[News]JaeBum on going back to Korea, “Yes, but I’m not sure”


A Korean news site ISPlus ran an article recently on a family friend of 2PM JaeBum.

This family friend, Mr Kim recently met with JaeBum’s family for a family dinner and comforted JaeBum. He asked JaeBum if he wants to go back to Korea and JaeBum’s answer was, “Yes, but I’m not sure”

I am a parent of someone that is close to Jaebum’s age. Watching what has been happening these past few days, I have built up some confidence to say a few words.

I have been business partners with Jaebum’s dad in Seattle and am a Korean-America who has been living here for 30 years. I have known Jaybum since he was a little kid and have watched him grow throughout the years. Also my kids have been going to school with him since pre-school and so they are quite close. Thus, I think I know a lot about Jaebum’s family.

Jaebum’s house in Seattle is near a beach called Edmonds and is in a prospective middle-class neighborhood. This house has been built for 40 years, but Jaebum has lived here ever since he was born for over 20 years.

In the parking lot aren’t BMW’s and Lexus’s, but rather there are cars that are about 5-10 years old. Just recently they just leased a car from Hyundai Dealershop for an Elantra, but after Jaebum’s situation, they had to return it.

In their house is a 37 inch Sony TV that has been there for 10 years. All the computers in their house are very old and about to break, and the best computer they have is a notebook that a fan had bought for Jaebum.

The reason i am telling you all this is because I wanted to show you how Jaebum’s family life style is not fake nor ostentatious, but rather humble and normal for a middle-class family.

After Jaebum came back from Korea, about 2 days later Jaebum’s dad told Jaebum that he should study music and went out and sweating from the weight of the it, bought and brought into the house a 15 year old electric Yamaha piano that was $300 just for Jaebum.

Without any complaint, Jaebum took and practiced with that piano,a nd thinking of how I bought my son a Roland piano for $5000 made me so embarrassed.

On Friday night Jaebum’s dad and I got together to drink some beer and talk until 3AM, and all of a sudden tears dropped from his eyes and he began to share. He felt so bad for Jaebum.

For the past 5 years, no one knows how much Jaebum suffered from frustration and hard work, and so many times when he so much wanted to go back to Seattle, he always fixed his mindset and practiced for long hours, but now right as he gained so much popularity, he escaped to Seattle in just 4 days, and that really breaks my heart.

Coming home from Korea, for those long hours on the plane, how much did he have to suffer and think in his mind?

In the beginning of August, I remember when Jaebum came to Seattle for a quick visit. Because Jaebum’s immature younger brother was not listening to him, I remember what Jaebum said to him.

“I want to go out and meet my friends like you and go out and have fun like you but do you know why I am going through all of this and working hard? It’s because of you and our parents! Why can’t you be more thoughtful of what you do!”

In the car I asked my daughter who is the same age as Jaebum “Yuri! What does ‘Korea is gay’ mean?” “It means that Korea is stupid or annoying, we say it when we’re tired or annoyed”.

Even when my daughter and I fought when she went through her teenage years, she used the word ‘hate’ a lot. “Dad i hate you!” Just because she said that would i have to kick her out of the house?

During that time, I believe that Jaebum did not understand the Korean culture, and had a hard time adjusting, while the people who translated what Jaebum said on his Myspace translated in a very wrong way because they don’t know that that is just how teenagers speak in America.

I don’t understand how what he wrote as a teenager has anything to do with betraying Korea in any way.

How can someone who really hated Korea work so hard for their family so they can live better lives?

Us Korean-American’s do not see America as a place just for money. We think of America as a new start where we have more opportunities, while our hearts are still with Korea and we want Korea to thrive.

During the 2002 World Cup instead of watching it at home my friends and I went to a sports bar and watched it in order to spread interest in Korea and soccer. When Korea put in a goal we all screamed for joy and the American people who had no interest in Korean soccer seemed interested.

Even during the WBC, instead of watching the Major League we urged the Americans to watch Korea’s games and those people who have Nokia phones and not LG or Samsung, we went and talked to them on why they wouldn’t use a good Korean phone.

Don’t these little things show how much pride we have for Korea? Even more than the pride of those overseas, we feel like we have a lot of pride in our country. Because of what a teenager wrote 4 years ago, i don’t think that it was right to accuse and point fingers at Jaebum when he didn’t mean anything like that, and cause him to be kicked out of Korea. That is not called having pride in our country.

Everyone, I urge you all to take a step back and think of what has happened in the past week, and also i urge you to have a big heart and embrace our young Korean-American who is trying so hard to live out his life and give him another chance.

I am not asking for you to put out a red carpet for him, but all I ask is for you to help Jaebum not feel embarrassed or guilty anymore, and instead help him think more comfortably and have a warm heart for him.

During these past few days when the netizens said biting remarks about Jaebum, I want to say thank you to Boom for standing up for him and being brave. Boom still calls Jaebum everyday to check up on how he is doing.

Right now, Jaebum’s parents are in panic mode, and do not pick up the phone if it not someone they know.

Jaebum visited his old breakdancing studio when a black kid recognized him and put a camera up to his face and so he had to hurry up and just go home.

He hasn’t even been able to go to the church he went to all his life because he’s still embarrassed and guilty and disappointed in himself, so he hasn’t been going out anywhere and just been staying home.
Seeing all of this, i feel so bad for him and am heart broken.

Last saturday, my family and Jaebum’s family went to a friend’s Chinese restaurant in order to brighten everyone’s mood. Although he wasn’t jumping for joy, being his first dinner outside since he came to Seattle, we had a good time and Jaebum’s mood got a little better and more comfortable.

