간을 보냈어요. 입국 때 공항에 팬들이 많이 나와줘 너무 고마웠죠"라고 공항에서 마중 나온 팬들에게 감사를 전했다. 그는 이에 덧붙여 "미국에 있는 동안 유튜브에 노래와 춤 영상을 올린 것도 팬들을 위한 것이었다"고 말했다.

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