BoA Talks About Her Current Ideal Man + How Her Parents Initially Opposed Her Singing Career

Nov 22, 2020

BoA made a special appearance on the latest episode of SBS’s “My Ugly Duckling”!

On the November 22 broadcast of the reality show, BoA joined the hosts and panel of celebrity moms as a special MC. When the hosts brought up the fact that she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut earlier this year, she commented with a laugh, “It’s hard to believe. ’20th anniversary’ is such a grand number, but I’m still only in my thirties, so I’m not sure if I should be celebrating this or not.”

In keeping with the show’s theme of parents being unhappy with their kids’ behavior, host Seo Jang Hoon asked if BoA had ever been an “ugly duckling” (i.e., a kid who had stressed out her parents). After a moment of thought, she replied, “When I suddenly told my parents out of a blue that I wanted to become a trainee. Back then, the concept of ‘trainees’ was still new, and I was in sixth grade when SM Entertainment asked me to sign with them.”

BoA went on, “My parents told me, ‘No, you can’t, you have to study.’ We fought about it, and I think that’s when I was a bit of an ‘ugly duckling.'”

The singer explained, “You had to take an exam to get into my middle school, and when I entered, I was at the top of my class. But I left the school right away [in order to pursue my music career].”

Recalling just how popular BoA had been at the height of her fame, Kim Jong Kook‘s mother remarked with a laugh, “Back when my son was promoting at the same time [as BoA], whenever it seemed like he was about to hit No. 1, BoA would suddenly appear and win No. 1 again.”

Later on in the show, the hosts asked BoA to name the cast member she’d date if she was forced to make a choice, and BoA replied, “I’d choose Park Soo Hong. Soo Hong lives his life in such an exciting, eventful way… honestly, my life is really boring. It’s either work or home for me. So I feel like [if I dated Park Soo Hong], my life would become more interesting and eventful.”

Unable to hide her delight at her son being chosen, Park Soo Hong’s mom eagerly responded, “He is fun! Soo Hong really is a lot of fun.” When BoA continued, “He seems like the type who would be good at listening to his girlfriend,” his mother cracked everyone up by rushing to enthuastically agree, “He is! He really is.”

Seo Jang Hoon then asked BoA to describe her current ideal guy, and the singer replied, “Just someone who treats me well… and someone who doesn’t have too many friends.”

As Shin Dong Yup laughed at the second part of her description, BoA playfully added, “I really couldn’t date someone like Kim Min Jong.” Shin Dong Yup explained to the panel of celebrity moms, “Min Jong has thousands of contacts in his phone,” and BoA continued, “He’s the kind of guy who would keep getting calls from people asking to meet up while you were hanging out with him. I think his girlfriend would be very lonely.”

Seo Jang Hoon asked about her preferences in terms of physical appearance. BoA replied with a laugh, “Someone tall and handsome, without too many friends,” and Seo Jang Hoon mused that her answer sounded like Lee Tae Sung.

Lee Tae Sung’s mom then made everyone burst out laughing by not missing the opportunity to interject, “Tae Sung doesn’t have many friends!”