Swept Away: Heyoon's perfect day in Los Angeles
If there's one thing an FMC knows how to do, it's chase a dream. While books and films may make it look easy, it takes ambition, drive and a whole lot of sacrifice to create the life for which you've always yearned. From an outside perspective, it may seem as if luck was all it took for International singer/songwriter Heyoon to find her way into the spotlight, but that could not be further from the truth. Raised by parents she describes as resilient and strong, Heyoon has always harbored a creative personality. The Korean's first foray into the arts was through dance, and she began her professional career as a choreographer. A broke high school graduate, her bravery and grit allowed her to move from her hometown, Daejeon, to Seoul, where she continued to hone her skill by cleaning dance studios in exchange for free classes. Eventually, her talent was recognized, and she was asked to teach instead. Her newfound confidence led her to an audition and resulting commercial success as part of Simon Fuller's global pop group, Now United. The South Korean has recently chosen to leave behind her country and close-knit family and relocate permanently to Los Angeles. While still relatively new to the bustling city, Heyoon has already found a way to make LA her home away from home. In the first of the FMC's new Swept Away series, the singer treats Sydney to a day in the City Of Angels, showcasing her favorite spots. Three places celebrate her heritage and heal her heart whenever she finds herself feeling homesick.
Lunch - Jaws Topokki - 3807 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020, USA
When I walk through the doors of Jaws Topokki in Koreatown, it is immediately clear I am out of my depth. On the fast-food restaurant's wall are high-quality photos of their various dishes, artfully embellished with descriptions of the offerings in the menu's native tongue. Luckily, I have not come on my own.
From where she has been seated at a table by the window, Heyoon cheerily hops up to greet me with a hug. I am immediately put at ease by her warm smile and welcoming demeanor. Any nervous energy turns to excitement as I prepare to play tourist in my city and enjoy the itinerary she has handcrafted for the handful of hours we will spend together.
Our first item of business is lunch. With a love that borders on reverence, the dancer and musician explains why she chose to take me here. Jaws Topokki is a brand that not only specializes in the Korean soul foods Topokki ("fish or rice cakes served with a variety of toppings and smothered in a spicy red sauce," Heyoon tells me) and Gimbap ("basically, sushi," she finishes) but is based in Korea as well. Heyoon hints that the portions are large, so we split a Mild Jaws Topokki Soup and her favorite Gimbap roll. On her recommendation, I also order Sikhye Slush, intrigued by her description of the rice beverage.
While we wait for a meal, Heyoon opens up about how finding Koreatown really helped to ease her homesickness.
"Authentic Korean food is one of the things I missed most when I lived downtown during the pandemic. I don't know if you know this, but Koreans are big foodies," she supplies with a giggle, "When I could finally move, I knew I wanted to be close to the markets here because while I love eating out at places like this, I also love cooking."
As if summoned by our conversation topic, the food arrives. It's presented to us with an ornateness I was not expecting but find fitting for the large dish. We spoon some of the contents into our respective bowls and make small talk as we eat the majority of our meals. As I return Heyoon's phone after demanding to see photos of her puppy Tubu that she offhandedly mentioned, I ask if there are any other cuisines of which she is fond.
"When I was with Now United, we traveled almost non-stop. The message and purpose of the group was to show how music is a universal language, so as we visited all these places, we would do the typical press tours, but we would also do smaller local tours that allowed us to really experience the countries we were in. We would set off with the objective of visiting not-so-touristy spots, trying authentic foods, and immersing ourselves in a given location's culture. One of my favorite places was India. It's a beautiful country, and spending time there was humbling in the best way. I can't recommend it enough. Traveling as much as we did and seeing so much of the world taught me to be grateful for the little things in my life, the simple blessings of food and a bed. That time with Now United changed me, and I am so thankful for it."
We had barely begun our day, and Heyoon was already wonderfully trusting of me and honest with her answers. She chose to turn what I had meant to be a surface-level question into something more.
"How do you think your experience in the group shaped you into who you are now?" I press gently.
The singer takes her time answering, mulling over my query as she eats.
"It taught me the value of communication. When we were first put together, we had translators because everyone was from different countries. It was hard for us all to communicate with and understand each other. I realized that everyone had a different viewpoint regarding any given situation, and the only way to solve any conflict was to truly listen and strive to understand them. You never know what another person is going through or where they've come from. No one wants or is trying to be a bad person. Being in Now United gave me the experience and skills to be a more effective communicator and the ability to set aside any preconceptions about another person that I might have and accept them for who they are."
Heyoon's takeaway is an extremely valuable lesson she is fortunate to have learned by twenty-six. I turn our attention to the future of the constantly rotating pop artists, wondering if she has any advice for future members.
"Be open to anything," she laughs. Then adds on a more serious note, "but know exactly who you are because it's easy to get lost not just within the group, but to the experiences you will have. It's a blessing to get to live this life. However, it's a job where you constantly give yourself to others. They will have opinions. You need to stay true to what is best for you."
As she finishes, Jaws Topokki's attendee helpfully drops a to-go box at our table, noticing the wealth of food we had forgotten. My guide thanks him in her native tongue, making him grin appreciatively. We take the cue to continue with our day, gathering our belongings. As I've offered to be the day's chauffeur, I hand my phone to Heyoon, prompting her to input our next destination and begin her role as the trip's DJ. She educates me on one of her recent favorite artists, Amaarae, and some long-time staples, including Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, and SZA.
