Who let you go?

Jay giving one last bow to everyone.

Fans trying to hold him back and stop him from getting on the plane.

Jay's left. So suddenly. I feel at such a loss right now because there's nothing I can do to turn back his decision. Unlike the fans in Korea, I couldn't go to the airport to try to stop him from leaving. Nor can I wait for him at the Seattle airport to give him support. I feel so helpless.

Pat and I found out the news while in lecture. We'd been refreshing AllKPop and Seoulbeats and Popseoul every few minutes to find out what was happening. And then the news came. And it was verified. We didn't want to believe it when Jay posted on the 2PM fancafe that he was leaving. But this blew our minds.

I just sat there in the middle of lecture, feeling like I'd lost a limb or an eye.

How is this different from other -Western- groups? Like when BSB left out Kevin?

For KPop, there's a lot more exposure of their stars, especially in the music industry. You see them on variety shows, on the music shows (like SBS Inkigayo, Mnet Countdown and KBS Music Bank), and in their own reality tv shows. So you see more of how they're like in real life (or as close to it as possible) - you see their personalities through the many funny, dorky, sad angry moments that they experience on such shows. And you fall in love with them. You feel like you know these individual stars, and you know how each group works with all the individuals.

Jaebeom - he's special. He's the leader of 2PM. He's the most uninhibited of all of them in acting dorky and making jokes, so you really feel the most closeness with him (even though it's through a TV or a computer screen). He cares so much for his 2PM members. He is unparalleled in his singing and especially his dancing. He has such a good heart. He anchors the group. He is their main focal point. He is their heart and soul. He belongs in 2PM. And people petitioning for him to commit suicide should kill themselves. Because if they don't, WE WILL KILL THEM.

I have to do something about this. I WILL do something about this.

fina*