Sandara Park Will Always Be The Realest Person In The Room, And We Love That For Her

Dara is one of the wittiest and realest K-pop artists out there.

Related: 6 Times Sandara Park Was The Definition Of Mothering

K-pop legend, fashion maven, San Mig Light enjoyer, and more, Sandara Park has always been that girl since we first got to know her on Star Circle Quest. Even with the global success she’s achieved, she still retains that fun, charming, and honest personality. With the way some paint K-pop through rose-tinted glasses, Sandara is here to spill the tea on what really goes down behind the scenes and what she thinks about certain topics. We rounded up a few moments when Dara kept it real and unfiltered. 

WHEN SHE SHARED THAT YG ENTERTAINMENT GOT MADE AT 2NE1 FOR NOT CRYING

When you’re a rookie in the industry, everything can feel so new that you don’t know how to act in the moment, especially when you experience massive success early on. Such was the case for 2NE1 when they took home the Daesang award for their bop I Don’t Care at MAMA 2009. 

On an episode of JaeFriends, Dara shared that when the group got the award, they were so shocked that they only cried when they went backstage. But it turns out that they were reprimanded by YG Entertainment for not crying while accepting the award, with Dara recalling them telling the group “Why won’t you cry like groups from SM?” Damn, even when you cry is scrutinized. 

WHEN SHE TEARED UP SEEING HER OLD GRADE SCHOOL TEACHER 

In episode three of Dara Tour on her YouTube channel, Dara brought along Minzy to visit her old high school in the Philippines, the Philippine Pasay Chung Hua Academy. In the video, you can see how much nostalgia and appreciation she still has for her alma mater and the memories and experiences that brought her to where she is today. And the best part is that Dara got emotional and teared up when she reunited with her former grade six adviser. They say fame and success change people. But for Sandara Park, she will always have love for the people who helped her get to where she is. She’s a real one for that. 

WHEN SHE SAID NO TO CLOUT CHASERS

Exactly

— Sandara Park (@krungy21) July 22, 2024

With 2NE1 now making their long-awaited comeback with a tour this year and next, the group have been on everyone’s lips as of late. But Dara isn’t here for the fake love. Responding to a fan on X who asked her to not entertain former friends who left her after the group initially disbanded, Dara responded with mic drop of a one words statement, “Exactly”. May we all learn from Dara how to say no to clout chasing former friends.

WHEN SHE SHARED WHAT HER FAVORITE POSITION WAS 

All of the above 😂

— Sandara Park (@krungy21) April 22, 2024

K-pop idols are known to wear some out-of-pocket shirts, and Dara isn’t immune to that. The artist shared some pics of her stay in Paris, and netizens spotted her wearing a shirt that had various sex positions printed on it. Naturally, a netizen asked Dara what her favorite position was, to which she replied, “All of the above”. Considering that this is the same woman who joked that her barkada’s name of PPG meant PokPok Girls, we aren’t surprised Dara said what she said. Listen, if Sandara wants to get it, she will get it. 

WHEN SHE SPILLED THE TEA ON DATING AS A K-POP IDOL 

Dating bans often come with the territory for K-pop idols. But it turns out that Dara may have been the reason why 2NE1 had one. On an episode of No Back Tak Hae Joon, Sandara shared that after 2NE1’s debut, many male celebrities started to hit on her, causing their company to step in. “After I debuted, all these male celebrities hit on me. Yang Hyung Suk eventually heard the rumors and confiscated all four of our cellphones because of me,” she revealed. At the time, Dara was in her mid-20s, so she thought that her age made her attractive to her sunbaes (seniors) and hoobaes (juniors).

WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT 2NE1’S CONTRIBUTION TO YG ENTERTAINMENT 

During an appearance on Psick University, a comedy-centric YouTube channel known for making their guests answer hot topic questions, BIGBANG’s Daesung was asked to list down Teddy, Jinusean, BLACKPINK, and 2NE1 in order of who contributed the most to YG Entertainment’s success. The K-pop idol placed 2NE1 last, and his decision reached Dara’s ears. 

On the SBS radio show Cultwo show, she shared that when she first learned about it, she got upset, but did meet up with Daesung and made up. Then, when asked by the show’s DJ how she thinks 2NE1 contributed to YGE’s success, Dara stated, “I believe I myself alone would have put the elevators in their building.” Zero lies detected. K-pop generations come and go, but no one can deny the impact 2NE1 has had on the industry and their company.

WHEN SHE SHARED WHY SHE QUIT HER OLD COMPANY 

I quit after 2ne1’s disbandment😁 I only work for my girls♠️♥️

— Sandara Park (@krungy21) November 22, 2019

Sandara Park is a ride-or-die kind of girl. Her loyalty to her 2NE1 members, who are practically her sisters, is admirable. Case in point: when she was asked by a fan why she left her position in YG Entertainment, she replied “I quit after 2ne1’s disbandment. I only work for my girls.” Period! 

WHEN SHE SHARED THE TIME SHE GOT SCOLDED BY YG’S CEO 

Sometimes, being in an elevator with your boss can be awkward, like in this episode Dara shared on Unnies With No Appetite. She revealed that she would often be scolded a lot by her company, and recalled an experience where she and the company’s CEO got on the elevator at the same time. No one pressed a button, so Dara pressed the fourth floor, which was where the practice room was. This caused the CEO to get mad at her for not pressing the seventh floor, which was where he was going. Dara is so real for that though. 

WHEN SHE OPENED UP ON HER THOUGHTS ON LEAVING THE PHILIPPINES

Even though Dara was a household name in the Philippines in the mid-2000s, she left it all behind to become a K-pop idol in Korea. It was a gambit, yes, but one that paid off. Still, after all these years, Dara has some lingering doubts about if she made the right decision to leave the Philippines. “Ngayon parang I regret na umalis ako (ng Pilipinas),” she told Luis Manzano during a guesting on his YouTube channel. The multi-hyphenate explained that looking back, she felt that she could have earned more as an artist in the Philippines rather than being in a K-pop group. Financial security is a valid concern, so she has a point there. 

Continue Reading: In And Out Of The Philippines, Sandara Park Proves Why She Is Pinoy At Heart