Fans wait 15 hours to see K-pop boy band Got7

Would you go to extremes to express your admiration for your K-pop idols?

For some, it was a big fat yes.

Among the more than 3,000 fans who thronged the basement of City Square Mall yesterday evening were girls who had sacrificed their beauty sleep the night before so that they could be first in line to catch a glimpse of seven-piece multinational boy band Got7.

Secondary 3 students Lin Yeo, 16, and Candrea Chan, 15, told The New Paper that they and their friends were the first to arrive at the shopping mall at 4.30am to "chope" a good spot.

The press conference started at about 7.15pm.

"It's Got7! You can never find a boy band like them in Singapore," gushed Candrea, who had also gone to Changi Airport the night before in a bid to meet her idols.

"Unfortunately, I didn't get to see them because they arrived through Changi's CIP Terminal (used by private jet passengers).

"I slept only two hours last night. I told my parents I was coming for this and left home quietly around 3am."

'CRAZY'

Lin said her parents are aware of her "crazy" devotion to Got7, but "they have given up nagging me".

She told TNP she "got retained" in school last year and is "repeating Secondary 3".

"My grades have improved this year and I am trying to strike a balance between my studies and love for K-pop," she said, when asked if her parents were worried about her spending too much time chasing her idols.

Got7 was formed in 2014 and comprises South Koreans Youngjae, JB, Junior and Yugyeom, Hong Konger Jackson, American-Taiwanese Mark, and Thai BamBam.

The band members, whose ages range from 18 to 22, were at the mall to hype up their first solo concert in Singapore.

Best known for melodic dance tunes such as Fly, Just Right and If You Do, Got7 will be performing tonight at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.

FULL HOUSE

When TNP arrived at the mall at 4.30pm, the place was already packed with fans.

Deafening screams resonated across the mall when Got7 appeared to meet the media.

It was not just teenage girls who were mesmerised by Got7.

Ms Jo Ng, 27, said she had arrived at the mall on Wednesday evening.

"I was not allowed into the press conference area. So I just loitered in the vicinity. I didn't go home and I didn't sleep at all," said Ms Ng, who works in the hotel and tourism industry.

She has been following Got7 since their debut. She said they "contain a lot of potential".

"They've grown up so much in the past couple of years," said Ms Ng, who is also a huge fan of singer-actor Kim Hyun Joong.

In 2014, Got7 bagged Best New Artist Group at the Seoul Music Awards and the Newcomer Award at the Golden Disk Awards.

FYI

WHAT: Got7 1st Concert Fly In Singapore

WHERE: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hall 601 to 604

WHEN: Today, 8pm

TICKETS: $128 to $288 from APACTix. Go to www.apactix.com

Got7 teases 'surprises'

K-pop boy band Got7 held a brief press conference, which wrapped up in about 30 minutes, at City Square Mall yesterday evening.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING AHEAD OF TONIGHT'S SHOW? IT IS YOUR FIRST SOLO CONCERT IN SINGAPORE.

BamBam: We feel really great and honoured. We can't wait to sing for all our fans in Singapore.

JB: There are definitely surprises in store.

Jackson: But you won't know if you don't come.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO TO RELAX? WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?

JB: I like to ride my bicycle.

Yugyeom: I've been practising for the concert.

Press conference host Ken Low: Wow, you're so hard-working!

Jackson: Yugyeom's been hard at work practising a R&B song.

(Crowd wants Yugyeom to sing a few lines and Yugyeom, flashing a wide grin, grants their wish.)

BAMBAM AND JACKSON, BOTH OF YOU ARE PART OF POPULAR MILITARY-THEMED REALITY TV SHOW REAL MEN. HOW IS THE EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

BamBam: What I really want is for all seven of us to be on Real Men.

Jackson: The most memorable moments of Real Men, for me, would be the times when I'm looking after BamBam.

(Crowd screams.)

This article was first published on June 24, 2016.
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