FOUNDER & EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hello and welcome to Cherry Chu Magazine, an online publication for South Korean Entertainment and Lifestyle. I created this magazine in 2021 in my spare time, whilst completing my Master’s Degree in Journalism, as a space to share the latest and greatest information about Korea (without the typical tabloid feel). My love for Korean culture was sparked in 2018 after I saw BTS’s “DNA” music video for the first time. Since then my admiration for the Hallyu Wave has grown and in 2023 this admiration developed further as I lived and worked in Incheon, South Korea. The team here at Cherry Chu Magazine are proud to focus on high-quality features, reviews, and more. So stick around if you love Korean culture as much as we do!

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Hi readers, I'm Gabii. I’m a huge Korean music and pop culture fan and that's often what you'll read from me here at Cherry Chu Magazine. I've been interested in Korean media and culture since 2017 — this makes Cherry Chu Magazine the perfect place to cultivate the skills I gathered during my Journalism, Media and Sociology degree at Cardiff University whilst sharing my passion. Outside of Cherry Chu Magazine you'll find me at the cinema, heading to a concert, or with my nose in a book!

COPY EDITOR

Hiya! I’m Nicole, an Archeology graduate from the University of Cambridge. Lost and afraid after completing my degree in 2022, I decided to take advice from my younger BTS-obsessed sister. I listened to her wisdom, said “hey-go” and hopped on a plane to South Korea. And I haven’t looked back since. Living as an English teacher for the last two years has given me plenty of time to enjoy everything that the country has to offer from K-pop concerts to chimaek festivals. I’ve seen wonderful places like Seoul and Busan, and I’ve even managed to watch Tomorrow X Together perform three times! While teaching English to a bunch of adorable kids, I've also had the chance to discover what fun writing and language can be. So even though I'll soon be heading back to the UK, I look forward to sharing the magic and culture of Korea as part of the team at Cherry Chu Magazine.

COPY EDITOR

Hi, I’m Gia and I’m an aspiring editor/writer!! I’m a recent graduate with a degree in English literature and psychology and a huge music enthusiast. I listen to anything from indie to K-pop (I’m a strict girl group fan) and try to go to as many concerts as possible. Aside from writing/editing, I love reading, playing video games, and doing anything creative. I’m so excited about the opportunity to edit for this magazine and I hope you guys enjoy the content from this amazing team <3

COPY EDITOR

Greetings! I am Danica from the Philippines and I am one of the Copy Editors. I am a 3rd year journalism student at Mindanao State University — Marawi Campus. I can't wait to put my skills to the test in a real world setting!

CREATIVE ASSISTANT & LOGO DESIGNER

Hey readers, I’m Alex. Working for Cherry Chu Magazine has been an amazing way to put my passion for Graphic Design and both of these amazing cultures together. I hope you all enjoy the work this wonderful team has put out for you and that you come back for more!

SEO ASSISTANT

I’m Molly, a freelance journalist living in London. A couple of years ago I began studying Korean. Since then, this beautiful language has introduced me to so many wonderful South Korean people who have proudly shared their culture with me. Whether that be delicious foods, historic artwork, or contemporary entertainment like K-pop and K-dramas. I hope to use my journalistic skills to give more aspects of Korean culture a platform. And this is what I’m really excited to do with Cherry Chu Magazine.

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

Hi everyone, I’m Sophie. I’ve been interested in Korean culture and media since 2015 when I fell down the rabbit hole of K-Pop and K-dramas on YouTube and, honestly, I haven’t really left since. With a study abroad semester in Seoul, South Korea where I took classes on topics including K-Pop, the Hallyu Wave and Korean history. As well as nearly a decade of creating digital content (largely about Korean skincare) for social media under my belt. I’m excited to be working with the team at Cherry Chu Magazine to bring you all the latest happenings within Korean culture and media.

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

Hello, I’m Saffron! I first came across K-pop in the mid 2010s without really understanding what it was. I became obsessed with Girls Generation and would watch their music videos repeatedly. Over the years I slowly liked more and more groups, and in 2022 I finally plunged head first into the deep end with BTS. Since then I've consumed a lot of content, purchased albums, and attended my first K-pop concert. My current top two groups are Ateez and Xdinary Heroes. I’m only a beginner K-drama watcher but have tons on my list. As a movie buff, I’ve seen a good amount of Korean movies here and there and have loved them. There’s tons of amazing media out there, and the culture is fascinating too. I hope to learn the language fully one day, and travel to South Korea. I’m also an avid gamer and horror fan, and I’m excited to produce content for Cherry Chu Magazine!

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

Hey! I’m Hermione, a game developer by day and Cherry Chu digital creator by night ^-^ I’m putting my passion into creating content for our readers and audience, so be sure to check out our Instagram and TikTok feeds! My love for the Korean entertainment industry runs eight years deep, and through content, I promise to share that love with you all. If any of you see me mentioning The Boyz, no you don’t (hit me up).

Hi guys! My name is Aisah. I’m a writer based in Scotland. I’m a K-drama fanatic and an avid reader. I mostly enjoy writing about relatable topics and talking about things people are scared to discuss. Mental health is an extremely important subject for me and I will take every opportunity to write about it. I’m deeply into K-beauty, and love trying new products and developing skincare routines. K-pop has been a more recent development but is still a fascination nonetheless. Ateez and Stray kids have become such a huge part of my life in what feels like almost no time at all. I really enjoy language and culture as a whole and am always exploring new things in my area. I love experimenting with food and cooking. Coming from a South Asian and Caribbean background it can be hard to escape. I’m excited to share my work with you all, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Hi! I’m Amy, a third-year History undergraduate at The University of York. Aside from my degree, I write for a variety of online publications with a focus on music journalism. When I’m not studying or writing, I can be found dancing at K-pop club nights or watching Going Seventeen huddled on my sofa. I’ve been a fan of Korean culture since 2016 and my interest has only continued to grow over the years. Being fascinated by the music industry has opened my eyes to many different cultures and genres and Cherry Chu Magazine acts as the perfect platform to share my opinions on the latest music releases.

