Korean Pop Star BoA Prepares U.S. Takeover

A couple weeks ago, Rap-Up had the pleasure of traveling to Seoul, South Korea to meet Korean pop star BoA (think Britney Spears of Asia, minus the controversy). At 21, BoA is one of the most popular artists in the Far East, selling millions of records throughout Korea and Japan, racking up numerous awards and accolades, and receiving endorsements from Nike, L’Oréal, and Samsung. Up next, BoA has her sights set on conquering the U.S. market.

BoA’s label S.M. Entertainment Group held a press conference titled “Best of Asia, Bring on America!” at the Imperial Palace Hotel in the heart of Seoul where they introduced members of the media to her U.S. team. Among them are Max Gousse, known for his A&R work with Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child, and choreographer Flii Stylz, who’s worked with artists such as Chris Brown and the Black Eyed Peas. Fans waited in the lobby hoping for a peak at their idol, who had injured her arm the night before.

The multilingual star is preparing for her U.S. launch in early 2009 with her first English-language album. Her first single, “Eat You Up,” was produced by Bloodshy & Avant (Britney Spears’ “Toxic”) and will be available on iTunes on October 14th. A remix with Flo Rida is also in the works.

BoA counts Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake among her favorite U.S. artists. “I learned a lot from his dancing,” she told Rap-Up in reference to Jackson. Her impressive moves can be seen on display in the two music videos for “Eat You Up.” One was helmed by U.S. director Diane Martel (Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera) and the other by Korean director Eun Taek Cha. Watch previews below.

“Eat You Up” (Diane Martel Edit)

“Eat You Up” (Eun Taek Cha Edit)

With her magnetic personality and energetic stage presence, the multifaceted singer hopes to join the ranks of superstars such as Janet Jackson and Beyoncé as a world-renowned entertainer. For more information on BoA, visit her on the web at www.boaamerica.com.