It appears that she has a good head on her shoulders. A careful decision like that contemplated over a year is very wise. Personally, I came to the states on vacation, via an invitation from my Aunt, and ended up staying after my vacation was over on s student visa. I was in the states for 2 years before my parents and siblings (5) immigrated over. It was a tough decision for me at the ripe age of eleven, but I have never regretted it.

This opportunity can only make her more marketable in the future. As there are Koreans actors and musicians trying to cross over into the American film/music industry like Lee Byung Hun (GI Joe), Rain, (American Ninja) and John Cho (Flash Forward).

Since hearing this past week of Choi suicide, and reading how Korea's suicide rate is so high, I am feel more anxious regarding the young actors and actresses, and the Korean Netizens are no joke. I am glad she recognizes that she needs a break from the industry, but it is also a way for her to actually find out who she is and where she wants to go in life. It is nice that she was given the opportunity to make that decision and have her family's support. Unfortunately, that are others out there that don't get this opportunity because they have to help support their family financially.

Transitioning into a new country, school, and culture will not be easy, but since she has had over a year to research and absorb her decision, I am sure this period will not be so traumatic because she has already opened her heart and mind to it.

Kudos to her! She will become stronger by this.... body, mind and spirit.

#51....Great post, Jewels
Just for comparison's sake with Shim Eun-kyung..........
Although you were younger than 15, how much English did you
already know when you first came here ? (some - none?) Did you
find it tough to learn other subjects while at an English-only school,
and most important of all ~ how were you treated by the other kids?
Were there other Korean kids at your school, or were you "alone?"

Your answer will be interesting, and might give a clue as to what
SEK will face when she comes here.

PS......Your English is better than mine! :)

*

@51
Isn't John Cho an American?

By watching a couple of her dramas, she is good....really gifted so I hope the fans leave her alone and let her live her life they way she wants, but I honestly cannot stop seeing her parents behind the move. The article makes out like this Korean girl is so independent (almost American-like).... not entirely likely imo.

@ 51

No he was born in Seoul, S. Korea. He most likely is a naturalized citizen now.

Sorry, The answer above was for @53.

@ 51, I was born in England, so my english language was excellent, although nobody understood what I was saying because of my heavy accent, which was frustrating.

I came from a large family, I was not one to have many friends due to all the siblings that I was surrounded by. I went to a catholic private school, and it was hard. There were things I did not know, and had to learn. Just transitioning from a country that you have known all your life to one that was so different, was challenging and I won't say it was easy, it would have been easier if my parents and siblings transitioned to this country all at the same time, but it did not happen that way; and yes, I was homesick at times.

I also felt isolated since I was the only foreigner in the class, and I think in the entire school until we got an exchange student from Italy. When she came everyone wanted to be her friend and she was well received. I did not want people to be my friend because of curiosity. It's funny, that the longer I stayed, the more things I forgot or tried to cling on to, and my accent started to fade.

Many years have past since I first came to the States, I now have teenage children who are aware of my struggles and challenges. Everything I experienced and learned during that time made me a better person, and mother and I believe my children are better off because of it.

Shim Eun- kyung will do well. I'm not worried!

Jewels ~
Ahhhhh....you had to learn American-english after being
raised with British-english first. I now understand how
tough that must have been! INDEED! :)

I went to Catholic school, too. The sisters didn't put up with
ANY funny business at all. We were brought up to be ladies....
polite, educated, and no food fights in the cafeteria. :)

I'm sorry that the kids in your school weren't smart enough
to recognize the potential of a good friend, when you showed up.
Their loss.
But if it made you stronger ~ then your gain.

*

Good for her! :) I'm glad she's pursuing her education. :D hopefully she comes back to acting sometime!

totally supportive of her decision! all the best!!

Good luck to her!

That's awesome that she wants to come study here! I go to school in pittsburgh also. The schools here can be very good, especially college. Actually, there are lots of koreans here, so i'm surprised that she chose here because there are few koreans. I hope i can accidentally run into her sometime. I wonder how she chose pittsburgh, of all places though. In america itself it is not that well known.

@44

I had friends in high school who were older than me but in lower grades. They had a real hard time adjusting to America but they had good friends. Hope she'll make great friends to make the experience amazing. =]

But I also agree with you. As much as I love it when Korean actors cross over, I think America has a huge untapped pool of talent of Asian Americans. They aren't mainstream yet but they are utilizing the internet and I'm going to be honest, I'd rather see an Asian American than someone from Asia in a movie/television show.

oh my!!!! i'm gonna miss u WON IN (bad guy) !!! this girl's really great!!!
She's one of those korean child actress i admire so much...
i know she'll be fine in that country, i hope you'll excel more in whichever field u are
planning to go to!!! good luck!!! love your role in bad guy...

Shim Eun-kyung
you're such a WISFUL young lady.