Kpopmap Fan Interview: A Filipino AROHA Talks About Her Favorite Group ASTRO & Her Bias MoonBin

Are you also curious about fellow K-Pop fans?! Let’s hear their stories and interests in Kpopmap Fan Interview Project.

There are K-Pop fans across the globe who share the same passion. But on online platforms, it is hard to know about each other’ stories and K-Pop life. Even if we are in the same fandom, it is hard to get to know each other.

So at Kpopmap, we started the Kpopmap Fan Interview Project to get to know more about K-Pop fans from different countries: more about their K-Pop life and tastes and to give them the opportunity to share with our readers about their favorite group(s) and bias.

 

Dumpi is the next fan to answer our questions. She is from the Philippines and is a fan of ASTRO and her bias is MoonBin. Check out how she entered the fandom, the songs and content she advises to new fans, and much more!

 

Can you introduce yourself? Where are you from?

안영하세요 I’m Dumpi, I’m from the Philippines.

 

How and when did you enter the fandom?

It was back in 2019 when I watched “My ID is a Gangnam Beauty”. EunWoo really got my attention at that time so I started to find out more about him and eventually, I found out that he was in a group called ASTRO. I search them on YouTube due to my curiosity. I remember that the first video that I watched was ‘All Night’. You wouldn’t believe how many times I rewatched it. Sad to say I wasn’t an active AROHA back then, because I got busy with school but then the pandemic started so I continued being active in 2021 and here I am sharing this with you ^^.

 

What are the reasons why you love your favorite group?

There are many reasons to love them and I have no reason not to love them. I’m in love by the thought of how they always mentioned us (AROHA) in every win that they got, how thankful they are for having us (I hope they know that us, AROHA, are more thankful for stanning them). They remember their fandom not only during the times that they win, but also in their every video (“ASTRO’s DOCCA” and “ASTRO’s Play”).

 

Who caught your attention at first and why?

As I’ve said earlier, it was EunWoo. My neck would break for turning too much my attention in him. Kidding aside, EunWoo’s visual is really unexplainable, I have no words to define it. If you are really that curious, I am telling you to search his name and look for his picture, then judge it.

 

Who is your bias, and why?

At last, I am saying my bias name, it really took me a month to decide ㅜ ㅜ, because OT6 are living to glow their talents and have unique skills in everything, name it. Special note to MJ, who stole my beating heart in their song ‘Knock’, to JinJin who I would like to take home because of his visual in ‘Blue Flame’, to SanHa whom I never expected to grow “that” much in ‘Bad Idea’, to Rocky who stops me from doing my school works so I could hear his rap part in ‘One’, and to EunWoo, shout out to his sexy moves in ‘Crazy, Sexy, Cool’ (Am I promoting their songs? well ^^). As time passed, I found myself giving more attention to MoonBin. His smile melts every bones in my body. If I could say something, I think it’s his dance skill? It’s his dance move that wouldn’t leave your mind and would even enter your dream. Since I’ve mentioned my bias, I think it wouldn’t be a hurt to mention my biaswrecker, Rockyyyy. I have no reason to say why it’s him but ROCKY IS MY BIASWRECKER PERIOD.

 

Can you recommend a title track and a B-side track for new fans?

For the title track, I would like to recommend their recent song ‘After Midnight’. It is a good song for people who want to enjoy their summer time.

 

For B-side, ‘Footprint’, since we’re talking about summer, this song does not only just literally mean footprint from the sand but the lyrics include the ASTRO paths that they’ve held on, and also in this song the rappers (JinJin, Rocky) sang their part which I really love the most.

 

Can you recommend a fancam, V Live, cover video, cover dance, or individual content video of your bias to our readers?

I must say it’s MoonBin fancam from their latest song which is ‘WHO’. I’m telling you not to stare too much if you don’t want to be crazy. Kidding!

 

Can you also do the same type of recommendation for the group?

I would like to recommend the video where they got their first win. Even if at that time, I was not an active AROHA, watching it now, again and again really make me emotional. They said that it took them 4 years to achieve it (not including the years that they are a trainee) and us (AROHA) must have been waiting for so long.  It really pierced my heart knowing how they must have been aiming for it and I promised myself to vote them in every comeback that they release.
 
Ps. Search for SanHa’s Yaja time compilation after crying.

 

Can you share with us one of your favorite lyrics?

“Thank you, my universe (Thank you, my universe)
You have a different meaning to me
Now my side is full of warmth
Never gonna give you up
I remember you” – ‘Dear My Universe’.
Everytime I feel so worthless, I listen to this song, because I know it is for us (AROHA).

