[Chronicle] BoA in the first half of 2012

We all know BoA's released her 7th Korean album 'Only One' at the end of July but what did she do in the first half of the year?

Let's do a quick recap together after the jump!

BoA in K-POP Star season 1

Yes. Except from a little COBU reshoot in Toronto, BoA essentially started her year with K-POP Star with is actually a continuation from 2011. She wrote 'Only One' during this period, coaching JiMin during the day and composing at night. Her 'The Shadow' lyrics also was inspired by her watching K-POP Star contestants. Not only did K-POP STAR boost her motivation for her own career, it also gained her much attention from the public. As they say, Korea has rediscovered BoA through the show. Floods of magazines and other TV shows followed.

10 years in the business but BoA has not appeared much on other TV shows besides music shows. In fact, she has tried before right after her debut, but everyone involved agreed that she'd better stay away from variety shows. (LMAO) And even thought Korean TV have aired numerous documentaries on her (which many youngsters in those days watched and dreamed of being a successful singer like BoA), she had never appeared in a talk show before.

Thanks to K-POP STAR, we've got to see BoA on one of the biggest variety show in Korea, Running Man. She appeared in 2 episodes with themes like "The Running Man Code" and "Running Man in Wonderland".

cute orangey BoA in Running Man

BoA and friends on Win Win

Her first talk show happened to be Win Win on which she clarified the reason for choosing this over the other talk shows as "the persistent request for me to guest on the show even before K-POP STAR". The filming took well over 9 hours and was broadcasted in two episodes.

At Road For Hope Press Conference

Right after K-POP STAR ended, BoA was supposed to attend the movie I AM. showcase but she was nowhere to be found much to fans dismay. Turns out that BoA flew to India right after K-POP STAR as a volunteer of a campaign to raise funds for unfortunate children. There was a press conference in which BoA appeared with Yoon EunHye, another volunteer for the program, prior to the TV broadcast.  In the show, there are mainly footages of BoA interacting with the Indian children but also have MCs interviewing BoA in the studio. The female MC appeared to be on verge of tears. I don't understand why they'd pick someone that emotional to host this kind of show or maybe it's intentional? Anyway, my selfish thought while watching the show was "Why sent BoA to such a place with pollution? What if something happened to her throat and voice?". You see, they sent her to a coal mine with lots of smoke and terrible heat.

Amidst all these Korean media frenzy, let's not forget that it's actually her 10th Anniversary in Japan. After dropping Milestone late last year, fans were excitedly waiting for a full album in 2012 somewhere before May where her 10th Anniversary year would end. And there were reports and photos confirming BoA did fly to work in Japan earlier in the year but unfortunately it was only for more Audio Technica still ads. BoA basically released only one new song "Milestone" for her 10th Anniversary. My heart goes out for all the Japanese fans.

BoA at Gucci Club Event

BoA at I AM. movie premiere

After that, BoA was not seen much except for the Gucci Event, I AM. movie premiere and the Audio Technica 50th Anniversary Live Party in Osaka and Tokyo. (excluding SMT concerts) These few months after K-POP STAR, BoA was busy preparing for her 7th album. 

BoA at Audio Technica Live

Audio Technica Live Party set list

01 eien

02 possibility

03 kiseki

04 LOSE YOUR MIND

05 BUMP BUMP!

06 I SEE ME

07 Milestone

There were many artists performing at both the Osaka and Tokyo set list but the audience were mostly BoA fans equipped with yellow light sticks. BoA was reported to be very energetic and happy during both concerts. It was the first time she met her Japanese fans after Xmas 2011 concerts.

This concludes her activities in the first half of 2012 before she came back with a bang with "Only One". ^^