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 as an English Teacher at an elementary school in Incheon, South Korea. I currently work as a Marketing and Communications Officer by day and by night, you’ll find me scheduling articles and working closely with my Creative Team to market the magazine. Here at Cherry Chu we 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

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.

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Hello, I’m Isabel! I’m a second-year English Literature student and an aspiring author & editor. I’ve been a huge K-pop fan since 2022, when I first saw a performance of Case 143 by Stray Kids. Since then, I’ve expanded my favourites list to a bunch of groups within the 4th and 5th generation (+ a special mention to Seventeen) and have started branching out into watching popular K-dramas and learning more about Korean culture overall! When I’m not studying or watching K-pop content, you can find me reading fantasy books or writing novels of my own (…several of which may or may not somehow link to K-pop concepts…I’m looking at you pirate Ateez). Cherry Chu Magazine is the perfect combination of my interests, and I’m really excited to contribute towards it!

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!

COPY EDITOR

Hi everyone! I’m Ciara, and my K-Pop journey began in 2019 when BTS and Halsey’s ‘Boy With Luv’ collaboration completely drew me in and I began my descent into the K-Pop rabbit hole. Since then, my fascination with Korean culture has only grown, spanning everything from literature to K-Dramas. I'm a huge horror fan and I've recently been exploring the spine-chilling world of Korean horror films — my favourites so far being ‘Train to Busan’ and ‘A Tale of Two Sisters’. I’m from Northern Ireland, and I hope to take my first trip to South Korea next year! I’m thrilled to be part of the Cherry Chu Magazine team and can’t wait to share this incredible culture with you!

COPY EDITOR

Hi, I’m Maia! I first started listening to Korean music in 2012 with Sistar’s “Loving U” (R.I.P) and fell deep into the K-pop fandom with BTS during “RUN” era, and it was truly all over for me when I got into SEVENTEEN just a few months later. Nowadays you can find me watching ZEROBASEONE “Melting Point” performance videos and giggling like an idiot. Other than music, I also enjoy reading, and have long dreamt of becoming a literary translator — my favourite book right now is “Lemon” by Kwon Yeo-sun. I’ve just recently graduated from my degree in Korean, and spent my year abroad in Seoul in every single Aladin bookshop I could find, scanning each bookshelf and checking to see if someone left their old Lovelyz albums. I hope you enjoy everyone’s contributions to Cherry Chu! I’ll work hard to make sure they’re all the best they can be!

COPY EDITOR

Hey! I’m Megan, a writer/editor from London, whose interest in Korea comes from… well… being half Korean myself! (The other half, for anyone who is interested, is a quarter Dutch and a quarter Portuguese, though for the most part I’m a born and bred Brit.)

I have a BA in Drama and English, and come from a Performing Arts background, having been raised in a musical family. After graduating, I spent several years performing on stage and screen as well as in recording studios, (and during COVID I did a brief stint as a Detective – yes I know it sounds like a very random career change!) but have recently decided to come back to the creative field and work as a copywriter and editor.

As for my Korean passions – I couldn’t narrow it down to one band or film or type of food… I am biased; Korea is inherent in me and I am truly proud to come from a heritage that is so rich in culture, yet modern and ground-breaking at the same time. Give me ANYTHING Korean related, because I’m here for it all!

COPY EDITOR

Annyeonghaseyo! 

I’m Dina from Malaysia, a proud mom of two and a devoted K-drama fan. My comfort K-drama is Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, starring Nam Joo-Hyuk and Lee Sung-Kyung. I can finish 16 episodes in less than 48 hrs.

Fueled by this passion, my friend and I created a four-episode series called Car-versation: K-Drama Review, where we discussed the hidden gems of popular and underrated K-dramas.

To further connect with fellow K-drama enthusiasts, I manage an Instagram account dedicated to sharing and offering my personal take on some of the most memorable dramas. Reels of Park Hae-jin in Man to Man reached 300k views last year. 

Joining the Cherry Chu Magazine team feels like an exciting new chapter! I can’t wait to grow my skills, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and share the vibrant Korean culture world with all Cherry Chu audiences. Let’s dive into the world of K-dramas together!

