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www.groovekorea.com / March 2014 36 MuSIC & ARTS Edited by Elaine Ramirez (elaine@groovekorea.com) S howbiz is one of the toughest jobs out there. The glamorous celebrity life, the thing the public sees, is the product of hundreds of hours of work. Practice, filming, schmooz- ing, cultivating a persona — the list goes on. And if it weren’t tough enough, factor in the challenges of finding a job in a foreign country and communicating in a language you’re unfamiliar with. If you can imagine what it’s like to juggle all of this, often without a social or financial safety net, you can start to understand what it’s like for expats in Korea’s entertainment industry. “There were days when I would just cry or vomit from the stress, and there were days when I wondered why I chose this path,” says Bronwyn Mullen, one of four ex- pat entertainers who offered Groove a glimpse of what it’s like on both sides of the camera. So what is it all for? Beyond the attention that fame brings, there’s a cer- tain validation that comes from celebrity. Artists and per- formers have an almost innate drive toward perfection that keeps them striving for more where others might settle for less. And on some days, it can actually be fun. “You will never really be satisfied,” says rapper and TV host Jake Pains. “So will I ever achieve everything I want to do? Probably not, but I’m gonna have a lot of fun trying, and I’m sure this is just the start.” Whether they’re an actor, musician or TV personali- ty, they all have one thing in common: They have laid down plans for the future, and are working steadily to- ward their goals. Bronwyn, one of the most recognized foreigners among Koreans next to actor-model Daniel Henney and comedian Sam Hammington, has worked tirelessly for nearly a decade to become the mainstay person- ality she now is on Korean morning TV. Jesse Day is breaking the ice as an LG spokesperson, while Jake is working on winning the hearts of hallyu fans around the world. Pinnacle TheHustler, a hip-hop performer and entrepreneur, is springboarding off the career he built in Korea, going global with his music production business. Each one has gone through the highs and lows that come with working in the Korean entertainment ma- chine. But one thing’s certain: They’re all moving for- ward. expat s u