I love writing about entertainment, but my goal all along was to be an author and eventually screenwriter. I’ve found that a lot of people who write about pop culture and entertainment secretly (or not-so-secretly) wish they were the ones creating the things that they’re writing about. You’ve been working at Entertainment Weekly then now at Bustle, what made you decide to finally write a book? I also want to note that readers who had no knowledge or interest in K-pop before reading the book have loved it as there’s a definite The Hungers Games feel to a K-pop trainee facility, except it’s real life! Of course, Candace has a ton of fun too, falling in forbidden love, making enemies and best friends, and finding her voice literally and figuratively.

But she’s also a fish out of water who has to learn how to be “authentically” Korean, whatever that means. Not only are the expectations from the company unrealistic-she has to deal with insane schedules, dating bans, and enforced diets. She enters the company’s trainee program, which she soon finds out is way harder than she ever could have expected, physically and emotionally. K-Pop Confidential follows the story of Candace Park, a Korean American teen from New Jersey, as she flies to Seoul after unexpectedly passing an audition at the biggest K-pop company in the world. Ahead of his appearance, Lee sits down with Tatler to talk about his debut book, how he got into K-pop and why even non-K-pop fans will love it.ĭon’t miss: 6 Writers Not to Miss as Hong Kong's Biggest Literary Festival ReturnsĬan you tell us more about your new book, K-Pop Confidential?

Lee will be sharing his book at Hong Kong International Literary Festival on November 7. The book will follow K-pop trainee Candace Park, who wants to be a K-pop idol but she will have to overcome challenges in order to be in the spotlight. Now, Lee has put his passion into a book with K-pop Confidential and its sequel, K-pop Revolution. While K-pop has always been something at the back of his head, it was ignited when he went to Seoul for three weeks to write a feature about Korean entertainment’s world domination-getting the chance to talk to K-pop idols, filmmakers and K-drama writers. Lee has been working as a journalist at Entertainment Weekly covering books and movies. Korean American author and certified K-pop fan, Stephan Lee hopes his book, K-pop Confidential will show you how fun K-pop can be. But there’s plenty that still hasn’t boarded the K-mania.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that K-pop is taking the world by storm-just like Korean dramas, Korean movies, Korean beauty and Korean fashion.

Stephan lee kpop