COPY EDITOR

Hi, I’m Aimee, an editor from Manchester, UK, and I’ve been a K-pop fan for almost 13 years! My original loves were U-KISS, VIXX, and EXO, but nowadays you can also find me exploring newer music—my current faves are XG.

Outside of K-pop, I also love all things K-beauty, from glass skincare to sparkly makeup—you can find me trying out all the latest trends. I also enjoy a good K-drama every now and then, curled up on the sofa with a tub of ice cream!

I have a degree in Japanese with Korean Studies from Oxford University, and I am currently enrolled in a Masters degree in International Law and Security. Previously, I have worked as an editor for a global online platform, and now I am so excited to contribute my editorial experience to the Cherry Chu team! Ultimately, I hope to share my love for Korean pop culture with our readers and have fun with it along the way!

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).

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

Hi, I’m Rosie! I’m a Sheffield-based illustrator/designer and a digital content creator here at Cherry Chu! Aside from being a fanatic of Bong Joon Ho films, enjoying webtoons, and attempting to master my favourite dishes (without burning down the house); I’ve also been a fan of K-pop for years now. I’d say I’m a general listener of most groups however SEVENTEEN has been my favourite band since their debut in 2015! Being a part of Cherry Chu is an incredible opportunity to not only grow my skills and experience, but I guess to selfishly indulge in my passion for Korean culture by helping to create super fun content!

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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.

TV/FILM CONTRIBUTOR

I am your mutual K-Pop and K-Drama fan. My journey started in 2017 when BTS performed at the AMAs and as for my love for K- cinematography — it began with the movie “Parasite”. I wish to spread the love for K content across the world!

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

Hi! I’m Amy, a journalist working for CambridgeshireLive! Aside from my day job covering local news, I love writing about a variety of musical genres and diving into controversial topics within the music industry. When I’m not 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. Some of my current favourite groups include SEVENTEEN, The Boyz, ENHYPEN, and WayV! I regularly write music reviews and love sharing my opinions on the latest releases for Cherry Chu.

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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!

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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.

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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!

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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!

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

I’ve been a journalist for eight years working in print, online and broadcast journalism. I’ve written for The Sun, The Daily Mail, Metro, HuffPostUK and have appeared on TalkTV and Times Radio.

I have a passion for K-Dramas (Dr Stranger – old but golden, Chicken nugget, My Demon and many more!) What I love about K-Dramas is the build up of the totally mundane, it takes the male and female lead six episodes to hold hands and it has a touch of playful innocence we don’t see so much in adult Western dramas. K-Dramas pose simplicity, such as enjoying a fruit cake in the sun, into a quaint, idyllic scene that draws you in. Action features, as does horror, but many dramas interweave banality with far fetched plot lines and somehow produce TV gold. 

Korean literature has made itself most comfortable on my bookshelf with favourite reads including; I want to die, but I want to eat tteokeboki by Baek Sehee and Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (Cho Nam-Joo).

I have also recently delved into a non-fiction memoir written by former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-Ho – a harrowing account of his defection to South Korea with his family. 

In my spare time I like to write short stories, poems, photography and designing clothing (Betta fish printed jeans anyone?). I love cooking and baking, considering it a personal challenge to craft the most perfect macarons…

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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!

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

Hi! I'm Habibah, a 25 year graduate in English Literature with Creative Writing as well as a master's in Journalism. I'm from Oxford where it used to be very hard to find anything or anyone to do with the Korean lifestyle. I discovered Korean culture thanks to BTS in 2015 and it has had me hooked ever since. I'm so grateful that it's becoming more mainstream so that I can easily buy whatever I want but also talk to  everyone about it without looking like a weirdo! 

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

Hello everyone! My name is Helena. I'm a freelance stage manager and performing arts teacher from the UK, who's passionate about writing and all things Korean culture. I have a BA (Hons) degree in Musical Theatre, as well as a Master's degree in Stage and Event Management. I fell down the K-pop rabbit hole in 2021, and it genuinely transformed my whole world. From the music, my love for Korea only grew further. I'm now proud to be a devoted K-pop fan and concert goer, whilst also exploring as much Korean arts and media as I can in my free time. I look forward to sharing my love of Korean music, film, TV, books, food and traditions through my writing here with Cherry Chu Magazine. I wish to inspire others to take an interest in this beautiful culture and hope it brings them as much joy as it does me. (And if you ever see me start talking about Stray Kids, run in the opposite direction… I won’t shut up easily!)

