Kriesha Chu could be the first Filipino-American K-pop idol

I finally saw Kriesha Chu last weekend when a friend invited us to join the audience for the recording of “The QUBE,” a radio quiz show on TBS English.

I first heard about Kriesha from a Filipino here in South Korea. Kriesha’s mom is a friend of hers from way back in their school days in Cebu province. I didn’t follow Kriesha’s audition in a K-pop show (because I cringe every time I see or hear the “Ajosshis,” or middle-class salarymen, in the show talk about the girls) but she pops up from time to time on my Facebook wall.

Kriesha’s parents are both Filipino with Chinese ancestry–just like many of us–and while she was born in the Philippines, her family immigrated to the United States when she was 2 years old. So, she didn’t grow up in the Philippines, but she speaks Cebuano well! She now lives alone in South Korea.

Urban Works Entertainment scouted her at an audition in California and brought her to South Korea to prepare her for “KpopStar 6.” The company debuted her as a solo artist last May after being No. 2 in Kpop Star 6 Last Chance. She has been promoting her single album “Trouble” in various shows on the radio and TV.

Read more about Kriesha Chu on Buhay Korea