came in like the breeze

BIOGRAPHY

Momo grew up with a clear understanding of what was expected of her and worked hard to make sure she met those expectations. Her parents valued education above all else, going to great lengths to provide her (and her older sister) with the tools needed to achieve academic success. Most of her day revolved around school and studying, with the exception of a two hour period when she attended ballet lessons. What started off as a way to escape her overbearing parents became so much more than that. Through dance she could not only escape the stress and pressure she was constantly put under but she was able (encouraged even) to express herself. In a small act of rebellion, she started branching out into other styles of dancing. Her parents weren't thrilled, but allowed it as long as she continued doing well in school. Little did they know how much it would impact her life.

At thirteen, during one of her dance practices, she was approached by an entertainment representative from Korea. She couldn't help but be wary of what their true intentions were, but the rep was persistent in talking her into becoming a trainee. It took her a couple of months to be fully convinced he wasn't lying and another month to gather the courage to tell her parents about it. To no one's surprise, they were completely against it. They would never allow their daughter to make a fool of herself, prancing around on a stage for the entertainment of others. The offer was firmly refused, but Momo didn't give up. She begged of nearly a year, promising to never neglect her studies and that she would return had she not debuted by the time she graduated high school. It put great strain on their relationship, but they begrudgingly signed the consent form. She trained in Japan for a year before finally heading to Korea.

Transitioning from trainee life in Japan to training in Korea was difficult. For starters, she didn't know the language well. Making friends wasn't easy when she couldn't communicate with others. And though they gave her lessons, she still struggled speaking the language. The long hours of training were harsh and she would often go to sleep well past midnight. Her schedule was intense but she kept the promise she made to her parents. Though her grades dropped at times, she was determined to prove she could handle both school and training. She powered through the homesickness and the crazy weight loss because she knew it would all be worth it once she debuted. Her goal was to debut within her first year of arriving in Korea. She buckled down, learned Korean and made sure she always came out on top during the evaluations. With all the work she put in, her goal didn't seem so farfetched.

Except she didn't debut within the year. In fact, three years into her training she was dropped from the company. Something about her not having that "star" quality they were looking for. And just like that, she saw everything she had worked for being flushed down the toilet. Her parents couldn't have been happier, thinking she would return home and focus on getting into a good college. But she refused to return with her tail between her legs. If she was going to back home she would do it when she had something to show for the years spent in a foreign country. She assured them she wasn't going to go against their wishes any longer. With the aid of cram school and a lot of hard work, Momo passed the college entrance exam the very next year. She knew Yonsei was the only university her parents would approve of, which is the main reason she decided to attend the school. Soon, she will embark on a new journey. One she's not sure where it'll take her. But she's hoping the experience will help her discover what major she wants to pursue.

FACTOIDS

Has been dancing since she was three – she shows the most confidence when she's dancing. She started off in ballet and later learned jazz, modern, hip hop, and tap dance.

Enjoys food a lot, she's not embarrassed to say that it's one of her greatest motivators. Actually, her motto is definitely "If you work hard, you can eat delicious food." Her favorite Korean food is Jokbal.

Her internal alarm clock is set to go off at 7 a.m. If she somehow sleeps past 7 she feels groggy and sluggish for the entire day.

Because she wakes up early, Momo prefers to work out and go on runs in the morning. She works out religiously. Likes to go on hikes, cycling, and enjoys swimming.

Amusement parks aren’t on her lists of places she likes, but will go for the food. She's extremely afraid of rollercoasters.

Was a trainee for three years before she was dropped from the company. This isn't information she would be open to talking about, but wouldn't mind sharing with close friends.