This is the eighth in a series on foreigners working in the Korean entertainment industry. ― Ed.
From the beginning of their Korea experience, Brad Moore, drummer from indie band and “Superstar K” finalists Busker Busker, and Dani Bacon have been in on it together.
“Since we met back home, we were actually together for two years before we came here. I think that really helped us. I can’t imagine coming here alone and struggling with all the things that we went through,” Dani said.
Contrary to common perception, it was Dani that brought the couple to Korea four years ago.
“Well, I started looking for international jobs, but Korea just has so many opportunities for foreigners. When I found the teaching jobs, I applied and I got a response back immediately. So I asked him, ‘Do you want to go to Korea with me?’” she said.
Brad was looking for a job as well, and said, “Why not?” so the couple came to Korea.
Dani said it was great when they were teachers as they could blend into the community.
“People used to ask us, ‘Where are you from? What are you doing here?’ Like, ‘What’s your favorite Korean food?’” Brad said.
“Yea, we used to have conversation. Now it’s like…,” Dani said.
“‘Can I get a picture? Can you sign this?’ I’ll do that. And then they leave,” Brad finished. “So we don’t get to talk to Koreans much anymore.”
He describes their four years in Korea as any foreigner would, full of ups and downs.
“I think with most foreigners it’s a kind of love-hate thing. It’s just like a rollercoaster every day. I mean, you’ll go a whole week and everything’s been perfect. And then one thing will happen, and you’ll just be in Korea depression for a couple days,” he said.
And the couple has certainly had their ups and downs, from being turned down for housing because they were foreigners ― even after Brad’s Busker Busker fame ― to getting married this year.
One obstacle the two say they face a lot is cultural perceptions as a couple and people’s assumptions. Many assume the two met in Korea, or that Brad brought Dani with him.
“What, like I brought her in my carry-on?” he said.
He said he struggles with how people treat Dani in front of him at times.
“So many people come to me, and tell me I’m good-looking. Then they look at her and say, ‘You’re lucky to have him.’ And it’s astounding,” he said. “I mean, it kind of stinks. It’s rude. They think it’s a compliment.”
“And you’re not even that good-looking. That’s what I tell them. They bring him up a notch, and I take him right back down. That’s how I work it,” Dani responded with a laugh.
And oftentimes, people assume they play the usual gender roles, when actually, it’s the opposite.
Dani said that all questions are usually directed at Brad, when she makes most of the decisions. And people assume she plays the role of a housewife, cooking for Brad and staying home, when in reality, Brad enjoys cooking way more than she does and she continues to work ― at the moment in entertainment and as a figure skating coach.
“People assume that, because everybody knows that he was a teacher at Sangmyung University, they just assume that I was sitting in the house. And when they find out that I was a professor too, they’re shocked,” she said.
She added that they complement each other. She’s better at some things than Brad and vice versa.
“It’s really not like we have the same skills and he’s better at them. That’s what a lot of people think. You know what I mean? That I’m just helping him. But, it’s not. I do things that he can’t do, and vice versa,” she said.
Since Busker Busker’s contract with its entertainment agency ended in June, the two are working on their entertainment career together with individual representation. Now it’s no longer Busker Busker plus Dani, it’s Brad and Dani as individual artists.
Brad pointed out that one of his latest endeavors was not an advertisement for Dunkin Donuts, even though many people ― including the couple’s friends ― have mistaken him for the “Dunkin’ Donuts guy.”
“At least I should be getting paid from Dunkin’ Donuts for something. They think they scored Busker Busker. I didn’t get any money,” he joked.
However, the two do hope to do some modeling, advertisements and TV shows in the near future. They are both currently preparing for a full throttle entertainment career.
Dani said it was lucky that it came out into the open that they were together from early on in Brad’s career. Brad added he didn’t even know it was supposed to be a secret.
At the time, Busker Busker was on TV when the announcer said that he had heard Brad had a girlfriend. Brad innocently confirmed his non-single status by pointing to Dani in the audience.
“I go, ‘Yea, she’s right there.’ All the cameras, ‘do do do do do,’ and the next day on Naver. Brad’s girlfriend, Brad’s girlfriend. And everybody’s like, ‘What were you thinking?’” he said.
Both admit they didn’t know it was such a big deal. But Brad added that the fans didn’t bother them, and actually seem to like that they are a couple. Even before the two married this August, they went everywhere together and he said whenever he receives and invitation somewhere, it’s always followed by, “Bring your wife.”
They currently spend their days studying Korean and working out, though both admit they would rather give up exercise over Korean lessons. Brad said they study three times a week for two hours and enjoy it, but any time a schedule conflict arises, their company tells them to cut out study rather than exercise. Dani jokingly said it’s because they think they’re fat.
“Yea, they tell me, ‘Oh yea, you have a belly. You can’t be a celebrity in Korea.’ I’m like, I play the drums!” Brad said.
So, the two joke that they have the goal of being the first fat, sexy celebrities in Korea.
“Yeah, they’re going to love fat people all of a sudden,” Dani said.
“We’re going to change the culture,” Brad added.
By Emma Kalka (
ekalka@heraldcorp.com)