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

Hello everyone, I’m Inga, an art history graduate from University of St Andrews. I discovered K-pop in 2022 by accident thanks to my friend at what was an extremely tough and challenging time for me mentally. That’s how BTS and everything related to Korean culture appeared in my life and frankly, I could not be more grateful. Since then, I’ve watched a great variety of Korean dramas and movies and even started learning Korean in 2023. (something I could never imagine myself doing before). Right now, there are two groups that I am ‘slightly’ obsessed with – BTS and Ateez. I also have a deep passion for art, reading, and writing novels. They say that K-pop groups find you when you need them the most and I can testify to that. Hope my writing for the Cherry Chu Magazine will bring you peace, comfort, and even a little joy. 

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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!

TV/FILM CONTRIBUTOR

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 :)

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

Hi, I'm Kumari Khushboo, an entertainment, culture and music journalist mostly covering the latest trends from East Asia. Writing and exploring content are two of my passions that I decided to blend in 2019, and since then, there has never been a day I haven't done something I love. Or maybe I'm exaggerating, but it all started in 2017 when I watched my first K-drama, Descendants of the Sun, and discovered my first K-pop groups, SHINee and EXO, which drew me into the Hallyu world. I previously contributed to several media organisations with over four years of experience, including Evolve Media, Rakuten Viki, Sportskeeda SK POP, Arré Voice, and Korea.net under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. With over 1 million readers of my writing content, I'm a keen tracker and publisher of trends in everything pop culture. In my spare time, I love to study Korean and Japanese culture, watch content, and sing my heart out. When not writing, you’ll find me enjoying ramyeon and coffee while catching up with the latest episode of a series.

K-POP CONTRIBUTOR

Hi everyone, I’m Laura, a researcher at the university of Sunderland currently completing my PhD in K-pop fan studies. I am what can only be classed as an elder K-pop stan!! I became a fan of K-pop and all things Korean back in 2019 when my youngest son introduced me to BTS. The first K-pop concert I went to was Stray Kids at Brixton Academy in July of 2019. It was the best live event I had been to, and I have been a STAY ever since although I do enjoy a lot more groups. I recently joined Cherry Chu as a place to share some of my experiences as a fan and a researcher. 

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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.

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

Hi! I’m Nia, I’m a final year student at the University of Nottingham! I’m a former esports journalist, and a blogger — I’ve always wanted to write for a magazine and here we are! I first found K-pop back in 2015. My first girl group was Girls Generation and my first boy group was BTS! Since then I’ve expanded massively, and have been to Ateez and Stray Kids concerts. I’m a lover of K-dramas and C-dramas with my favorites being 'Strong Girl Do Bong Soon' and 'Perfect and Casual' respectively. I’m so excited to be here at Cherry Chu with all of you!

TV/FILM CONTRIBUTOR

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.

K-POP CORRESPONDENT

Hi all! I’m Rach, I am a PhD student and bookseller from Wales, UK. I was introduced to K-Pop in 2016 but became immersed into it in 2021. My first group that I began following was Shinee (!). My favourite groups are BTS, Stray Kids, Shinee, ITZY, and more. Since I began following KPOP, I also got into Korean TV and movies, music genres, culture, webtoons, and more. I also found it expanded my music taste and interests generally to Asia. I am very proud to be a K-Pop correspondent for Cherry Chu Magazine with such an amazing team and readers. Some of my other interests include art, blind boxes, Lego (a newfound fixation), and nail manicures! I hope to bring my interests to screen for you all. 

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

Hi! I'm Riya, a magazine journalism trainee at Nottingham Trent University. I enjoy using my writing to share stories that connect cultures and bring fresh perspectives. 

CULTURE CONTRIBUTOR

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!

GENERAL CONTRIBUTOR

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!