NAME: Sejin Jang

AGE: 25

BORN: Cheongju, South Korea

PRESENT HOME: Brooklyn, N.Y.

INTRODUCTION TO K-POP: Jang, who just received a master's degree from NYU in political science, moved to Japan with her family for seven years at the age of 3. Returning to school in South Korea for the fourth grade, she was forced to figure out the K-pop landscape quickly, in order to not be labeled a social outcast. "Everybody in my class was into K-pop at that time," Jang recalled. "So I felt like I had to like one group. It was a cultural thing to like K-pop. All of my classmates were asking me which group I liked; to I had to choose so I chose. So I chose Shinhwa. It had nothing to do with their talent or what they sing about. It had more to do with the fact they look handsome."

FAVORITE GROUP: 2NE1

FAVORITE TRACK: "I Am The Best"

WHY 2NE1 BEATS THE REST: "I don't really find good bands, talented singers among those young K-pop groups," Jang said.  "With 2NE1 they're far more talented than the rest of the girl or boy groups other K-pop groups...the way they sing and rap and the fashion is interesting. They're always confident. I think that's important."

ARTIST TO WATCH: Lee Hi

PREFERRED TRACK: "Rose"

WHY LEE HI? Although she prefers more experienced K-pop groups like 2NE1 and Big Bang, Jang feels that singer Lee Hi has an impressive voice. "I think she is very, very talented," Jang said. "She is like a diva, a Korean diva. She's not a dancer at all but she can sing. I think she's a great singer."

WHAT SOME AMERICANS DON'T UNDERSTAND: As a South Korean who moved to New York City two years ago, Jang came to America when Psy was busy bringing K-pop into the US mainstream culture at full steam. When asked what aspects of K-pop may be confusing to Americans, she said it was probably the sheer number of band members in many of the acts, a concept also employed in Japan. "In Girls' Generation there's nine people," Jang said. "I think Americans don't get why there's so many people in the group. I think it's an Asian thing to have a bunch of pretty girls or attractive guys in a group. There's a Japanese girl group AKB48 that has 88 girls in the group. I don't think Americans would get that kind of idea."

IS K-POP JUST A FAD IN THE US: "I'm not too sure," Jang admits when asked if K-pop is more than just a blip on the American cultural radar screen. "A lot of K-pop stars are trying very hard to break into the US Billboard chart, but nobody has really done it except for Psy. I think it could be a thing for maybe the next five years, but I think [America's interest in K-pop] will pass. Like a lot of people listened to dubstep and now it's gone. Unless there is another 'Gangnam Style' hit that comes to the US. Otherwise it's just a one-time thing. But [another hit like Psy's crossover smash] is likely to happen. The K-pop thing has just started. And I want to tell people that there are a lot crazier Korean artists there are lot better people out there than Psy. They're crazier too. If they want the craziness of 'Gangnam Style,' we have a lot to provide."

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