By Honorary Reporter Seema Thomas from India

Photos = Muhammad Naufal Omar

K-pop fans fantasize about meeting their favorite celebrities and many have. But what about working with a K-pop star?  

In a Jan. 6 interview via Zoom, Muhammad Naufal Omar from Malaysia shared his experience of working in Korean entertainment as a model and actor.

"It was my dream since high school to meet Exo, but working with the group was something that had never appeared even in my wildest dreams," he said.

Omar grew interested in Korea in high school by listening to K-pop and watching K-dramas. This eventually prompted him to study in Korea as he discovered Malaysian universities running student exchange programs with Korean counterparts. 

After enrolling as a multimedia major, Omar in 2019 joined a six-month exchange program at Semyung University in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province. He returned to Malaysia but wanted to pursue a bachelor's degree in Korea. "So I started learning Korean to take the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) and scored Level 3," he added. "In 2020, I applied for Semyung University's bachelor's in graphic design.”

The Malaysian also discussed how hard it was to adapt to Korea as an expat. "Unlike the exchange program, I was on my own this time. As the only non-Korean student in my class, I found it difficult to follow lectures in Korean at first. Fortunately, my professors provided excellent guidance and I adapted quickly," he said.

On his career in Korean entertainment, he said, "I wanted to be a K-pop idol when younger and applied for global auditions by entertainment agencies but it didn't work out as I was above the preferred age limit," he said. "So when I had the opportunity to appear as an extra in the K-drama 'Racket Boys,' I didn't think twice. The job eventually opened more opportunities for me such modeling in advertisements."

He said the most memorable moment of his career was working with Kai and D.O. from the K-pop group Exo. "I almost thought it was a scam when I got scouted through social media to appear in a promotional event with Kai. When I recently worked with D.O., I found out at the filming location that he'd join as the lead actor," he said. "Both experiences felt so surreal but I tried to keep my excitement to myself because I wanted to be professional."

After graduating from Semyung in February last year, Omar got a job as a creative assistant for global marketing at a Korean cosmetics company. "It was quite difficult to find a job, especially one that would give me a visa. But I'm glad to have landed in a profession aligned with my passion. As for my work in the entertainment industry, I still accept offers as long as they fit my work schedule," he said.

As the interview drew to a close, Omar emphasized the importance of dreaming big. "Instead of believing that your dream is unattainable, devise steps to reach your goal. Continue working hard and appreciating your achievements while moving toward your dream at your own pace," he said.

kalhong617@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.