 

Are there any words from the members you would like to share?

“I think it’s best to follow your own heart, others can give you advice, but to avoid any regrets, it’s best to do what you want to do.”
— Rocky

 

What is your favorite group/bias’ influence on your daily life?

MoonBin influenced me to start working out. He really loves to exercise, which I find really admirable, and because of his will, he persuaded me. And for the OT6 I realize that I need to study Korean for them, because someday my dream is to meet them and have conversations in their language. No, you’re wrong because I won’t be forgetting to say ‘Mahal kita’ (I love you) in our language ^^.

 

What is your favorite side of fangirling/fanboying?

It will be the part where some of ASTRO’s music are for AROHA, I really appreciate all of them.

 

What type of concept do you prefer: cute, dark, sexy, etc?

Hmm, sexy? ^^

 

What is your best souvenir with your favorite group until now? (ex: at the concert I was touched by the final words of this member who said “ooo”, my bias answered my comment on fan cafe, etc).

They haven’t notice me yet ㅜ ㅜ. Maybe in the future? haha.

 

Can you recommend words that your bias like to hear to new fans who don’t know yet about it?

I think it is where their songs (ASTRO’s Songs) comforted some of their fans (AROHA) feeling.

 

Can you share with readers the first ever picture you’ve saved of your bias on your phone?

 

Can you describe your bias in only one word?

My star^^.

 

Can you recommend a cute or funny video (30s)/gif of your bias to our readers?

I can’t find the video of it but the photo sample was attached below. I hope everyone who will be reading this will cause a laugh.

 

What’s your favourite 2022 moment involving your bias?

Their comeback: MOONBIN&SANHA -‘WHO’.

 

What is a random fact that you think people don’t know about them?

Rocky was second to the youngest member and MJ was the oldest.
Ps. I mentioned this because I notice in one of their video which they talk about how the visual of Rocky was much mature than his age, they also mentioned that sometimes people mistaken that Rocky was the oldest, and MJ was in the youngest part due to his bubblyness and cute attitude.

 

Name a variety show/content show that you would love to see your bias on? Tell us why.

MoonBin wants to guest in “The Law of Jungle” which I support because I think it will help him somehow, may it be in his experince.

 

If you could spend the day with them, what would you want to do together?

Whisper challenge, I know that they are chaotic everytime that they do this challenge which gives me so much laugh.

 

Can you recall a moment where you cried/laughed with your bias?

In their recent concert AAF2022, not only I cried because of my bias but because of them all. That concert was a heartwarming and heart touching event in my 2022 year.

 

Name 1 quality in your bias that you wish you had.

His smileee. Whenever he smiles, his eyes close in a cute way which I really find adorable.

 

Is there some food you saw your bias group eat that made you crave it too?

Ramen, samgyup and chicken ㅜ ㅜ.
All of them really love to eat, I’m glad that their editors won’t cut the part which they eat in waiting in their video on YouTube^^.

 

If your bias were to collab with another idol, who do you think would be best?

BTOB’s SungJae? I’m not sure tho but they both funny in some ways maybe they will get a long.

 

What is the biggest mystery about your favourite idol?

He loves cat (his nickname before is dog-cat and to know why they said it’s because when he do a relax face he look like a cat and when he smile he look like a dog, cute) but sometimes a cat like Roa was distant to him haha. Kidding aside.

 

Do you feel there are any misunderstandings, things that are not well known, or any prejudices about your favorite group from other fans (non-fans)?

Some say that EunWoo was the bad dancer in the group, but you guys are wrong. EunWoo’s dancing skills are improving and he was trying really hard like the other members when it comes in choreo. You and I just have a different standard when it comes to pointing to who is better and to who’s not.

 

You can also add a message/letter to your bias or show it on a message scrapbook.

To MoonBin: Oppa I am seeing all your hardwork. It’s visible. I know that you are not an openbook when it comes to your feelings but AROHA are here for you. Thank you for all the memes, it makes me laugh every time that I feel so sad.

To ASTRO: Oh my god, I have many things to say about you guys but I must thank you all for shining. Now that I’m talking about OT6, I also would like to present my gratitude to their seventh member Manager Noh Tae Yon. I promise not forget all the fanchants you’ve made though sometimes I think you’re not in the right mind while creating them. Kidding! I am here to support every of you, may it be a group or individual activity. You may not know me but I’ve been here since 2019. I know I was not there in the beginning, but I’m ready to stay till the end.

Thank you for answering our questions, Dumpi.

 

If you are interested in joining Kpopmap Fan Interview Project, please get in touch with us at contact@kpopmap.com. Everyone is welcome to participate.