✮✫★ * — IDOL PROFILE / ROSEBUD’S RURI!
Stage Name: Ruri Birth Name: Kang Yuri Position/Occupation: Rosebud maknae, lead rapper, vocalist Birthday: 17 November 1999 (18) Zodiac Sign: Scorpio Place of Birth: Seoul, SK Height: 156cm Weight: 44kgs Blood Type: O
Facts:
She speaks fluent English, Japanese, and Mandarin because she knew from a young age she wanted to be an international idol.
She had two older sisters: one was a member of Pandora, and the other passed away in 2013.
Her older sister now runs a ramen shop that is a national franchise: Three Kang Sisters Restaurant.
She played the role of Jinhee in Train to Busan and said afterward that she loved acting so much that she hopes to go into it more deeply.
She’s been described as a very competitive and intense person.
When she sleeps, she curls up into a ball into the smallest space possible.
She has said that her stage name comes from the fact that her oldest sister named her at birth, and now that she rues the death of her oldest sister (”Ru”ri), it is meaningful to her because her sister named her twice. She also says she just loves making puns.
She is a terrible cook at everything except ramyeon, which she cooks exceptionally well.
When she is able to move out of her dorm, she wants to live at her sister’s house, which is an apartment above the original location of Three Kang Sisters Restaurant.
She always has food in her bag. Her favorite snack to munch on is apples, and she keeps a bowl of them by her bed.
Ideal Type: Someone hardworking like Decypher’s Oh Haewon, funny like Smoke & Mirrors’ Miles Kim, and cool like Moon Jaewon.
PART B — THE QUESTIONNAIRE.
Who are your role models?
“My sister, Yuna, for sure. She’s such a strong woman and I’m so proud of how she picked herself up after Pandora’s disbandment. Also, I wouldn’t be an idol if she hadn’t become one first.”
Do you have any nicknames? If so, what do your friends or family call you?
“It’s usually just Yuri. Some people call me Yu, some call me Ri, some call me Ru; I have a very nickname-able name.”
What are your favorite foods? What would you recommend to fans?
“Ramyeon! There’s nothing like a hot bowl of it on a cold day . . . or even a hot bowl of it on a hot day, now that I think about it. It’s something that your loved ones can make for you easily, so it’s even better. I recommend topping it with a basted egg— some people want you to boil or poach it, but if you fry an egg in some butter and then spoon the butter over the top, it’ll give a better consistency to the dish. Also, it’s important to remember that even instant noodles can become better with kimchi on the side or carmamelized sweet potato, along with parsley or a mint sprig on top.”
What are some places that you would like to go but haven’t been to yet?
“I want to go to Hawaii. I’m so cute in a swimsuit that if I went to a hot place like that, I’d finally have an excuse to wear one every day.”
What would you say to a fan who is struggling?
“I know how it feels, but I promise it gets better when you look at the bad things in a good light and decide to learn from them. No matter what happens, your life will go on and you’ll always have people to support you— it’s okay to feel emotions deeply as long as you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and forge on harder than before.”
Are there any languages you speak besides your native tongue? What other languages would you like to learn?
“I speak Korean, English, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese. My goal is to learn three more languages by the time I turn twenty.”
What are your three favorite songs at the moment?
“Decypher’s ‘Spring Day,’ Pandora’s ‘PARTY,’ and Happiness’ ‘Russian Roulette.’”
Did you always know you wanted to be famous as a child? Was your family supportive?
“I did know that, yes! My oldest sister wasn’t supportive at first because my middle sister was already an idol, but eventually she agreed because I begged her and also because she figured it was good publicity for our restaurant . . . she was always an excellent cook. Anyway, next question!”
Why did you decide to become a/n trainee/idol/actor/model?
“My oldest sister was.”
Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
“Hopefully, Rosebud lasts that long, but I don’t think anything really lasts forever, so I don’t like to think about that. I really liked acting in Train to Busan; maybe I’ll give it a shot to act full-time.”
What is something no one knows about you?
“Sometimes my heart hurts very badly from the one time I broke a rib after I fell off my bike and the handlebars hit me in the chest.”
Describe your family. Who are the members in your family?
“I only have three living family members. My uncle is a good man, though he doesn’t really act like it. My older sister, Yuna, was in Pandora, but now she runs a noodle shop. Her husband Kyungtaek is a really fun person, and I like him because I can tell he loves Yuna very much. I had a third sister, Yura.”
How was your childhood? What was it like?
“I’d say that my childhood was a good one! Even though my uncle wasn’t around often since he was too nervous to raise children, I had both my sisters, and they took good care of me. I think I might . . . be a little spoiled because of that, honestly.”
If you weren’t pursuing the path to fame, where do you think you would be?
“I’d definitely be a waitress at Three Kang Sisters Restaurant.”
Write a message to your fans — What would you like to say to them?
“Hello, fans, it’s Ruri here! Thank you for supporting us well. Rosebud loves you as much as you love us, and we are always here for you! I hope our music will touch your hearts, and that you will be inspired by the hard work that we put into our craft.”
