Beginner in Game Development, Which Engine Should I Use? Comparison of Unity vs Unreal vs Godot (Focusing on Free Engines) Choosing a Game Engine: Know This First: 5 Key Q&A Q1. What is a Game Engine? Is it necessary to use one? A. Think of a game engine as a set of development tools that bundles essential functions required for making games, similar to a car engine. It includes features like rendering graphics on-screen ( Rendering ), physics effects for characters colliding with walls or jumping ( Physics Engine ), and playing background music or sound effects ( Audio System ). While it's possible to create a game from scratch without an engine, it requires an immense amount of time and effort, which is why most developers today use game engines, especially beginners! Q2. I want to start game development; are there any good free engines available? A. Yes,...
TWICE — The 'Formula of Brightness' Completed by the Efforts of 9 Members
K-pop Idol Special: TWICE — The 'Formula of Brightness' Completed by 9 Members' Efforts
Get to Know TWICE: 5 Key Q&A
Q1. What kind of group is TWICE?
They are a 9-member girl group that debuted in 2015 under JYP Entertainment. They symbolize positive energy, strong teamwork, and relentless effort, making them one of the representative groups of K-pop.
Q2. How were they formed?
They were selected through Mnet's survival program 'SIXTEEN' aired in 2015. After a fiercely competitive process, the final 9 members were confirmed.
Q3. Are all the members Korean?
No, the 9 members come from Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, forming a multinational team. (Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Dahyun, Chaeyoung / Momo, Sana, Mina / Tzuyu)
Q4. What challenges did they face in the early days?
Unlike their bright image now, during the survival program before their debut, they had to compete under immense anxiety and pressure. Member Momo dramatically rejoined after being eliminated midway.
Q5. Why is TWICE loved worldwide?
It's not just about showing a perfect image; the heartfelt story of multinational members harmonizing and growing together resonates deeply with fans around the world.
The K-pop idol industry is often likened to a 'factory.' Perfectly calculated concepts, precisely synchronized choreography, and mechanical smiles. However, the emotions we feel when we see the group 'TWICE' are a bit different. Behind their brightness lies intense training, but the process of that training itself has become a narrative. Today, let's follow the journey of how 9 members, overcoming different backgrounds and language barriers, completed the bright formula of 'TWICE' through tears and effort.
Background/Issue Presentation
The beginning of TWICE was far from the glamour they have today. JYP's survival program 'SIXTEEN', aired in 2015, was a brutal competition where 16 trainees were divided into 'major' and 'minor' teams to fight for survival.
Member Momo faced elimination but dramatically rejoined in the final episode thanks to producer Park Jin-young's shocking decision, shedding tears. Nayeon persevered, saying, "I’ve prepared for too long to give up now," and leader Jihyo finally achieved her dream of debuting after 10 years as a trainee. The Japanese members, including Sana and Mina, endured harsh training for nearly 16 hours a day while learning Korean. The "grueling training time" and pressure to survive paradoxically became the strongest source of perseverance and teamwork that later defined TWICE.
Principle/Mechanism (How It Works)
The success of TWICE was the result of three unique operational principles.
1. The 'Formula of Brightness': TWICE's performances are always filled with positive energy, but that brightness is the result of intentional training rather than something innate. During their trainee days, the members practiced smiling in front of the mirror every day to avoid showing nervousness in front of the camera. Nayeon's ability to maintain her smile during the tense audition moments of 'SIXTEEN' became TWICE's signature image.
2. Multinational Harmony: Living together with 9 members speaking Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and English was not smooth at first. Members confessed that they initially laughed along without understanding each other's jokes. However, this gap in language and culture became a strong weapon in building a global fandom. During fan signings, Mina greeted fans in Japanese, Tzuyu in Chinese, and Nayeon in English, bridging the distance with fans worldwide.
3. Success Born from Records of Failure: Before their debut, a phrase "Let’s endure just one more time" was posted on the walls of their practice room. The desperation and fear of that time exploded into 'sincerity' and 'passion' on stage. When Sana's "Shasha Shasha" became a nationwide meme during 'Cheer Up' in 2016, the members shed tears of joy, saying, "It feels like the public finally enjoys the reason we smile."
Episode: Fan Kim Min-ji's Experience Watching SIXTEEN
College student Kim Min-ji supported the current TWICE members while watching 'SIXTEEN' in 2015. "I was really shocked when Momo was eliminated. I thought the K-pop industry was truly cruel, realizing that someone so talented could be cut." However, she cannot forget the thrill when producer Park Jin-young dramatically called Momo back in the final episode. "At that moment, I realized that this group is made up of kids who go through trials and rise again, not just skilled individuals. Maybe that’s why TWICE's brightness always touches my heart."