I asked him “Jaebum, do you wanna go back to Korea?”

“yes..but i’m not sure.”

original source : isplus
translation : JIHYE@2oneday

Credits:Kbites

25 Responses so far.

  1. Anonymous says:

    Jaebeom come back :)
    There's hope/

  2. Anonymous says:

    comeback
    everything will be fine
    just because of those stupid netizens
    u dont deserve to suffer this
    ur fault in the past now u already pay it all
    it's not such a big deal
    u need to be strong
    dont be afraid of anything
    coz behind u there is strongest support from ur fans

  3. Anonymous says:

    Jaebeom be strong! Please don't beat yourself up so hard over this anymore!

  4. Anonymous says:

    come back jay...you may not be given a red carpet welcome but surely with open arms (from fans, hottests, friends who remain on your side despite everything and even from those people who once hate you...now they have nothing but forgiveness and regrets )...you have been showered with lots of love lately...don't waste it...give it back instead...what's important is not the jay 4 years ago but the jay today...come back to Korea and prove your detractors' wrong...live well and be healthy...cheer up jay !

  5. Anonymous says:

    we love you jaebeom:)))))))))
    don listen to stupid fuck up idiot useless netizens
    they does not know how much a artists had to go through they are ppl tat only know how to gossips
    stay strong!!!!!!
    jiayoous jiayoous fighting
    love you:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

  6. Youri Kim says:

    Jay come back!
    we love you and we miss you so much!
    2pm is nothing without you.
    You're the only leader and you're an
    amazing leader! Don't feel guilty or
    embarrassed anymore.
    You have so many fans that
    support you! come back Jay!
    we miss you!

  7. Youri Kim says:

    Support Jay! sign the petition!
    http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/2PMJayPark/

  8. koolau says:

    Maybe the Hottests and kpop fans in general may welcome him, but what is his relationship with JYPE? Did they force him out? Was it Jay's decision without pressure from JYPE?

    The whole thing is hinged on the actions that JYPE and Jay make for the future.

  9. Anonymous says:

    koolau remember.....if there's a will there's always a way...a way to patch up everything and start anew...just be positive...it helps

  10. Yumi says:

    i hope he'll come back.

  11. Anonymous says:

    jay, pls comeback...
    we love you....

  12. Anonymous says:

    several positive signs are coming out for jay's return...it makes everyone feels a lot better...

  13. Anonymous says:

    ouch ! another invasion of privacy...unless the guy got an approval to publish this information in public else might be degrading on jay and jay's family...celebrity's lives indeed an aquarium...

  14. Anonymous says:

    Oh my gosh, my poor Jay. I hope everyone that angry at him, would understand him better now. I wish you could come back. Peace

  15. Anonymous says:

    yeah I hope the family friend got permission from Jay's family because this is a lot of personal information so I don't know if Jay approved of this all this information or not

  16. RineeReza says:

    Jay,please come back to korea and be on the stage with 2PM!
    somehow my life is incomplete without you! T_T
    you have a talent that is WAYY to good to be wasted~~
    a lot of people love here and we,hottest will always be by your side
    supporting you no matter what..
    if you're scared to look back,afraid to step forward, then look
    beside you,hottest,your fam and friends will be there to hold your hands..
    loving you till the end!!

  17. Anonymous says:

    Dear Jay Park,

    Think about your parents. (:

    That's all im going to say. The 'JAY PARK' that i knw will never gve up so easily, no matter what happens.

    Stand up and held your head high. Dont dwell on the past too much. Life must go on right? Come back to korea. They dont hate you, cant you see?

    they L-O-V-E you.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Jay, you must suffter a lot, and i am so sorry about that
    Jay, don't blame yourself anymore, cheer up, tomorrow is a brand new day, if you keep blaming yourself, hottest will be really sad, you need to be strong, as a brother, a good son, and our awsome leader, you need to move on, and just let you know, we are looking forward to your come back!
    jay, fighting, and i believe you won't give up everything so easily,
    i have faith in you <3

  19. ive been watchin wild bunnys on utube
    n it breaks my heart to accept the fact that jay,the heart of 2pm is no longer the leader,the member of this grup

    jay,pls comeback~

  20. Anonymous says:

    I have been thinking the same as U about Jae incident. It's just so ugly how close/narrow people hearts and minds are? it's just the culture differences that we have consider before judging a person behaviours. haizzz Jay pls. stay strong time will help ppl. understand.

  21. chicky says:

    please come back jayyyy!!!!
    we all want you to come back.your always the leadja!
    most people dont know where brunei is but hey, there's a lot of people here wants you back to korea and be 2pm's leader!! so please come back!!

    hwaitinng!!

  22. Anonymous says:

    ....don't worry chicky i know where brunei is...and i want to get there soon...lol

  23. Anonymous says:

    jay come back!
    all this things are getting me confused!
    jay says he want to come back..
    but is not sure..
    however jyp said that he decided not to come back...
    so who is saying the truth?

  24. Anonymous says:

    Jaebum come back!!! Those netizens don't know exactly what "gay" means. It's just like how americans and canadaians and every other culture doesn't know the culture for korea it's about the same thing but it's just they're just jumping into negative conclusions and didn't think about what it actually means in our gerneration or this generation. I hope you somewhat readd this part: you shouldn't advoid something you should face it because all your fans are here to support you in korea and even in america/canada so go back to korea, tell them you're sorry for being imature 4 years ago and explain what "gay" actually means. YOu can even have Nickhun and Taecyon to explain the definition to the whole country!!

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