::: UPDATE!!! Repost of questions (usually the same ones) from Xanga, and Emails :::

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** QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PART 1 **

Q:  Are u a K.I.S.S Member?

A:  I was a K.I.S.S
Member... Back in April of 2002, Mini and Keum-Ji (Umji's real name)...
Were released from their contracts.  Our last appearence on
television was on Music Camp at the end of March.   Mini is now currently working -- not in the entertainment field -- Keum-Ji
has enrolled back in school. I have not talked to Keum-Ji since before I moved back to Ohio (2005), I have talked to Mini over the phone a few times.   (To respect my former member's privacy, I will not write why they were released from their contracts. And no, it's really not that big of a deal). =P

Q:   When is your solo album coming out?

A:   It was supposed to be released in 2003, then it kept getting delayed, and delayed and ... delayed. In 2004 I came back to Ohio for one month. After going back to Korea and finding out my album would be delayed again, I vented my frustration to the President of J-Entercom and we mutually agreed to let me come back to Ohio, and release me from my contract.  The reason I kept getting delayed was because J-Entercom Entertainment did not know how to market me so I ended up doing behind the scenes work for other Artists under my former label.

       I am still in Ohio (where I have been since my return from Korea in January of 2005), a few negotiations fell through in 2006 with American based companies. Because of that, I assumed a job here in Ohio and began to be on hiatus. The president of my former label has been calling me since 2006 to come back and do more albums. I also feared that my album would get pushed back for years again like the first time I went back after K.I.S.S. disbanded and my stubborn self couldn't wait anymore. And being back home in Ohio with my family seemed a little more important.

I've been working on doing things here in Ohio such as performing in small intimate venues with just a keyboard and/or guitar, or an instrumental CD with my original tracks.  (Older tracks that can be found on my Myspace music page). As of late, I've finally had the bug in me. I purchased new equipment and I hope to have new music for purchase and download in the near future. Who knows, if my efforts to release my music here in the States as an Independent Artist doesn't work out, or even if it does, I may head to Korea for an album. =) I will only go to Korea again for music if my old company decided to bring K.I.S.S. back (original members of course). However, I do not see that in the cards anytime soon... so here in Ohio I'll stay.

Q:   Are you in Korea?

A:   No. 
I came back in 2005 and had a short meeting in Beverly Hills with Warner Brothers (music division)
then I came here to my home state of Ohio.  =)  I have taken a long hiatus from the music scene. (Look to the answer above for my update. ^_^ ) 

Q:   What religion are you?

A:   This one has been an ever changing one since I've been about 16. My religion is 'no' religion, however I am spiritual and very curious. Religion is a touchy subject, so I'll just leave it at that. 

Q:   I want to become a Singer in Korea, how did you do it?

A:   My strongest advice is to go to www.brosent.com and fill in the application, submit a demo.     

Q:  Why don't you try singing in the USA?

A:  I've had opportunities in the past to do
so... and I had to decline, or whatever.   Revert a few questions up, and you'll see the update!   

Q:  What company are you in, and Who's in it?

A:    I'm not signed with any company.  I've been a free agent since October of 2005.  I used to be under J-Entercom Entertainment.   The singers in the company were Wax, The Jadu, Mina, Kim Gun-Mo, Lee Ssang, Double K and Myself.   MINA left J-Entercom shortly after I left them, in 2005.  She was then signed to EMI RECORDS of Korea.  I wish the best for her, she can reach her full potential with EMI Records.  J-Entercom is no longer a company in itself, it merged with YeDang Entertainment in 2006. 

Q:  Are u fluent in Korean?

A:  I got really good while I was in Korea.  However, since I've been back in the states for almost three years, I forgot some things.  But the everyday Korean talk is still in me.  =)

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** QUESTIONS & ANSWERS PART 2 **

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Q:   How did you learn Korean?