Main Body (Growth and Expansion)
Since their debut, TWICE's music has gradually evolved within the broad framework of 'brightness.' You can glimpse their growth narrative over time.
Period
Representative Songs
Meaning and Changes
2015~2017
Like OOH-AHH, TT, Cheer Up
Focused on a refreshing and cute concept. Established TWICE's "bright formula."
2018~2020
What is Love?, Feel Special
Expanded emotional narratives, starting to convey messages of self-comfort and self-esteem.
2021~Present
Alcohol-Free, Talk That Talk, I GOT YOU
Expanded into mature and independent narratives. Became a symbol of "growing idols together."
Initially, they portrayed the image of excited girls in love, but starting from 'Feel Special,' they began to share autobiographical stories of comforting each other's existence, and recently, with songs like 'I GOT YOU,' they have grown into mature women celebrating friendship and independence.
Episode: Fan Yui's Empathy
Yui, who lives in Tokyo, became a K-pop fan while watching the Japanese members of TWICE. "Seeing Momo, Sana, and Mina working hard with their awkward Korean gave me a lot of courage. Especially the part in 'Feel Special' where it says, 'When the world tries to bring me down, you held my hand,' feels like something the members say to each other, and it always makes me emotional." To her, TWICE is not just an idol group but a symbol of 'sisterhood' that grows together across borders.
In-Depth Exploration 1: The Paradox of Survival, What Did SIXTEEN Leave TWICE?
2015's 'SIXTEEN' is one of the most influential programs in K-pop survival history. It was not just a simple audition to select the next girl group members of JYP. Dividing trainees into 'major' and 'minor' groups and conducting brutally harsh evaluations each episode created immense immersion and stress for viewers.
The greatest paradox of this survival show is that it made viewers enthusiastic not about the members' 'perfection' but about their 'deficiencies' and 'growth.' Jihyo, who suffered for 10 years as a trainee without improvement in dancing and singing, Momo, who had to shed tears after being eliminated midway, and Nayeon, who always seemed bright but struggled with pressure behind the camera, showed that they were not just products but 'humans' with emotions. Fans empathized with their pain and supported them through their trials, forming a strong bond. Ultimately, the scars and tears left by 'SIXTEEN' became a powerful narrative that gave the group TWICE a special story of "We have endured together."
In-Depth Exploration 2: The Harmony of 9, The Success Formula of a Multinational Group
TWICE is one of the most successful multinational groups in K-pop history, with 4 of its 9 members (Momo, Sana, Mina, Tzuyu) being foreign. How did JYP manage to bring together these members from different backgrounds into 'One Team'?
The first factor is 'Language and Cultural Assimilation.' Japanese and Taiwanese members received intensive Korean language training before debut, and Korean members actively helped them adapt. Through this process, they naturally came to understand each other's cultures. The second factor is JYP's unique 'Character and Teamwork Training.' Producer Park Jin-young emphasized values such as 'truth, sincerity, and humility' over skill during 'SIXTEEN,' instilling a culture that prioritizes team harmony over individual success.
The third factor is 'Conflict Resolution System.' In the early days of their activities, members reportedly held 'group meetings every night' to resolve minor conflicts arising from living together, rather than letting them accumulate. These efforts allowed the 9 members to form a bond that felt like a 'real family,' overcoming language and nationality barriers, which became the source of their perfect harmony on stage and the positive energy conveyed to fans.
Misunderstandings and Truth (FAQ)
Q. Was TWICE planned as a team for foreign fans?
While it turned out that way, it wasn't the initial intention. The multinational makeup certainly helped with global expansion, but before that, the members' genuine efforts to participate in songwriting and stage direction made it possible for them to grow as authentic artists.
Q. After 10 years since their debut, are they losing competitiveness?
Not at all. TWICE is showing an unprecedented 'longevity' in K-pop girl group history. Even after more than 9 years since their debut, they consistently maintain a strong presence in Billboard's main album charts and Japan's Oricon charts. This is evidence that fans continue to resonate with their growth narrative from 'brightness' to 'maturity.'
Q. What kind of person is leader Jihyo?
She can be seen as the 'spiritual pillar' of TWICE. Jihyo spent an incredible 10 years as a trainee before debuting. During 'SIXTEEN,' she already played the role of a leader, keeping the other members grounded, and she is known for being the most steadfast support whenever the team wavered after their debut.
Author Information: The content of this article has been compiled from official materials from JYP Entertainment, the broadcast and behind-the-scenes documentaries of Mnet's 'SIXTEEN', in-depth interviews from global media such as Time Magazine, and cross-referenced chart data from authoritative sources like Billboard and Oricon, objectively summarizing TWICE's growth narrative and success factors.
Comments
Post a Comment