SBS PopAsia live with Kevin Kim

This week on the Fan Forum Kevin Kim, Beatrice and Jacques talk about K-pop artists making Christmas albums, the best songs to listen to on your holidays, what K-Pop Idols do when they go away and an EXO controversy...

This week, Joey and Aki talk about what they're looking forward to seeing in 2018, the fact Joey needs to play Kingdom Hearts, Citrus anime adaptation and how much you should spend on merchandise. ()

This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum talk about MAMA; who they think will win (and who should!) It's all done and dusted now but see how well they did with their predictions. Also, they chat about the controversial wins, and some award categories they're super confused about. Can you help them out?

Simon and Martina tell you about the best Ramen in Tokyo that (for once) doesn't make Martina sick! ()

This week Kevin Kim and the Fan Forum go deep into the history of K-pop, wayyyyy back to 1992. Hear about first and second gen Idols. It's an interesting blast from the past!

This week Kevin Kim tells us what it's like being an Idol backstage at an awards show. You wake up at 3 a.m and go to the venue. You wait for your turn to rehearse; there's usually a lot of groups (nearly 20!) waiting for their turn to rehearse. First they do a 'dry rehearsal' just to test mics and audio, then a dress rehearsal with the camera and finally a full run-through. In the waiting rooms there are so many groups waiting that you don't always get your own room. They put the names of the groups, in each room, on the door and sometimes they'll section the room off so each group has their own little area to rest and prepare for the performance. Sometimes there's no sections and just a bunch of chair in the room. If they're close to the other groups they'll hang out with them, chat, and eat together. Sounds fun!

This week the fan forum and Kevin Kim talk about the most underrated K-pop groups. After talking about who they think will win in the SBS PopAsia Awards this year, they delve into the groups that don't get the recognition they deserve. There's a long list...CLC, Stellar, Nine Muses, 100 %, Ladies' Code, F.Cuz and so the list goes on. Who would you add?

This week Kevin tells you what it's like to debut in a K-pop group. It's an amazing thing because you spend years training, competing against other trainees, and you never know when you'll get kicked out of the company. You sort of do auditions every weekend. Kevin was also the only trainee from overseas so he had to learn the Korean culture too. It's hard (but really rewarding when you debut). What makes a good rookie group? Always be polite to your seniors, greet them whenever you see them. Every group has their own signature greeting.

This week the Fan Forum are talking to Kevin about sub-units. The successful ones like Orange Caramel and GD and TOP, and the less successful ones like Rainbow Pixie. Z:EA had three sub-units and Kevin was in three sub-units. He spills on how companies choose who's in what sub-units and what was different about working with girls.

This week Kevin Kim talks to Sam Hammington about welcoming his second baby into the world. Sam says he couldn't be happier.  His wife went into surgery at about 9:30 Korean time for a C-section. They now have a healthy new member in their family. He's two days old, everyone's happy and healthy. The couple are looking forward to the future with William and his new sibling. Happy times.

This week on the Fan Forum we chat about the MAMA's illegal voting controversy. Millions of votes have been removed, it's affected the top results and fans are not reacting well. Mnet hasn't clarified what an 'illegal vote' means yet. There is still plenty of time to get proper votes in though, so you can keep voting for you favourite artists! The fan forum are hoping for a Western and K-pop collab at the MAMAs....who would you want to see on stage together?

Lots of stuff happened this week! Kevin visited Korea over the weekend for a big event, where he rubbed shoulders with some celebrities, including his ZE:A members! Who else did Kevin catch up with during his visit in Korea? It was also Halloween this week, and K-Andy decided to go for a spot of trick or treating! With Kevin dressed as a tiger and Andy as a bat(?), they got up to some no good this week! And last but certainly not least, Kevin has a chat and catch-up with his fellow ZE:A member, Taeheon! 

This week Kevin Kim talks about being in advertisements (CFs). The Fan Forum talk about how funny some idols, like Hyeri, are in CFs. They also say how if you're in a chicken or mobile phone CF then you know you've made it. Kevin's been in heaps of CFs, once he went to Thailand to do a jelly commercial. Beatrice loves the CF that ZE:A did for chocolate bars. Kevin says filming a CF is really different to an MV because all the members have different characters and you have to do different things. You get heaps of free food; so much that after you film the CF you don't want to eat the food for a while. You get quite a bit of money from them too. Kevin and the Fan Forum discuss their fave CFs...what's yours?

This week Sam Hammington chats to K-Andy about how he ended up in Korea, his fave TV experience and what he still finds challenging about living there. Sam says he 'fell' into what he does now. He started off being a reporter in Korea, then did a skit show (in front of an audience of 1500 people), then he hosted a radio show in English, did a show called Real Men and now he has a show (with his son) called The Return of Superman. His journey is an interesting one, that starts with him bombing out at school.

This week Kevin Kim talks about what it's like going to the MAMAs! He went in 2009 and the funniest thing to happen was all nine members from his group, and a manager, were squished in to a small van getting to the red carpet. When they arrived the reporter announcing them thought it was hilarious, how many boys fitted in the vehicle. Prepping for the MAMAs takes a while because usually the managers want something news so they prep remixes or collabs. There's lots of funny stories from behind the scenes too, and Kevin explains what it's like being in front of so many cameras.