A:  
Referring to the answer in the Q&A Part I... I was fluent in Korean
when I first came to the states, but from then...my mom's been
teaching me English, so I forgot the Korean language.   My mom
would sometimes speak it to me growing up... like not in sentences, but
more like "Do you want KimCheeJjeeGeh?" and stuff like that.  I
didn't get to learn Korean to the fullest until I actually went to Korea for my
ex-group.   When I went back to the states (May '02), I was okay at it... then I made my mom speak to me in English, and not talk
to me unless I spoke Korean to her.  I told her to instantly yell
at me if I said any word in
English.   So, by the time I went back to Korea for the 2nd
time around (Feb. 2003) I was pretty fluent, with minor American
accents here and there.

Q:   How did you get discovered?

A:  
Long story short... at 14 I got scouted by an American company,
my  but my parents didn't let me... at 16 I got into Korean music, decided
to do it in Korea first...but due to complications I had to wait. 
At 17 years old, a mutual friend in Cali gave my demo tape to Sean
(JinuSean).  He called me back immediately (this was when JinuSean
was in LA back in '99...He was talking to me about a female group
they were working on... like TLC - "Swi-T"-.   After about a
month of contact back and forth, I decided to make more options for
myself). Plus Sean told me Y.G. thought I was cool but my image wouldn't work with the girl group they were putting together.  After the offer from Y.G... I joined forces
with  BrothersEntertainment,
(An American based talent agency who introduces Korean-Americans to
companies in Korea) and yes... the picture of "Theresa" was me, and I
was 18 in the pic.   After a while, I moved on with Ark
Entertainment of Los Angeles (same thing as Bros Ent... except a newer
company).  They had several companies in line for me. Up
until this point, I did all this without my Father or
Mother knowing so, but at this time... I was free to do what
I wished since I was 18.  In June (2001) I went to Korea to have a
3 day meeting with YeDang Entertainment.  They wanted to sign me
as a solo act... but I didn't like the 5 year contract deal.  I
came back to Ohio, to get set to meet up with J-Entercom...and 
their contract sounded great, so I signed on the spot...I went to Korea
in July 2001.

Q:   If you weren't a singer, what would you be?

A:   
Trying to be a singer.  ^_^   Hehe... Actually, I've
been drawing since I was very young as well (Women's hairstyles, makeup
and designing clothes - through sketches - were my other loves besides
music).    If I NEVER liked singing, or had any
motivation to, I'd most likely be a Fashion Designer or Hair Stylist.

Q:  How tall are you?

A:  I'm
5'6 1/2" and some extra change...  which is about 167.6 cm.   I prefer to round up to 5'7".  =)  (Back in K.I.S.S. profile sites, it states that I'm 165 cm - 5'4"... to fit the image of
my former group.  Mini, who was the shortest felt uncomfortable...
so myself and Keum-Ji made our profile sizes smaller)

Q:  Have you gotten any plastic surgery?

A:  
(Laughs)...  ::: Laughs even harder :::   I can't help but laugh at this.   For
me, honestly... If I were to have gotten surgery, I think I'd
look way better than I do now.  Have I entertained the thought or wanted to get
surgery?  HELL YEAH!!!  (People are always knocking on eachothers' looks, so of course I thought about it). I have a HORRIBLE Television face. -- Lots of people look like themselves on TV, or they look better on TV, or they look more bad on TV. I look even more fugly on TV than in real life. I've thought about it a lot, but decided against it in Korea. And I'm happy I went against it.     If I ever do, All of you will
be the first to know.  

      
I have gotten lil larger than freckles, but smaller than a
mole thingies removed off my face with a laser.  ^_^  Back when I was 15-18 years old I used to just cover it up with concealer. Hehe. It was cool that my company got those removed for me. (Don't know if you consider that plastic surgery, but it's a cosmetic procedure never-the-less). I hope they never come back, because that was done back in 2001 O_O  It's now 2008, and still no sign of moles coming back, but there's tiny scars of where they use to be. 

  JiNi