Activity - The Last Bookstore - 453 S Spring St Ground Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013
We wind through downtown, eventually arriving a The Last Bookstore, a multi-story building housing an eclectic collection of new and used books, vinyl, local vendors and an art gallery. As we wander, Heyoon admits she chose it because while she finds the literature halls comforting, it is additionally the location of one of her favorite yarn stores. Uncharacteristically sheepish all of a sudden, the singer tells me she enjoys knitting her own clothes when she has the time—a fact I find unsurprising observing her current trendy urban ensemble. The new knowledge fits her personality just as well. From amidst the shelves, which are easily double our similar five-foot heights, I ask how Heyoon finds LA after her past three years.
"It was quite a culture shock moving here. I am still adjusting, Heyoon states as she reminisces about her time in the entertainment capital. "I like LA," she shares. "It's fun. It's completely different from where I come from. The culture, food, language, and almost everything you can think of differ from what I knew growing up in Korea. But, I like that that is a shared experience for most people who come to this city. Los Angeles is full of people who are chasing their dreams. I find that comforting as I strive to achieve my dreams alongside them."
The sentimentality in her statement makes me question if LA is where she hopes to settle down.
Heyoon blushes, "I'm not sure. I need to give it a little more time before answering that question. There are amazing parts of LA that I'm obsessed with, but other things make me miss home. I will say that this will be where I stay for the next five to ten years until I am able to do everything that I want to do with my career."
Earlier this year, Heyoon ensured she could check off an item from that unspecified list. After five years of making music, she parted ways with Now United, pushing herself to continue her journey as a solo artist. While she hasn't released anything yet, I probed into the experience itself, asking if she's been able to note any differences between her past as an ensemble member and now.
"I have way more creative freedom now,” she beams, "we were all able to have a voice in Now United and work collaboratively, but now it's all about who I am and my experience." After a beat, the singer clarifies, "It is scary. I would be lying if I said everything was great now. In Now United, I always had other people I could lean on experiencing the same thing I was. I don't have that anymore."
"Are there any artists you try to find that solace in?" I wonder if her answer will differ from those we listened to in the car.
"Oh, that's hard," she muses, "I love Lady Gaga. I take a lot of inspiration from her and how intentional she is with everything she does. She is also really good at turning her experience and pain into something positive for the world. I connect with her 'I'm a vessel' mindset. I grew up listening to soul, R&B, and Jazz. My mom would always play Jazz in the mornings, which is a rare genre to like in Korea, so I still find it comforting. I love the artists I played in the car. Then, of course, there are K-Pop artists of which I am super proud.
When Heyoon doesn't elaborate, I ask how she feels about the genre's increase in popularity. Immediately, the light in her eyes burns brighter.
"It makes me so happy. I am so thankful to see so much love for the music I grew up on worldwide. Korea is not diverse, but because of music, so many people are moving there and want to experience the culture. I never expected that. As recently as five years ago, Uber drivers here would ask where I was from and not know Korea was a country. Now, I say Korea, and they contextualize it through BLACKPINK or BTS. It makes me so proud. The music industry in Korea is so different from LA. Both sides are needed. It's my goal to be that bridge as an artist. Because of my unique perspective of growing up in Korea but starting my career as an artist here, I am in the perfect place to do that. As happy as I am that everyone loves K-Pop, I don't want it to be a trend. I want to blend Pop and K-Pop so that people see it's all just music."
Drinks - Tiger Sugar - 3465 W 6th St #120, Los Angeles, CA 90020
It's a valiant goal; one Heyoon expands on as we move to the day's final destination. The singer explains that her wish to be the bridge between the two cultures extends into other areas of entertainment.
"Expression in Korea is still very conservative," she clarifies, "especially for women. There are still strict rules and boundaries when it comes to fashion. To me, clothes are simply an extension of who you are. If you are forced to wear something that makes you uncomfortable, it's not right for you, but that does not mean someone else will not feel strong and confident in the same outfit. There can be power in fashion. I want women in Korea to have the opportunity to take hold of that the way they can in America."
Within a few minutes, we arrive in Little Tokyo, a neighborhood in Downtown LA centered around a small outdoor shopping center lined with paper lanterns. Heyoon shepherds me into Tiger Sugar, an international and highly beloved boba chain.
"I tell all my friends to visit this area. I love it here. While there isn't a line, the small shop is crowded with people trying, like us, to beat the heat. We get our order to go, finding shelter in the shade of The Wishing Tree.
Our Boba quickly dwindles as we enjoy the area's quaint atmosphere. Watching a small child twirl across the pavement, I ask Heyoon about her first love, dance.
"I've always had so much passion for it," She grins, "I think it's beautiful how humans can use their bodies to express their emotions instead of words. When I choreograph, I use both freestyle and purpose. I want to let my body flow, but if a lyric or particular beat speaks to me, I want to emphasize that with movement when it's relevant."
I use the topic to segue into her past in Seoul, once again curious if her experience has left her with any advice for others hoping to replicate her journey.
"You have to trust your gut. Sometimes your gut pulls you to uncomfortable places or wants you to do something crazy like move to America, but it's for a reason. Starting over is not the most challenging part. Letting go of what you had is what will hold you back, but if you believe in yourself, it will be worth it."
With my own quickly approaching move on the horizon, I let the words sink in. "If you had stayed in Korea, what do you think your life would have been like?"
Heyoon once again contemplates my question, finishing her drink. "It would be completely different, but I would have found a way to reach this point creatively. I am very purposeful, so even if I were in a different environment, I would have found something that fulfills my drive. I genuinely believe I am here to serve others with my story and voice, so I would still do that somehow."
