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Former U-KISS Member Alexander Reveals The Hardships He Faced As A Foreign K-Pop Idol

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U-KISS‘s former member Alexander released a video with YouTube channel JAYKEEOUT x VWVB where he detailed his experiences as a trainee and idol. When he debuted in 2008 with “Not Young”, Alexander was one of the only foreign artists in the industry.

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He explained how one of the main difficulties of being a foreign trainee was the language barrier between him and his peers.

When I first came to Korea, I couldn’t speak Korean, so I couldn’t even express myself. So frustrating!

— Alexander

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Cultural differences were another huge barrier he had to overcome.

With cultural differences, for example my company would always say, ‘Do this and that!’ … It’s a very submissive culture here with all the hierarchy and seniority stuff.

— Alexander

submissive culture

Being the strong-minded person that he is, Alexander would always question the authorities on their decisions.

I’m the type who would always ask, ‘Why? Why? Why?’ One day I think my manager got mad at me and he was like, ‘Stop asking questions and just do as you’re told!’

— Alexander

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Sometimes, however, he was simply too overwhelmed by the difference between him and his fellow members.

And then when I was like, learning dancing and choreography, I was horrible. Everyone else was so young. Dongho was only like 14, [but] he memorized the choreography. It was so easy for him. Eli learned taekwondo and learned quickly. Soohyun was a trainee for years at JYP Entertainment. Kevin and Kibum were from some other groups so they already had the basics. So I was the dead weight, the black hole.

— Alexander

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As Alexander barely knew Korean, he could not even properly explain his hardships to his peers.

I always went to the toilet and cried because I didn’t know how to deal with it. And then sometimes people would ask me, ‘Why are you crying? What’s the problem?’ I would be like, ‘I…I am…!’ And I couldn’t even express myself.

— Alexander

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Despite these hardships, he was thankful for Eli and Kevin who were the members he could easily communicate with.

I would always speak with them in English and so the company always said, ‘That’s why your Korean never improves!’ At least I could communicate with them. I felt much better. I relied more on them, that’s why Kevin, Eli, and I talked a lot.

— Alexander

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Alexander also revealed the real reason he left U-KISS in the full interview below.

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