Hello! My name is Ana and I’m a Student Journalist at The University of Sheffield. I’ve been interested in the K-pop industry since 2020, when I first discovered BLACKPINK. As I’m a big music nerd, my main point of interest is looking into the workings of the industry, including the music production side. I’m currently trying hard to develop my skills in music production and learning the Korean language. I hope you can share the same love for K-pop as me and will enjoy reading my articles for Cherry Chu Magazine!

I’m a writer with a passion for translating trends, cultural and artistic movements into captivating content. When I'm not crafting articles, you'll find me browsing galleries or hunting for the latest fashion finds.

Hi! I’m Ana and I’m a freelance journalist. I became a fan of K-Pop in 2015 and since then I’ve never looked back! My passion for different languages and cultures means that over the years I’ve expanded into loving music, movies, and TV from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and more. Each country has its own style when it comes to producing media, so I’ve never been bored. I’ve always got a recommendation for people who want to try something new, whether that be a new group to listen to or a series they’ve never seen before. I love sharing my passion for culture and entertainment, so that’s what I hope to achieve at Cherry Chu Magazine!

Hi readers! I’m Elise, currently a senior at Syracuse University. I first got into K-pop through BTS in 2018 and have only gotten deeper into standom ever since. I enjoy Korean shows, films, and food as well, and I’ve become more and more interested in all aspects of Korean culture! I also consume lots of Thai and Japanese media, adding to my list of cultures I look forward to getting familiar with. Other than tuning into the latest K-pop comeback or rewatching my favorite K-drama, I love to crochet and go to concerts with friends. In the future, I hope to add language-learning and traveling more often to my list of hobbies. Writing has been a passion of mine from a young age, so I’m glad to be able to combine it with my appreciation for Korean media. I look forward to exploring the nuances of Korea’s entertainment industry and sharing what I love about it here at Cherry Chu Magazine!

Hi friends! I’m Eliza, a graduate from Savannah College of Art and Design where I achieved a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Writing and minored in language and cultural studies. Outside of school I’m a K-pop lover, drama watcher, and avid concert goer. I got into K-pop in 2021 and haven’t looked back since! Though I’m mostly into boy groups, I‘m trying to expand my girl group music horizons. I find a lot of writing inspiration from music trends, questions I had when first getting into K-pop, and going to concerts with an excited but analytical eye. I‘m thrilled to be writing for Cherry Chu Magazine!

Hello readers, I'm Javeria Yousuf, a freelance writer based in Pakistan. While I've always loved music, it was in 2023 that I slipped into the diamond life and became a CARAT (aka fan of the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN), which served as a gateway for me into the world of K-pop. These days, I religiously follow SEVENTEEN and casually listen to a variety of K-pop groups and soloists and love discussing their music. That's what you'll find me writing about most in Cherry Chu Magazine. I hope you enjoy. Take care, stay safe!

Kamusta! Cherry Chu readers! I’m Jessica from the Philippines. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Since I love the slice-of-life vibe of K-dramas, I use it to educate readers about mental health. One of my happiness in life is to inspire and uplift people, so I hope you can feel them in my writing. Enjoy your stay here, and may you always have unlimited strength in facing life's challenges :)

Hi there. I’m Kathy and I’m based near Manchester, UK. I’ve always been a fan of Korean cinema but I only became fully immersed in all things Korean in 2020. Although a relative newbie, my interest covers the full spectrum from K-Dramas to Korean food to K-beauty. As for my other hobbies, running is something I like to do and I’m always open to suggestions for any tracks to add to my playlist. I like to bring my own personal perspective to the articles that I write and I hope my genuine passion for the subject will keep you entertained.

Hiya! I’m Neranjana, a freelance journalist living in London. I’ve been a fan of K-dramas since watching My Love from the Star in 2013 and have seen too many K-dramas since. I’m a big fan of Korean, Japanese, and Thai media, as well as K-pop and J-pop. This resulted in learning Korean over the years, and I’m currently learning how to read and write Korean. As a journalist I adore writing but what I love the most is writing about K-dramas and K-pop. I’m currently studying MA Broadcast Journalism at City, University of London. Part of my course I produced and made a documentary on the monetization of parasocial relationships of fans in the K-pop industry.

Yo! I’m a freelance writer from Finland with an earnest keenness for Korean culture and film. It took one winter in Seoul for me to fall in love with the place, and as with every great romance, I can’t shut up about it! Therefore I’m delighted to share my words about this love for you all here on Cherry Chu Magazine.

Hi, I’m Thuy! Currently living in Korea, I wanted to share my moments here through Cherry Chu Magazine, from cities to visit, food to eat, places to visit, and what do to!

Hey everyone, I'm Vince! Growing up in a Chinese household in the UK, I've always felt proud to witness the increasing popularity of East-Asian culture in Western society. I studied BA Music Journalism and MA Music Industry Studies, where I specialised in popular culture and globalisation. In my spare time, I'm always listening to music but I'm also into football, F1, snowboarding and fashion too. I’m excited to be translating my passions into content for Cherry Chu Magazine!